One Year Bible Reading Plan and Devotional
Today’s Bible Reading: February 8
Download the full one-year Bible reading plan here:
One Year Bible Reading Plan
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
Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template
Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.
Visit our three retail experiences:
Tee of the Week: The Greatest Valentine’s Day
On Valentine’s Day, we celebrate love and there’s no greater love than Christ who laid down His life so that we can have eternal life. From John 3:16, this design is on t-shirts, long-sleeved tees, kids tees, mugs, bags, tumblers and more. Click the link to see all the available products in this design.
Visit our YouTube Channels for Christian playlists and our short animated devotionals.
Animated Devotionals
Contemporary Christian Music Playlist
Southern Gospel Playlist
Just Hymns
God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars
by Julia M. Bruce
What’s Inside God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars?
This book includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:
- Scripture to memorize and meditate on
- Conversation Starters
- Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages
- Romance Builders
- Relationship Builders
- Personal reflections
- Date ideas
- Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples
Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and Barnes & Nobel. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.
Join the community of couples on Facebook who are committed to intentionally growing their marriage and learning how to have a marriage that honors God. Here you can post photos of the different activities as you do them, ask questions of other couples, share how God is using this book to strengthen your marriage, and grow with other Christian couples. We’ll see you in the community.
Bible Studies, Bibles, Books & More
Looking for a Bible Study, Bible, book or Christian gift? We are an affiliate with Christianbook Distributors and receive an 8% commission on any item purchased through one of our links. However, the commission never increases your cost of any item. View some of our favorite items by clicking on the logo and thank you for supporting our ministry.
Wellspring Christian Ministries receives an 8% commission on any purchased made from Christian Book Distributors through any affiliate link on this site. Your price for any item is the same as purchasing from CBD directly.
See our other recent posts:
904.239.8937
A non-profit ministry located in Jacksonville, FL
Follow us on:
