Daily Encouragement | A scripture-based, 60-second, challenge toward fidelity in living-out the call to Christian discipleship! | Page 1077

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“Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.” (Proverbs 27:2)

As the saying goes: “If it were easy, everyone would be doing it.”

Working faithfully while waiting to be acknowledged is, sometimes, very difficult. Self-promotion is nothing new. People have been burnishing their image, publishing their credentials, and boasting about their strengths since the beginning of time.

However, the wisdom of God encourages us to let our praise come from the mouth of others; from the lips of those who have no ulterior motive or hidden interest. A few words of praise from such people is worth more than thousands of words of self-promotion.

Choose the narrow path. It is worth the solitude, the work, and the wait. – Luther

Tagged humility, self-promotion, the book of Proverbs

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“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:47-48, NIV)

Accountability.

The harsh images of this passage remind us of three important things about accountability: Knowing, being, and doing.

First, we are to know the Master’s will. As we are instructed in 2 Timothy 2:15: Study to show ourselves approved of God, a workman who need not be ashamed.” Second, we are to be in the state of readiness. Third, we are to do our duty in obedience to our Master’s will. To know, to be, or to do otherwise invites rebuke.

Be diligent in both the acquisition of the tools of discipleship — and in the use of those tools for the glory of God — so that when the Master returns, you may have reason for great joy when called to give an accounting of your stewardship of time, talent, and treasure. – Luther

Tagged accountability, the book of Luke

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“During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the Lord.” (2 Samuel 21: 1, NIV)

The are times in life when events confound us, as the three successive years of famine confounded King David. In our lives, we may be confounded by the rise of our rivals; or the dogged persistence of evil; or the patent unfairness of life; or a dozen other issues or situations.

At such times, we can consult our friends and confer with our mentors, guides, and sponsors. Or, we can — as David did — seek first the face of the Lord.

The faithful disciple of Jesus has no other refuge. Our heavenly Father is always our first resource for making sense of life. – Luther

Tagged God's wisdom, the book of 2 Samuel, trial