Being Trustworthy

Want to be trusted in your job? Looking to get promoted and have more responsibility? Instead of kissing up to your boss, start by being trustworthy. Be that worker, your supervisor can go to when they need something done. Be the coworker who is there to help others even if you don’t get credit. Put time and effort into the small things and watch as God blesses them,

‭‭Luke‬ ‭16:10

He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.

Jesus had just finished telling the story about the dishonest manager who was going to get fired by his master. It tells of how he slashed the bills of everyone who owed his master money in hopes that they would show him favor when he was out on the street because he didn’t have the strength to do manual labor. Jesus uses that as a platform to talk about being trustworthy.

Leaning on God’s Promises

Did you know that there are over seven hundred promises in the Bible? One of my favorites says, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” Those are weighty words, and I have learned to trust them over the years. Are you leaning on God’s promises, or are you caught up in money worries? Be content. Trust Jesus to bring your through. Watch as you come out on the other side, stronger and full of faith.

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:5

“Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,”

From the beginning, God has told Israel that they didn’t have to worry about anything. He would provide. Israel struggled with the faith needed to trust Him. God promised a land flowing with milk and honey, and Israel whined and complained the whole 40 years in the desert. God hasn’t backed down from the promise for His children today, yet many still struggle with trusting Him.

Show Some Hospitality

In the movie “Beauty and the Beast,” there is a song that the household servants sing called “Be My Guest.” They are showing hospitality to Belle in hopes that she will be the one who will break the curse and will change them from being household items back into humans. It’s a beautiful reminder that we, as Christians, should show some hospitality to those in our world. Who knows? You might entertain angels unknowingly.

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:1-2

“Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

Hospitality is a dying art in the church. You watch shows like House Hunters on HGTV, and the people always want space to entertain, but in the church, no one wants to open their house. Hospitality is more than a gift. It’s a command from scripture. It is a way we show the love of Christ to our church family and neighbors. Neglecting it removes a weapon from the arsenal of the believer against the spiritual warfare that is waged.

Searching the Horizon

Reunions are one of the most touching things to watch, especially when a grown child returns to see their parents. The anticipation on the mother’s eyes as they search the horizon for the first sight of their child is almost unbearable. As soon as they appear, feelings of relief and joy are all over their…

Angels are Rejoicing in Heaven

Ever lost something, and you considered it a lost cause. Heard a story of a lady who lost her wedding band for over a week and discovered it on the bed of her husband’s truck after it had gone on a long trip. She was rejoicing that it was found. The same can be said when you give your life to Jesus. The angels are rejoicing in heaven.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭15:7

I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Who in their right mind would value the one over the ninety-nine? That sounds pretty reckless to me. More is always better in our minds, but in Jesus’ case, He came for those who were lost (which by the way is everyone). Only the self-righteous don’t think they are sinners or need to repent. Jesus came for those who are open to His salvation.

Exactly What You Need

Being a parent of four children is my greatest joy. That they’ve made it to being teenagers is my greatest accomplishment. All joking aside, being a parent is the hardest thing I have ever done. The most challenging part is disciplining them when they have disobeyed. I don’t want to do it, but it is what they needed. God disciplines those He loves, and it is exactly what you need.

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:6‬

My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.

The Lord disciplines those He loves. He does it for several reasons. Most importantly, He does it to keep us in line. Any child that is left to his own will eventually wander off the path and into trouble. Jesus knows that and disciplines you to keep you from hurting yourself. His discipline is so much a rebuke as it is a correction. He doesn’t want any harm to come to you.

Run with Endurance

Running is not my thing. I would much rather ride my mountain bike. For those that run, they will tell you about the runner’s high. It is the feeling you get when you hit your rhythm, and you feel like you have tons of energy. That is what the author of Hebrews tells the Jewish disciples since we have had so many great come before us, in this race of life run with endurance.

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:1

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

Elite marathoners run with very little clothing on their bodies. They obsess over the weight of their shoes because they know any extra weight will weigh them down. The same is true for Christians. We can’t be encumbered with the worries of this world or entangled in sin. We need to be lean and light to reach the finish line. If you are light on motivation, look to those who have run before you.

Take the Humble Approach

Dinner parties can be uncomfortable. You have to generate small talk with strangers and make sure you keep your emotions under control. You don’t want to laugh too hard or be too cold. It gets awkward when it is time to sit down and eat because you are unsure where to sit. Take some advice from Jesus and sit away from the head of the table. Take the humble approach.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭14:10

“But when you are invited, go and recline at the last place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will have honor in the sight of all who are at the table with you.”

Eating was a little different back in Jesus’ day. They would eat at tables only a few feet off of the ground. There were no chairs but instead pillows that you would lounge on. It was noticeable if someone got up or down as opposed to being in a chair. So, he tells His listeners to sit at the opposite end of the host’s table instead of in a place closer to him. This showed humility on their part, but then the host would move you up, and it would bring honor.

Step Out in Faith

In the movie Raiders of the Last Ark, Indiana Jones has to cross over a gulch where there appears to be no way. It’s all part of a puzzle to acquire one of the relics that he collects. In the riddle to find the relic, he is supposed to step out, and a way will appear. Jones doesn’t have faith in the riddle, so when he gets to the gulch, he throws out sand and discovers an invisible bridge to the relic. That’s how a lot of Christians treat their faith. God has something incredible for them if they will step out in faith, but they don’t out of fear.

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:1

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Chapter eleven is what is known as the Fatih Hall of Fame. It goes through history and lists how the famous Bible characters showed their faith. Before the author of Hebrews gets there, he gives us the clearest and concise definition of faith in the Bible. Faith is being sure of things we hope for like heaven and the conviction that things like the Holy Spirit exist. For there to be faith, there has to be hope and conviction. If there weren’t, there wouldn’t be belief.

The Principle of the Last Being First

How many times did your mom tell you to wait and let someone else go first? She wanted to teach you the principle of the last being first. Now, this is not a rock-solid rule in everything. The Dodgers just won the World Championship in Baseball by being first, but in most areas of life, it does apply. A true gentleman opens the door for a lady. When it’s time to eat, we make sure the elderly eat first. These are all part of the principle of the last being first.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭13:30

“And behold, some are last who will be first and some are first who will be last.”

The Pharisees in Jesus’ day loved to give the impression of being humble, but secretly they loved the attention and craved the honor of sitting at the head of the table. Jesus was the polar opposite. He didn’t wear his religion on His sleeve but lived in how He went about His day. He was humble.