Bloom Where You are Planted

The title of this blog is a quote from Mary Engelbreit. Perhaps you have used this quote before in conversation with others. Recently, I was having a conversation with someone about this quotation and what it means. We both concluded that because it is used so often it is viewed as somewhat "trite." However, the more I thought about, it the more I realize it is pretty rich with meaning. The conversation we were having had to do with serving the Lord in the workplace as well as on the mission field.

When Jesus called the fishermen to be His disciples in Matthew 4:18-22, we see that these fisherman immediately left their nets, their boat and their father to follow Jesus. In other words they gave up a lucrative career to go on the mission field. Many times we think that to serve or follow Jesus full-time, we have to be in a labeled full-time ministry. The Lord does call some to that type of work, but He calls all of us to live each day for Him no matter what our duties or jobs are. I know many people who are in the workplace, and they are aware every day that the Lord has placed them there not only to be a diligent and hard worker, but to take every opportunity to be salt and light in that environment (Matthew 5:13-16). Whether we work as a missionary, a vice president in food service, carpenter, business analyst, manager of a restaurant, real estate agent, teach computer in college, olympic skater, or a homemaker, etc., we are called by the Lord to use that work to further His kingdom - to show others to know the Lord and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. As salt and light, we are to be a reflection and proclamation of the gospel of Christ.

The Lord may not be asking you to leave a lucrative career to follow Him, but He calls us to follow Him wherever we are working. Joe Stowell, a writer for "Our Daily Bread" says, "We are tempted to think that we should make something of our lives and at the same time follow Jesus. Wrong! He calls us first to follow Him, and then he makes something of our lives."