One Year Bible Reading Plan and Devotional
Today’s Bible Reading: February 8
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Clicking on the Scripture links above will open a new window where you can read the scripture from the Holman Christian Standard Bible at Biblegateway.com or choose the Bible version you prefer to read. Check back each day to get the Scripture to read in the One Year Bible Reading Plan.
Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant
Hearing, “Well done!” or “Cast him into outer darkness!”
Whenever we have worked hard and done our best, we like for others to take notice of our efforts. We bask in the words, “Well done!” In Jesus’ parable of the talents, the Lord tells of two faithful servants who used what they had been given to increase the master’s wealth. When the master returned from a long absence, he rewarded his two faithful servants and said to each of them, “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!”
However, a third servant was given one talent but rather than increasing his master’s wealth, he hid the talent until the master returned and then returned the talent to the master. The master’s response was, “You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Saved by grace through faith…not by works
To hear those words, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” from Jesus, first make sure you are saved. The unbelieving will never hear those words, for “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). As you recognize that Jesus is not only your Savior, but your Lord (see Luke 6:46), we are to “Serve the LORD with gladness!” (Psalm 100:2, ESV). When we understand exactly what Jesus went through for him to be our Redeemer, there should be nothing but joy as we serve Him.
However, I must point out that Christian are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9). Doing good works does not cancel out our sin debt and get us a ticket into heaven. But as a child of God, we are saved “to do good works” (Ephesians 2:10). In other words, God gives us – His children – tasks to do for Him. He also gives us gifts and skills that enable us to carry out His plan for us. Every Christian has an assignment. It isn’t just pastors or worship leaders or missionaries. It’s also children, senior adults, those with health issues, the blind, the deaf. Whoever you are, if you are a child of God, you have an assignment…and it’s more than just warming your favorite seat at church on Sunday.
Is it necessary to serve God
Is it really necessary to serve God? What is the purpose of changing our priorities to accomplish tasks that God could honestly do better and more quickly without us? Peter addresses the importance of serving God in 1 Peter 4:10-11: “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
Peter makes it clear that we have received our gifts from God for two purposes— to serve others and to bring praise to God. Serving isn’t about us receiving attention or glory; it is for Him to receive glory. He says believers should recognize that we are speaking and serving directly on behalf of God to others, while He gives the ability and strength for us to do so. And when we direct glory towards Him instead of accepting it for ourselves, we stand out from the crowd of those who glorify only themselves. And that difference in our lives causes people to examine the life-changing nature of a relationship with Jesus Christ. It validates our faith in front of others.
Giving ourselves to God is our spiritual act of worship (the Greek word for “spiritual” can also be translated “reasonable”). It’s only reasonable that we would serve the God who has provided the greatest service of all: salvation from sin and self and eternal life with Him in heaven.
Half Done or Well Done?
Whatever the task, we can try to take the easy way or just half do whatever God has called us to do. But that is not the way to hearing Him say, “Well done.” Or, we can give it our all, depend on Him and watch what God will do with our efforts.
Paul writes that we whatever we do in word or deed is for God’s glory (Colossians 3:17). This is the overarching principle that should govern the life of the believer.
Whenever we have worked hard and done our best, we like for others to take notice of our efforts. We bask in the words, “Well done!” Adrian Rogers, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, tells a story about a man who made his sons work in the cornfields while their peers spent the afternoon at the swimming hole. Someone scolded the father saying, “Why do you make those boys work so hard? You don’t need all that corn,” The wise father replied, “Sir, I’m not raising corn, I’m raising boys.” Like the father in Adrian Rogers story, God isn’t just raising Christians. He is raising eternal beings created in His image to be more and more like Him and to live with Him in heaven.
Our Assignments Now Prepare Us to Serve Him Then
In John 14, Jesus said he was going away to prepare a place for us. But while we are still here on earth, God is preparing us for the place that He has prepared for us. In heaven, we are not going all be sitting on fluffy clouds floating around. Revelation 22:3 says “His servants will serve Him.” The Bible doesn’t tell us exactly how we will serve Him, but serving Him will be the highest honor we could imagine. Serving Him here on earth is getting us ready to serve Him for all eternity.
Our reward is “Well Done”
Hearing God say, “Well done!” is the reward for the good and faithful servant who is reliable and loyal. It is the words one hears when their character reflects the character of God. The more we prove ourselves reliable to the task that God has called us to, the greater the responsibility He will give. Every Christian will give an account for how he or she lived their life on earth. Those who consistently lived obedient lives and followed God’s priorities will hear God say, “Well done!” Pleasing our Heavenly Father should be all the praise and reward we need.
It all comes down to this: love God more than anything, and love others sincerely (Mark 12:30–31). At the judgment seat of Christ, those who are faithful to the Lord who saved them will hear those words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” No true servant of the Lord could ask for more.
#ReadYourBible #Leviticus #Matthew #welldone #goodandfaithfulservant #servingGod
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