Tag Archives: faithfulness

July 3
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“Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.” (Acts 14:19-20, NIV)

Stoned, and left for dead. 

As amazing as it is that Paul survived such abuse, what is even more amazing is what he did afterward: “He got up and went back into the city.”

We can only guess at Paul’s reasons for returning to the scene of his humiliation, pain, and near-death experience.  Perhaps, Paul chose to re-enter the city for the benefit of the disciples who had refused to abandon him. 

How do we serve those that walk the extra mile with us through difficulties, trials, disappointments, and sorrows? Do we remember that for such people the return distance home is one mile longer because of us?

If Paul and Barnabas had departed for Derbe from where Paul had been dragged by the mob, it would have been a shorter journey — and a lot less stressful. (And they did, indeed, leave for Derbe the following day!) However, in the moment, Paul chose to re-enter the city.

We do well — after we’ve “gotten up” — to return to those who have stood-by us with the blessing of our literal presence, and our gratitude. 

If God has saved you through one fire, remember that God also has the power to save you through a hundred fires more. Do not shirk the opportunity, whether because of fear or personal inconvenience, to be a living example to others of God’s faithfulness.  – Luther

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April 19
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“The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.”  (Luke 23: 55-56, NIV)

“The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.  ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’  So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.’ “Take a guard,’ Pilate answered. ‘Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.’  So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.”  (Matthew 27: 62-66, NIV)

On the Saturday after Good Friday, life continued. 

The women who were disciples of Jesus prepared to do the next necessary thing as best they could before ceasing all work in obedience to God’s commandment.  Meanwhile, the opponents of Jesus were also making preparations to thwart any “deceptions” by the crucified Lord’s followers. Neither friend nor foe expected what was to occur in God’s plan, in God’s time, in God’s way on Sunday morning.

As current-day disciples of Jesus, we should aspire to be like the women: Doing all that we can, while we can, for the next necessary thing before us; but always giving God’s word and God’s will priority — even if God commands that we stop, rest, and wait in the midst of the darkest day of our lives; even as the enemies of God plot against us.

In hindsight, we see that God used the women’s faithfulness in ways that tied together all of Good Friday’s “loose ends,” while utterly frustrating the designs of His enemies. Looking ahead, we must also be diligent, faithful, and obedient if we are to be — as the women were on Resurrection Sunday: First witnesses to the incomparable faithfulness and power of God.

We can be like that!  – Luther

Reminder: Daily Encouragement will be on break tomorrow.  Have a great day in the celebration of our Lord’s resurrection, and the fact that as He is, so shall we — because He said it, and has the power to make it so!  Lord willing, see you on Monday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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April 11
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“‘Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine [Goliath] will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.’ Saul said to David, ‘Go, and the Lord be with you.'” (1 Samuel 17:36-37, NIV)

Yesterday, we were encouraged to use our memory of God’s goodness to provoke us to be grateful.  Today’s scripture encourages us to use our memory of God’s faithfulness to provoke us to trust and faith in our heavenly Father — at all times, and in every circumstance.

David’s faith, confidence, and courage at the great, public moment of his confrontation with Goliath had as its foundation the lesser, private moments in his life when God had been equally faithful.  God’s power and faithfulness is no less when we’re facing a giant before an audience of thousands, than it is when we were confronting ordinary foes in the wilderness. 

When facing the giant (whatever or whomever it might be), recall our heavenly Father’s faithfulness and power in the less public periods of your life.  It will give you the faith, the confidence, and the courage you need to overcome!  – Luther

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