The Well
The Well |
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Connecting Hope to the Hurting | |
Tuesday
February 5, 2008
Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful. What about
me? Have I been faithful? Well, it matters very little what you or anyone else
thinks. I don't even trust my own judgment on this point. My conscience is
clear, but that isn't what matters. It is the Lord himself who will examine me
and decide. So be careful not to jump to conclusions before the Lord returns as
to whether or not someone is faithful. When the Lord comes, he will bring our
deepest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. And then God will
give to everyone whatever praise is due.
1 Corinthians 4:2-5
God's standard is totally different from the standard set by the world, and in this setting, the world includes the church. We tend to judge faithfulness by outward appearances, not inward motives. God does just the opposite.
One of the songs that I consider my "testimony" song is one from an old recording by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, "He's Been Faithful." The song implies that no matter where I've been, no matter how low I've gotten, no matter how many times I couldn't pray, no matter how selfish I've been…God's been faithful to me! Amen and amen! He has, He is, and He will!
Now, in all of those moments of crisis and darkness did I feel His faithfulness? No! As a matter of fact, many times I honestly felt that He was angry at me, didn't love me, and that He actually regretted having allowed me to walk this earth in the first place. Where would I come up with such accusations against the Creator of the Universe? From Satan through man!
Listen brothers and sisters, just because someone isn't faithful in attending church every time the doors open — that doesn't mean they aren't faithful. God wants us to be faithful to the task He has called us to do — not to what the world expects from us! When we begin to live in this way, keeping our eyes on Jesus and off of the world, we will have one of the most precious gifts God prepared for us through His Son. Receive Jesus' words: "'I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid.'" John 14:27 Yes, I believe that God wants us to be faithful in attending worship services in church, but more importantly He wants us to be faithful to Him! That faithfulness is worship too!
Father, we need You, through Your Holy Spirit, to instruct us in the truth. Help us with our motives. We want to be faithful, committed, to Your call. Show us Your will and Your way. Set us free from legalism and release us to worship You by being faithful in examining our motives – no matter what we have determined in the flesh to do. We want to please You!
