With the Fourth of July quickly approaching, and as our nation celebrates 250 years of history, there is much that can be said about both the good and the bad of our country.
The lens through which we view our nation often depends on who we are, where we grew up, where we live now, and whether we have served in our military. If you have served, thank you.
Turn on the news or scroll through social media and you will find a wide range of opinions. Some people love this country, while others believe it needs dramatic change. Regardless of where we stand politically, it is worth taking a moment to appreciate the freedoms we enjoy and the opportunities we have been given.
For one day, can we set aside our differences and acknowledge that we are blessed to live in a nation where we can worship freely, speak openly, and pursue the lives we believe God has called us to live?
More importantly, can we look beyond politics and remember how Jesus treated people?
Today, it often feels like disagreements quickly become divisions. Instead of seeking understanding, people choose hostility. Relationships are damaged, families become divided, and friendships are lost.
As followers of Christ, we should recognize that there is often a deeper spiritual battle taking place beneath the political conversations of our day and the story of Esther reminds us of this reality.
In the Old Testament, Esther found herself in the middle of a crisis that threatened the very existence of her people. She could have remained silent and protected herself, or she could risk everything to stand for what was right. Through God’s providence, she was placed in a position where her obedience would help change the course of history. If you are unfamiliar with the story, take some time to read Esther chapter 4 and the chapters that follow.
For today, I want to bring the question a little closer to home.
Who are you?
Where are you?
Why are you here?
I believe God has allowed you to be exactly where you are for a reason, and that reason goes far beyond your political opinions.
You were created by God to live a life that honors Him. As Paul writes in Ephesians 4:1, we are to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” In Romans 12:1-2, he challenges us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices, to be holy and to be transformed by God’s way of thinking rather than the world’s.
That is easy to read and much harder to live.
So what do we do?
Many of us have been taught to pursue success with relentless determination. Work harder. Push farther. Make a bigger impact. Be noticed.
Sometimes that works. Sometimes it doesn’t.
But regardless of our accomplishments, our greatest purpose is not found in status, influence, or recognition. It is found in faithfully living the life God has entrusted to us.
Most of our lives are not spent in political arenas or on public stages. They are spent in everyday places. in our homes, at our jobs, in our communities, and In our churches.
Those places matter.
So let me ask a few questions:
Who are you in your family?
Who are you at work?
Who are you in your community?
Who are you in your church?
God has taken the lump of clay that is your life and shaped it with your gifts, passions, abilities, experiences, and dreams. He has made you uniquely for His purposes.
I wrestle with this personally.
Much of my life has been spent in leadership roles. I lead my family. I lead businesses. I have led within the church. Leadership has become part of how I see myself.
If I’m honest, I like being influential. I like feeling useful. I like knowing that what I do matters. But what happens when you’re no longer the leader?
What happens when your opinion isn’t sought out?
What happens when your influence fades because of retirement, health, circumstance, or simply a new season of life?
Have you ever been there?
I think many of us have.
And that brings us to the question of the week:
What kind of clay pot are you?
Are you the decorative vase displayed in the center of the room, or are you the common container tucked away where few people notice it? Does it matter?
Romans 9:21 says:
“Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?”
The truth is that we often prefer being the decorative vase. We like being seen, appreciated, and recognized.
But God is not measuring our value by our visibility.
Whether you are leading from the front or serving quietly in the background, your worth comes from the One who made you.
The Potter does not make mistakes.
You are exactly who God created you to be, if you are willing to step into it and realize that He has placed you exactly where He wants you for this season.
So be faithful.
Serve well.
Love deeply.
Honor God.
Whether you are out front or behind the scenes, you matter because He says you matter.
And that is a freedom worth celebrating.
Looking forward to our conversation Wednesday.
– Bryan
ETHOS 4 LIFE 