The Theory of the Epic Mundane…

Morning!

Raises his cup of coffee ☕

1 Thessalonians 5:14-24

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.  See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.  Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies.  Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.  Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He who calls you is faithful who also will do it.”

We have already established that God is omnipresent—but what does that mean for our daily lives?

The passage above is Paul’s instruction to the Thessalonians—a brief but powerful list of how a believer should live every day.  Too often, we assume Scripture applies only to the big, dramatic moments in life.

But what about the mundane?

Mundane (Adjective):

-Of, relating to, or characteristic of the world.

- Characterized by the practical, transitory, and ordinary: Commonplace.

When I read Scripture, I sometimes default to thinking big—thinking in terms of life-altering events and high-stakes choices.

Take this command:

“See that no one renders evil for evil.”

My first thought? Murder is evil.  So naturally, I shouldn’t murder someone in retaliation.  That seems easy enough, right?  But what if we take it down to a mundane level?  Someone cuts us off in traffic. That’s evil—even if it’s a small evil.  Do we retaliate? Do we cut them off in return?  Do we lean on the horn in anger?

What if instead of reacting, we chose instead to be thankful to Jesus that we are safe?

James 1:19-20

“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:  For the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

When we respond with gratitude instead of frustration, we turn a mundane moment into a faith-building one.

If we apply what we know about Jesus and His Word, we can weigh our choices in the smallest, most everyday interactions.

If we thank Jesus for our safety, aren’t we rejoicing always?

If we choose peace over frustration, aren’t we giving thanks in all things?

We take a moment most would call inconsequential and turn it into something epic.

Psalm 119:9-16

“How can a young man cleanse his way?  By taking heed according to Your Word.  With my whole heart I have sought You;

Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!  Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.  Blessed are You, O LORD!  Teach me Your statutes.  With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth.  I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches.  I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your Ways.  I will delight myself in Your statutes;

I will not forget Your Word.”

The Epic Mundane

When Jesus is with us, nothing is ordinary.

When we seek Him with all our hearts, minds, and souls, when we wait upon the Lord instead of just waiting for Him, faith becomes a way of life.

That’s when the mundane becomes epic.

Epic (Adjective):

- Extending beyond the usual or ordinary, especially in size or scope.

- Of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an epic; resembling or suggestive of heroes, especially of antiquity: Heroic.

When we live in Christ, even the most commonplace moments—whether it’s making coffee, doing chores, or driving through traffic—become meaningful acts of faith.

Why?

Because what we do for eternity is exactly that—spending time worshiping, adoring, serving, and living in the Presence of God.

So, what’s keeping us from doing that now?