What’s the most important thing you will do today?

That’s the question I posed to the Bible Released Time class on February 23, 2007. This simple question was the culmination of prayer, contemplation, scripture, conversation, inspiration, and teaching. The week before, Travis and I discussed an experiment where we would challenge the class to prayer for and write about a deepening relationship with God. That same week, I was impressed with a sermon on the intersection of the ordinary and extraordinary. Specifically, from Luke 9:27.

What does a life look like in the realm of the ordinary? In the extraordinary? When does that intersection occur? Why would I seek to lead an ordinary life? How does one lead an extraordinary life? … What’s the most important thing I will do today?

There were only three answers from the class, all were good or honest. (1) Pray (2) Work (3) Nothing.

You might conclude that these three answers represent three general categories: the spiritual, the worldly and the unconcerned.

The unconcerned or complacent or self-righteous truly don’t have a ”most important thing”. They have a need; they meet that need and then move to the next need. There is not time or necessity to consider anything beyond their immediate existence.

The worldly are more focused or very focused. They likely have a list, they may have goals. The list and the goals will often be material in nature and may include finances, work, home, vacation, groceries, etc.

The spiritual may be godly or ungodly, they may have lists or not, have an internal or external focus… they tend to be focused on becoming perfect. The questions are: In What? And Why and then How?

What are you seeking perfection in? love, righteousness, manners, morality, relationship,…?

Why are you seeking perfection? For the eyes of God or man?

How are you seeking perfection? Practicing virtues, practicing the law, … or are you being set free and made righteous… made holy… made perfect.

What is the most important thing you will do today?

Encounter God.