“But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’” Acts 11:9 ESV
You are not common. I need to tell someone this today. God may have you placed in a common home. A common job. A common car. A common day-to-day. This said, your life and its purpose is uniquely yours. How you choose to live your life will define the unique and meaningful influence and impact that your ‘common’ life will have.
God has used common and oftentimes broken women and men to do supernatural things. He used a common man to build a boat that preserved humanity. He has used a common man to speak with a stutter to the most powerful man on earth to free his people. He used a shepherd boy to lead his people and be the earthly lineage of His son, Jesus, 28 generations later. He has used a common girl to save the Jewish race from annihilation. His son selected 12 common men, toiling in nondescript lives to change the trajectory of humankind, knowing that they would lay down their earthly lives for His early Church. He has and continues to use the most common among us to deliver hope, joy, light and His love to a broken World. He uses the common for uncommon and unfathomable impact.
The context of this Acts 11:9 is Peter explaining to a group from the early Church why he had shared the Gospel to the Gentiles. Humankind has always tried to categorize and define what God has universally created. There was real effort in a sect of the early Church to only allow the message and hope of salvation to be taught and offered to those who were circumcised. Jesus’ death tore the curtain from top to bottom and removed all prior definitions of those who could have a relationship with God the Father. His death offered all who were common, the incredibly special title of daughter or son of the Most High God when they asked.
There are exceptions, but I find it really fascinating that common, ordinary people of little influence make up the message of the Bible. The rich and powerful are referred to as ‘the rich young rule,’ ‘the rich man and Lazarus,’ etc. Then Jesus drew the disciples eyes to the common widow who gave less than half a penny as her tithe and explained her incredible faith and exceptional heart. The common exhibited the exceptional worthy of Jesus note.
“But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.” Mark 10:31 NLT
So today know without question that you have the gift to be uncommon. Know that the most exceptional in God’s eyes are oftentimes viewed as common by a broken World. Today, be uncommon in your joy, your spirit, your kindness, your love, because there are numerous people in your life’s path needing your uncommon acts of encouragement and care.
“And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” Luke 6:20 ESV
Today let’s make uncommon acts of love common. C’mon, you’ve got this.