Living My Life As a Trust

In review of Matthew 25:21, it says “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (NIV).

Jesus will be coming back and this means that I need to use my time, talents, and treasures to diligently serve God completely in whatever I do. This also means that I should do my daily work out of love and obedience to Him.

I can't just think of myself and play it safe, nor should I make any excuses to avoid doing what God is calling me to do. Serving and making God my Master, means that I must obey him willingly. My time, abilities, and money are not mine, I'm only a caretaker, and not an owner. If I ignore this, squander, or abuse what I'm given, I'm only being rebellious. 

I’m reminded that the person who diligently prepares for Christ's return by investing their time and talents to serve God will be rewarded. If I go about life not having any heart for the work of the Kingdom, I will miss out on the rewards he wants to give me. God rewards faithfulness. Those who bear no fruit for God's Kingdom cannot expect to be treated the same as those who are faithful.

I’m also reminded this morning that I never really own anything during my brief time on earth. God just loans it to me while I’m here. The Bible says, “The world and all that is in it belongs to the Lord; the earth and all who live on it are his” (Psalm 24:1 GNT).

The first job God gave humans was to manage and take care of God’s “stuff” on earth. This role has never been rescinded. It is a part of my purpose today. Everything I enjoy is to be treated as a trust that God has placed into my hands.

Jesus often referred to life as a trust and told many stories to illustrate my responsibility toward God. In the story of the talents, a businessman evaluates each servant’s responsibility and rewards them accordingly. He says, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21 NIV).

At the end of my life on earth, I will be evaluated and rewarded according to how well I handled what has God entrusted to me. That means everything I do, even simple daily chores, has eternal implications. 

If I treat everything as a trust, God promises three rewards in eternity. First, I’ll be given God’s affirmation: He will say, “Good job! Well done!” Next, I will receive a promotion and be given greater responsibility in eternity: “I will put you in charge of many things.” Then I will be honored with a celebration: “Come and share your Master’s happiness.”

There will be no greater joy, and it is available to me for being a faithful steward of God’s gifts.

In summary, God affirms, rewards and honors my faithfulness. This means that I need to use my time, talents, and treasures to diligently serve him in whatever I do. I should do my daily work out of love and obedience to Him. What he gives me; my time, abilities and processions are not mine. I'm only a caretaker, and not an owner. God just loans it to me while I'm here. Everything I enjoy is to be treated as a trust that God has placed into my hands. Life is a trust, and I will be evaluated according to how well I handled what God has entrusted to me.  

In my own life, I truly want to be a good and faithful servant, and would love God to tell me this when I meet him face to face. I need to use what God has given me to serve and be of help to others. I need to really love and not be selfish. I pray this morning Father that you help encourage me to be responsible with what you have given me. This includes my health, my work, and my time. Help me to be of service to others and to make a difference in their lives for the positive. I ask for your wisdom and guidance today in my work, my leadership and my interaction with others. This I pray in your Son Jesus name, amen.

When I Pray for Relief, Worship God First

In review of 2 Chronicles 20:5-6 this morning, I'm reminded of how “Jehoshaphat stood before the community of Judah and Jerusalem in front of the new courtyard at the Temple of the Lord. He prayed, “O Lord, the God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are the ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you!” (NLT)

Upon hearing the news of on coming enemies, Jehoshaphat was terrified and begged the Lord for guidance. He ordered everyone to begin fasting, so that they could focus on God and reflect on their own actions. He then stood before the community at the temple of the Lord. He prayed recognizing God for who he is and his mighty strength. He remembered what God had done in the past for them. He then said they've come to stand in God presence where your name is honored. We cry out to you save us and we know that you will hear us and rescue us. The armies now approach us and we are looking to you for your help. Zechariah then spoke up, this is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid or discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God's. March out before them. You will not even need to fight. Take your positions and stand still and watch the Lord's victory. He is with us. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord is with us. Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!. The next day the opposing armies began to fight each other and perished.

Life includes times when I feel like I’m in an impossible situation, when I feel like I’m being attacked from all sides. That’s what happened to Israel’s King Jehoshaphat, who prayed to God when he faced armies from three different nations. To get through those times, I need to learn how to model my prayers after Jehoshaphat’s so that I can get relief.

