Occupations of Every Day
Mary Wilder Tileston's sermon highlights the divine significance of everyday tasks and the importance of aligning our hearts with God's will.
Mary Wilder Tileston, through the words of Francesca Alexander and T. T. Carter, emphasizes the importance of recognizing that the steps of a good person are ordered by the Lord, and He takes delight in their ways. She highlights how in serving the Lord diligently, one can find hidden sweetness in everyday tasks, knowing that God has a divine purpose for each of us in the seemingly ordinary things we do. Tileston encourages aligning our hearts with God's will and teachings, understanding that nothing is a mere accident, even interruptions in our daily lives, as they all contribute to the manifestation of God's will in us.
Text
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delighteth in his way.
PSALMS 37:23
SO her life was full of sunshine, for in toiling for the Lord
She had found the hidden sweetness that in common things lies stored;
He has strewn the earth with flowers, and each eye their brightness sees;
But He filled their cups with honey for His humble working bees.
FRANCESCA ALEXANDER
THE occupations of every day seem often trifling, we may do them without thinking as ordinary things, yet they are the scenes of our appointed lot--appointed by God for you and me. The ordering, the application of these ordinary occupations, is the ap-pointing of the Divine purpose; it is for ourselves to carry them out. And secretly our character forms according as we handle them. Give thy heart to God Eternal, since thou art thyself eternal. join thy heart to what He has given thee to do. Join thy heart to His teaching, and thou becomest of a will like to His own will. Nothing comes by pure accident, not even the interruptions in our busy day. And such as follow on to know God's will see in all events what may lead to good, and so trust grows into a habit, as habit grows by perpetual use, till every circumstance may be seen to be but a fresh manifestation of the will of God working itself out in us.
T. T. CARTER
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Understanding the significance of daily occupations - Recognizing God's purpose in ordinary tasks - The impact of our actions on character formation
- II points: - The importance of dedicating our hearts to God - Aligning our will with God's will - Seeing divine purpose in interruptions
- III points: - Trusting in God's plan through daily events - Developing habits of trust and faith - Recognizing God's work in all circumstances
Key Quotes
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delighteth in his way.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“The occupations of every day seem often trifling, we may do them without thinking as ordinary things.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“Nothing comes by pure accident, not even the interruptions in our busy day.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- Reflect on the daily tasks you perform and seek to find God's purpose in them.
- Practice dedicating your heart to God in every aspect of your life.
- Embrace interruptions as opportunities to grow in trust and faith.