What is Your Huge Dream for the Work of Jesus?

It was not too long ago that I was asked a question during a chance encounter: “What’s your huge dream for the Lord’s work in our community? Do you have a dream for Jesus that requires land?”

The question startled me. I had to pause and collect my thoughts. My friend had some land, and he wanted to use it to do something for Jesus. While our conversation continued, the interaction left me deeply reflecting afterward.

My first thought was a pang of guilt and shame. In that moment, on the spot, I didn’t have a huge dream for the work of Jesus in my community. As a preacher, shouldn’t I have a huge dream? How many times do we hear Christian college slogans like, "Be a world changer!" or "Rally the troops, you can go and change the world!"?

That is an interesting pressure to put on someone. What do we actually mean by being a "world changer"? Does it mean we all need to build medical clinics in the poorest countries? Does it mean we all need to reach thousands of souls through evangelism? If we fail to secure thousands of converts or plant thousands of medical clinics, are we failures in Christ?

Twenty years ago, when I was a much younger Christian, that was exactly how I thought. I thought I was going to set the world on fire for Jesus. I thought I was going to do BIG things for God. In my mind, BIG meant a huge, obvious impact. Of course, I was going to be a world changer!

The older me has a different view on the matter. Older me finds it less difficult to go start some big work for Jesus than to stay home with my children and actually be engaged. Older me finds a greater challenge in not succumbing to the ordinariness of life—the mundane—while still giving my all to love and disciple my family.

Likewise, in preaching ministry, the challenge I face is not the excitement of a great-looking project. Who wouldn’t want something exciting? The harder thing for me is bringing that same passion to the preaching process and delivery after the 300th sermon. I have gone through this work hundreds of times, but I never want to let it get old. That is much harder.

Furthermore, I have had to wrestle with my own sense of pride. I set out early on thinking I was going to do something great. But life with Jesus has taught me that I can do nothing without Him.

Therefore, as I think about my huge dream for Jesus today, here is my answer.

Very simply, I want to be an engaged Dad for Jesus. In this short window of time (yes, it is twenty years, so maybe not so short, but it is amazing how quickly it flies!), I do not want to succumb to checking out, disengaging, scrolling on my phone, or watching endless television shows. I don’t want to escape to something else amidst the grind of dishes, bills, lawn care, work, devotions, children’s homework, and everything else. I want to be present, seeking to influence them for Christ to the best of my ability daily. When you think about it, that is a great and world-changing work; it just does not seem like it in the ordinariness of daily life. Their world is changed, their future children’s world is changed, and everyone who interacts with them is changed—hopefully with the light of Christ.

Secondly, I want to remain enthusiastic about the act of preaching. No matter how many people are there, and no matter who notices, between Jesus and me, I want to bring my best self to the task. Perhaps the world would change if we all brought our best selves to the task at hand and put our hearts into it for Jesus, no matter our calling.

I do not need something huge out there somewhere else. I need to be present with Jesus right where I am, even in the mundane.

How about you?