Jehoshaphat did three things in 2 Chronicles 20 that I can do, too:

1). Refocused on God. Even with my problem(s) looming before me, shift my focus to God’s character and promises. Jehoshaphat prayed, “God, you’re bigger than all the nations. You are bigger than anything I will ever face.” My problems may be too big for me to handle, but they will never be too big for God. Learn to change my perspective by shifting my focus.

2). Remember God’s faithfulness in the past. Jehoshaphat recalled all the ways God had worked in Israel’s past. Remembering God’s faithfulness in the past will help me trust him for the future. I need to recall the times God has worked powerfully in my life.

3). Request God’s help. Jehoshaphat essentially prayed, “My problems aren’t too hard for you, God. You’ve helped us in the past. Please do it again!” God loves me, and he cares about my problems.

Jehoshaphat’s prayer is built around three questions: “Are you not God?” “Did you not help us in the past?” and “Will you not do it again?”

When I’m feeling overwhelmed, I need God’s help. But it’s important to understand that God isn’t a vending machine who gives me whatever you want just because I’ve deposited a few prayers. God wants my worship first. I worship when I focus on him and thank him for his faithfulness. Then I can pray and ask for his help.

Jehoshaphat was faithful to worship the Lord and ask him for help, and God delivered him from his enemies. God will do the same for me.

In summary, God is ruler of all, powerful and mighty. No one can stand against him. I often face times when I feel like I'm in an impossible situation, when I feel like I'm being attacked from all sides. To get through those times, I need to learn how to model my prayers after King Jehoshaphat's so that I can get relief. Jehoshaphat did three things: First, he refocused on God. Even with problems looming before me, I need to shift my focus to God's character and promises. So learn to change my perspective by shifting my focus. Secondly he remembered God's faithfulness in the past. I too need to recall the times God has worked powerfully in my life. Thirdly, he requested God's help. I can know that God loves me, and he cares about my problems. When I need God's help remember that God wants my worship first. I should focus on him and his faithfulness. Then I can pray and ask for his help. 

I thank you God for speaking directly to me with your Word and this devotion. When I think of the things that are on my mind, it is a great reminder to shift my focus to you and your character and promises. I need to recall the times in my past when you have been faithful and has been there for me. I know that you love me greatly and care about what I'm going through. With this in mind; I worship you today. You are deserving of my devotion and faith. So I put my faith in you and rest in your promises. I ask you for your help, wisdom and guidance in handling all that is on my mind lately. You have never let me down. I need to stop thinking that I need to handle and manage all of this on my own strength. I pray these things through your Son Jesus name, amen.

The Only Place to Find Hope

In review of Romans 15:13 it tells me, “May God, the source of hope, fill me with joy and peace through my faith in him. Then I will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (GW).

God, the source of my hope. My faith in him will fill me with joy and peace. The Holy Spirit will help remind me of this hope. I should remember that he is not only the source of hope for my salvation but the hope for everything. I should use this as encouragement for having hope and distilling the same in others. 

“Is there hope?” This is a fundamental question of life. It’s asked every day by countless people in countless ways: when sitting in the doctor’s office awaiting test results, when a couple puts months and months into counseling and gets nowhere, when dealing with a tax accountant in bankruptcy court, or when a family hears their child is missing.

We can survive 40 days without food, three days without water, eight minutes without air. But I can’t last a single second without hope. It’s an essential part of life. When hope is gone, life is over.

Unfortunately, people are looking for hope in all the wrong places. They look for it in their relationships, in self-help books, in religion, and in self-righteousness.

But God’s Word reminds me, there is only one place to find real hope. This hope is found by turning to God.

I need this kind of hope. And it’s only available through a relationship with Jesus Christ. When I trust in him, the Holy Spirit works in me to fill me with hope that God is in control, he loves me, and he is working for my good. That kind of hope will lift me from despair and give me room to breathe.

In summary God is the source of hope. I am filled with joy and peace through my faith in him. He is not only the hope for my salvation, but the hope for everything. I should use this as encouragement for having hope and distilling the same in others. I can go without out a lot of things (food, water and air) for a small period of time, but really can't last a single moment without hope. For without hope, life if over. True hope is only available through a relationship with Jesus. When I trust in him, the Holy Spirit works in me to fill me with the hope that God is in control, that he loves me, and that he is working for my good. 

