Good morning on this crisp Friday morning. I hope you are all expecting a great weekend and a wonderful worship service! If you are currently stuck in a hole, have ever been so in the past, or fear you will be one in the future, Sunday's message is for you. We will be talking about "Foxhole Faith" and the text will be Psalm 27:1, 4-9. Sunday School begins at 9:50 and Worship begins at 10:50. I hope to see you there! Here is today's devotional from "Connect the Testaments."
January 20: While You Are Waiting
Genesis 32–33; Matthew 24:29–25:13; Ecclesiastes 7:22–29
Jesus’ instructions to His disciples about His return have inspired many to incorrectly predict His second coming. But if we read His parables, we find that they’re not so focused on the future. Jesus prepares His disciples for His absence, and for the end times, because He wants them to be hopeful, expecting His return. He wants them to be ready and watchful. But He wants them to do all of these things by being fully engaged in the present, readying His kingdom.
Jesus’ parable of the Wise and Wicked Servants demonstrates this attitude. While the faithful and wise servant provides for the master’s household during his absence, the wicked servant uses the time flippantly: carousing and beating his fellow servants. When the master returns, the faithful servant is promoted for his service, and the wicked servant is punished. The parable presses the disciples to use their time wisely during Jesus’ absence by doing the work they were called to do.
The same exhortation goes out to us. Will we act like lone Christians—content to live life disconnected from God’s kingdom? Instead, we should be filled with hope, expectation, and overflowing with the good news. We should be willing to build up those around us, and attract those who have no hope.
As easy as it is to forget the eternal in our everyday lives, we can just as easily forget what God’s work right now means for eternity. Being actively engaged in the present means spreading the good news, and being involved in His work—using our gifts to nurture His coming kingdom.
Are you busy and active in God’s kingdom now? If not, what is keeping you from becoming so?
REBECCA VAN NOORD
John D. Barry and Rebecca Kruyswijk, Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012).
Have a blessed weekend!
Pastor Joe
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