The evaluating world around us defines commonplace as “not unusual, interesting, or original...ordinary, unremarkable, unexceptional.” Most of us hate to be placed in the category of the “commonplace.” It's interesting to note that it's exactly the category the world places Jesus in. Isaiah 53:2-3 reminds us of how the world perceives Him: “He has no stately form or majesty That we should look upon Him, Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” Even Jesus' own family and peers found Him to be “commonplace:” “Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at Him.” (Matthew 13:54-57).
The point is this...anyone who is committed to serving and bringing glory to God must be willing to be “commonplace” in the eyes of the world. The reason being---the goals and aspirations of the Christian are not the same as the world's. God put it this way in Philippians 3:19-21 - “(the world) whose god is their appetite, and who set their minds on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” The sad reality is that even among Christians “commonplace” is looked down upon. Yet, God takes great joy in working His blessed will through “commonplace” disciples.

Today's My Utmost for His Highest reminds us:

“The New Testament notices things we completely overlook. When Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” he is elevating a state which counts for nothing according to our standards. At the bedrock of Jesus Christ's kingdom is the unaffected loveliness of the commonplace. What I am blessed in is my poverty. If I know I have no strength of will, no nobility of disposition, Jesus says I am blessed; it's through this poverty that I enter his kingdom.

The true character of the loveliness that counts for God is always unconscious. Conscious influence is smug and self-righteous and unchristian. If I start looking for evidence of my own usefulness, I instantly lose the bloom of the Lord's touch.
Who are the people who have influenced us most? Not the ones who thought they did, but those without the slightest notion of their impact, those who radiated the unconscious loveliness of the Lord's touch. We always know when Jesus is at work in someone's life, because he produces something inspiring in the midst of the commonplace.”

This last week I lost one of those “commonplace” folks who blessed my life. Bill Banfield (95) was a successful businessman but he always came across as “commonplace”...unassuming, unpretentious, sacrificial, a willing listener and helper. God uses folks like Bill Banfield in many ways not always obvious to those outside. God takes great pleasure in using “commonplace” folks to bring Him glory. The day will come when faithful “commonplace” folks will receive magnificent rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 4:5) - “5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God.”

My prayer for you and me this day is this: Lord, keep us poor in spirit. Help us to see our insignificance apart from You. Help us to be defined by Jesus in Matthew 5:2-11 as faithfully “commonplace.” Amen

Walk with the King today and be a blessing.