Monday Morning Devotion-April 11, 2022

Small Flaws

Do not despise these small beginnings for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin. 

                                                                                                      Zechariah 4:10

*based on Monday Morning Devotions 2

       Once a reporter who had been watching the Miami Dolphins football practice

asked the legendary Hall of Fame coach, the late Don Shula: "Is it a waste of time in practice bothering to correct a small flaw?"

            Coach Shula replied with a question: "What's a small flaw?"

            The wise coach realized that one small flaw (mistake) overlooked can turn into a larger one, maybe even a game-decider.

            But that's not just a football question.  It's a life question.  Often something may seem small and insignificant on the surface, but it can become major if it is ignored. To put a positive twist on this, the small thing could also turn into something great.  Maybe it has negative connotations so that's why we have a tendency to ignore it.  Who needs more problems.?

            I remember when I was in the Army how the sergeants used to drill us over and over and over on the same things.  It was boring.  But we did them so many times we didn't have to think about them.  They became second nature to us.  We were told that in combat you would have enough problems without having to worry about remembering how to do something the right way to overcome the enemy.  It needed to be second nature to you.  The smallest flaw could cost you your life. 

            Some little mistake by a player that might cost the football team a five-yard penalty at mid-field early in the game might seem harmless. Don Shula knew if this small flaw was not corrected it could become a big problem. 

            What if his team was behind by a few points near the end of the game, had a fourth-and-one near the goal line and this uncorrected small flaw cropped up again?  Now it would be fourth-and-six.  Big difference!  Could turn an opportunity for victory into defeat.  

            The Israelites has been in captivity in Babylon for 70 years, when king Cyrus offered them the opportunity to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. Some said, "No thanks."  Seemed like a lot of hard work to them.

            Those who regained their freedom and headed to Jerusalem did so with great hope and expectations.  They were very enthusiastic about the task of rebuilding a temple dedicated to the God who had granted their freedom.

            Then some things started to happen, and discouragement set in.  You know how we sometimes approach a task with great zeal?  It's new and it's exciting and we throw ourselves into it, but soon it just becomes hard work.  Maybe some unexpected things slow us down or knock us off course.  All that enthusiasm we started out with begins to wane as we battle these problems.  Suddenly, it ain't fun anymore.  It takes lots of self-discipline and re-focusing of our priorities to recapture our passion for the project. 

            The prophet Zechariah was charged by God with getting the people re-invigorated.  That's when Zechariah gave them his old "Rome wasn't built in a day pep talk.  He pointed out that small beginnings please the Lord because they give Him the opportunity to do big things through you.  He can't use you to accomplish these things if you don't keep at the task or worse still if you never start.

            The older Jews were starting to get disheartened because they didn't think the new temple was going to be as big and beautiful as the one King Solomon built.

            But bigger and more beautiful is not always better.  What you do for God may seem small and insignificant at the time, but God rejoices in what is right, not necessarily in what is big. Be faithful in the small opportunities.  Begin where you are and do what you can and leave the results to God.

            Zechariah was able to translate the vision God had given him into simple words that made sense to the Israelites, so they went back to work and built the temple.  Not only did God give them a vision to complete the temple, but through Zechariah he foretold something that would happen right there 4500 years later.

            The event was the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, and being cheered on by the people.  The day we now celebrate as Palm Sunday.  All of this was revealed to them because they paid attention to small things and got back to work.  The small flaws in attitude were corrected and were molded into big accomplishments. 

            The book God is in the Small Stuff points out that even though God is a big God, small things really matter to Him.  God is in the little details.  That's where you'll find Him encouraging you, challenging you, cherishing you.  That's where you'll find Him inviting you to stop worrying and start living.  That's where you'll find Him revealing His love for you.

            This week when some small flaw in your life seems insignificant stop and think about it.  It could be the start of something really big that God has planned for you.

Prayer:  Lord help us to be more mindful of the small things in our lives---the small flaws, small corrections, the small moments of pleasure and joy.  Help us understand the ways in which each of these play out in your plan for us.    Amen!