This reminds me of some things I overheard from members of my team yesterday. They seem to have lost hope that proper communication and consideration at work would take place. They seem to have given up on sincere caring. I didn’t do anything to help restore any of their confidence in caring and doing what is right. Perhaps this is because I was feeling the same way.

Today Father, I thank you for the reminder of hope, not only my hope in you, but for the hope that I should help instill in others. I pray this morning for you continued influence and wisdom for the doctors who are helping me understand, diagnosis and assist with the swelling I had been experiencing. I thank you for the relief you have given me so far. I ask today for your wisdom and guidance in what I do, how I lead and how I interact with others.

God Can Provide Through Any Faucet

In review of Deuteronomy 8:18 it tells me, “But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives me the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today” (NIV).

Remember God, for he is the one who gives me the ability to produce. Never think I have achieved this on my own strength and energy, rather he is the one who gives me power to be successful.

The Bible teaches and reminds me that God is the source of my finances. He is the one who provides for my needs. What does this mean? It means that instead of looking to my employer for financial security, I look to God. It means that instead of looking to my savings account for financial security, I look to God. It means that I don’t look to anyone or anything other than God to provide for my needs.

Here is a way to look at this: When I turn on the water, I know the water doesn’t actually come from the faucet. The water comes through the faucet. The water actually comes from a reservoir or a well, and the way I happen to receive it is through the faucet.

In the same way, the income that God wants to give me may come through a job or through something or someone else. But the source is always God.

I don’t need to worry about which faucet God uses to supply my needs. In a sense, he says, “If I turn off one faucet, I can just as easily turn on another. If I lose one job, he can give me another. My job isn’t my source. My bank account isn’t my source. God tells me that he is my source.”

Any worry I experience in life reveals the places where I’m not trusting God. Today I can ask God to help me understand what causes me to not trust him, and ask him to teach me to start trusting him. Look for how he does that. And when I start to worry, talk to God about my concerns. 

In summary, remember the Lord, he is the one who gives me the ability to produce wealth. I have not achieved on my own, rather, he is the one who gives me the power to be successful. God is the source, the one who provides for my needs. I don't need to look to anyone or anything else. I won't need to worry about which faucet God uses to supply my needs. Any worry I have reveals the place where I'm not trusting in God. 

Father I thank you for the reminder of being my source. Today I pray for the things that concern me and not worry about them but rather turn them over into your hands. I ask that you guide and give me wisdom in what I do today. Help me to lead well and respond rightly to others. This I pray in you Son Jesus name, amen.

God Calls Me to a Relationship with Himself

In review of Romans 1:7 it reads,  “I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people” (NLT).

God is the only permanent source of my security and salvation, and at the same time he is "my father".

The most important calling on my life isn't something I do. My most important calling isn’t to a role. It’s not to regulations, rules, or rituals. It’s not even to a religion. My first call, above all else, is to a relationship with God.

God wants me to be a part of his family. He wants me to be his child.

The most important thing that’ll ever happen to me isn’t something I’ll do. It’s something God will do. He’ll call me his child! He wants me to know him and love him and be his beloved son or daughter.

The Bible says it like this: “What an incredible quality of love the Father has shown to us, that we would be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are!” (1 John 3:1 AMP).

As I follow God, I don’t have to check off all the things I think I should do with my life. Focus on my relationship with God, and he will not only reveal my unique calling, he also will show me how to do what he wants me to do.

In summary, I am loved by God and am called to be his own holy son. God is the only permanent source of my security and salvation. The most important calling on my life isn't something I do, nor is it a role, regulation, rules or a ritual. My first call above all else, is to a relationship with God. The most important thing that'll ever happen to me isn't something I'll do. It's something God will do. He'll call me his child! He wants me to know and love him and be his beloved son. What I need to do is focus on my relationship with God, and he will not only reveal my unique calling, he will also show me how to do what he wants me to do.

As I think through this passage and devotion today, my natural tendency is that I need to be finding and doing something on my own to fulfill my primary calling. However, what I’m learning is that my only calling to have a relationship with the Father and Jesus. When I do so, He will show me what he wants me to do. I pray today father for that I not only listen by obey what you reveal to me. I pray for your wisdom and guidance for what lays ahead. I ask that you help the doctor’s who are treating me diagnose and provide a remedy and relief for my swelling. These things I pray through our Son Jesus name.