I Hope You Are Doing Well

Daily Reading: Matthew 25

Scripture Focus: Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. (Matthew 25.21)

Devotional Thought: Before we "retired" from pastoral ministry and "refocused" our lives, Lana and I met with our financial adviser several times to see if we were ready to make the transition.  Can you imagine our reaction if he told us, “I’m sorry, but I didn’t know what to do with your money, so I just buried it in my backyard.  After all, I didn’t want to lose any of it.  So, here it is!  You can thank me later!"  To say the least, we would not have been happy!

Just as Lana and I entrusted our funds to a financial adviser to oversee, Jesus has entrusted us with our “talents.”  They are not ours.  Would he be pleased if we neglected their proper use, or – even worse – if we used them for our own selfish ends?  How are you using the talents he has given you?  Are you investing them in Kingdom priorities and values – winning the lost, showing forth God’s glory, spreading the Kingdom’s love, and caring for the needy? 

"Well done!"  I want to hear my Master say those words to me. 

If we want to hear those words “Well done”, then we must do well!   He has given all of us specific responsibilities in accordance with our abilities.  None of us is exempt from these assignments.  He didn't save us so that we could sit and wait.  He saved us to do good things and to do them well.  I hope you are doing well.

Prayer: I recognize, O Lord God, that you have given me talents and resources and opportunities to put to use for you.  Help me to be faithful over this "little" that I will one day here those blessed words, "Well done!"  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 89.27-39

27 And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.

28 My steadfast love I will keep for him forever, and my covenant will stand firm for him.

29 I will establish his offspring forever and his throne as the days of the heavens.

30 If his children forsake my law and do not walk according to my rules,

31 if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments,

32 then I will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes,

33 but I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness.

34 I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips.

35 Once for all I have sworn by my holiness; I will not lie to David.

36 His offspring shall endure forever, his throne as long as the sun before me.

37 Like the moon it shall be established forever, a faithful witness in the skies." Selah

38 But now you have cast off and rejected; you are full of wrath against your anointed.

39 You have renounced the covenant with your servant; you have defiled his crown in the dust.