Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Obeying God when obeying isn’t easy”
Our Bible verse for today: “Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen … These all died in faith without having received the promises.” Hebrews 11:1;13 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “God calls us to be faithful not successful.”
One of the hardest things you will ever have to do is to remain faithful to what God called you to do even when there is no observable evidence of success from your efforts. This seems counterintuitive in the success-oriented, bigger is better world of modern day life.
Our culture admires and celebrates observable success which is usually measured in big numbers – whether those big numbers apply to a bank account, a batting average, or big audiences. Big is good, bigger is better, and small is a problem.
However by that measure, two of the biggest failures who ever lived were Noah and Jeremiah. Noah preached for 100 years and had no observable impact on anyone. Jeremiah’s message was completely rejected. Jonah on the other hand would have been acknowledged as a great success because a large crowd responded to his short message. But while Noah and Jeremiah are remembered for their admirable faithfulness in difficult circumstances, Jonah is remembered as a whiny and reluctant servant whose story ends with him pouting.
Likewise, in Luke 21:2 it was the small offering of the poor widow given in faith that impressed Jesus. In Hebrews chapter eleven, “The Faith Hall of Fame”, many of those whose faith is celebrated never experienced any observable success by worldly standards and yet, in the economy of God they were superstars.
What difficult situation does God have you in today? Are you struggling to hold a marriage together, trying desperately to guide a wayward child, persevering in a difficult ministry setting? I encourage you to remember that God calls us to be faithful not successful. Stick with the thing He has called you to do regardless of whether the world would judge it a successful endeavor or not. The approval we seek, and ultimately the only approval that really matters, is from our Heavenly Father.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 