“Faithful in That Which Is Least”
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. Luke 16:10.
The active service of God is directly connected with the ordinary duties of life, even its humblest occupations. We are to serve God just where He puts us. He is to place us individually, and not we ourselves. Perhaps service in the home life is the place we are to occupy for a time, if not always. Then a preparation for that work should be obtained, that we may do our best in service for the Lord.
The Lord is testing and proving us to see what sort of timbers, or attributes, we are bringing into the character building. If we are listless and indifferent, negligent and careless, in the small, everyday duties we shall never be fitted for any other service for God. . . . He that is unfaithful in that which is least would certainly repeat this unfaithfulness if placed in higher positions of trust and given larger responsibilities. . . . The service of God will be done in a haphazard manner. . . .
The importance of little things is underrated just because they are small, but the influence of the little things for good or evil is great. They supply much of the actual discipline of life for every human being. They are part of the training of the soul in the sanctification of all our entrusted talents to God. Faithfulness in the little things in the line of duty makes the worker in God’s service reflect more and more the likeness of Christ.
Our Saviour is a Saviour for the perfection of the whole man. He is not the God of part of the being only. The grace of Christ works to the disciplining of the whole human fabric. He made all. He has redeemed all. He has made the mind, the strength, the body as well as the soul, partaker of the divine nature, and all is His purchased possession. He must be served with the whole mind, heart, soul, and strength. Then the Lord will be glorified in His saints in even the common, temporal things with which they are connected. “Holiness unto the Lord” will be the inscription placed upon them.
That I May Know Him p. 331
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Prayer Requests
—– I request your prayers for a Bible memorization seminar I will, if the Lord wills it, be leading at the Salem Central Church this weekend, December 27-29. We all need God’s grace and power. Thank you. Rich
—–Please pray for my friend Sheryl who is hospitalized with a bad kidney infection and kidney stones. Pray for healing for her and peace and comfort for her family. Rose
—–Please pray for Carolyn who has just been diagnosed liver cancer. Pray that God will place His healing hand upon her. Pray for her family as well. Rose
—– I am writing this to tell you that my relative has died. Thank you for praying! I believe this was better for him and for the family. Please remember our family. Stefan
—– Please pray for Michelle, who is bipolar, and is asking for special prayer, for freedom from many health issues. She is very involved in ministry to others. A special prayer team is asking us to join them at 1 PM Pacific time…. thanks Holly & Carol
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Dear Friends,
One day, when my grandfather, Ed Harmon, was about 12, he was walking across a very high train trestle in one of his many times where he spent months in the woods. When he was about half way across, he began to feel some vibration. He put his ear down on the track and could hear a train coming. Fear filled him. He knew the he did not have enough time to get across that trestle. He could not jump because it was too far down and there were many sharp rocks in the shallow river beneath him. He was in grave danger.
Suddenly he thought of a plan. If this plan didn’t work, he knew he would fall to his death on the rocks below. He climbed between the rails and shinnied down the huge wooden log that was part of the trestle. He got down to a “v” where two giant logs crossed each other. The vibration from the train was so bad that he nearly lost his grip. He knew he could climb no further. Wedging himself in that “v” and holding on with all his strength, he waited. In moments the trestle was vibrating violently. He felt like he was being shaken to pieces. He prayed for strength to hold on. The train was overhead now, and those huge supporting logs were swaying. He thought he was going to die.
The train passed. He was still alive but very sore. He stayed wedged in that “v” for a long time trying to regain his strength. He felt as weak as a baby. He knew that if he tried to move, he would fall. After about an hour, he began to climb back up to the trestle and walked shakily to the other side. From that moment he vowed that he would never cross a trestle that was so long that he could not get to the other side if a train was coming.
Sometimes, just as my grandfather did, we get into dangerous situations spiritually. We often are careless and not aware of the danger we are in until there is no way out. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” 1 Peter 5:8 That adversary of souls leads us into situations where we are as trapped as my grandfather was. But, praise God, there is a way of escape! Paul warns us in 1 Corinthians 10:12, 13: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
When we feel like we are being shaken to pieces by troubles, trials, and temptations, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6 Our only safety is in His great arms of love. He is our Good Shepherd. He says, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.” 10:14,15 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matt 11:28
We respond to Him, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. Ps 56:3 “I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. 18:1-3 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” Isa 12:2,3
May we, at the first sign of the tempter, run to Jesus’ strong arms. May we dwell in safety there. May we find rest and peace in His loving care is my prayer.
Rose