Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Perseverance”
Our Bible verse for today: “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” 1 Corinthians 3:2 (NIV)
Our thought for today: “Faithfulness is what matters to God.”
As I write this I’m thinking of a man I know who has very little in terms of worldly accomplishments and possessions, but he is an extraordinarily faithful man of God. He can always be counted on to be at church whenever the doors are opened, and he is always ready and willing to help as needed. This man perseveres in faithfulness and although he seems to have little by the standards of the world, the day will come when he will be richly rewarded in heaven by God.
And then I’m thinking of another man who does have a lot by worldly standards. He is a successful and accomplished professional who earns a large salary and has many nice things. But he too is a faithful man of God who can consistently be counted on to be present whenever he can be, and he offers his services in ministry as needed. Additionally, he uses large sums of his wealth to bless others and to help further the kingdom-building work of God on earth. I believe this man too will one day hear the Lord say “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
What the Lord values most is faithfulness. Your skills, abilities, wealth and possessions are of much less importance to Him than is your faithfulness. What He wants is your heart fully surrendered to Him, and then your best effort offered up to Him.
Many years ago one of my favorite authors, Eugene Peterson, coined a phrase to describe the Christian life lived well, he called it “A long obedience in the same direction”. He meant that so much of what matters in the Christian life is simply a matter of showing-up before God and doing the things you are supposed to do, over and over again, day after day. That includes prayer and Bible reading of course, but also things like attendance at worship services and participation in ministry activities.
But it also pertains to life in general. A big part of faithfulness is simply a matter of being where you’re supposed to be and doing what you’re supposed to do – and doing it all in a spirit and in a manner that honors the Lord.
When it comes to perseverance perhaps the most important matter you can persevere in, is faithfulness.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 