Encouragement for Today

August 8, 2023 Faithful in the Everyday ANNE GRAHAM LOTZ & RACHEL-RUTH LOTZ WRIGHT Lee en español

“… ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” Matthew 25:21 (NIV)

My (Rachel-Ruth’s) grandmother hung over her kitchen sink a sign that said Divine Service Will Be Conducted Here Three Times Daily. It was a continual reminder that even mundane, everyday chores should be done as unto the Lord.

The Bible confirms that one day, cooking, traveling, transportation and other day-to-day activities will have inscribed on them “HOLY TO THE LORD” (Zechariah 14:20-21, NIV).

When I’m in the middle of cooking another dinner or driving to one more practice or answering a never-ending stream of emails, I need to take a deep breath and remember that everything I do should be done as unto God. For His glory.

Much of the Christian’s walk consists of being faithful in the everyday. As we wait for Jesus’ return, we must continue to faithfully live out our lives for Jesus in all things, including life’s not-so-glamorous tasks. In fact, we can have an incredible encounter with God in the middle of those menial tasks. We see this throughout Scripture:

• Moses encountered God when he was on the far side of the desert, tending his father-in-law’s sheep. God spoke to Moses through a burning bush and called him to return to Egypt, where God would use him to set the Israelites free from slavery (Exodus 3).
• The woman at the well encountered Jesus while filling her jar with water. Jesus, the Living Water, completely changed her life in one conversation (John 4)!
• Mary and Martha opened their home, served others a meal, and had a front-row seat to Jesus’ ministry (Luke 10:38-42).

Each of these people was faithfully carrying out their day-to-day tasks when they encountered God in a personal, life-changing way.

Could that be you? Are you, like them, faithfully working day in and day out? Whether you’re a janitor scrubbing toilets, a mom in the carpool line, a dad helping his son with homework, an administrative assistant in an urban high-rise, a caregiver for a sick relative, a CEO in a morning meeting, a college student, or a cashier — whatever work the Lord has you doing — are you faithful?

God sees you go the extra mile to help someone at the office. He sees you work hard when others around you are cutting corners and leaving early. He sees you stay up late to do the dishes, start a load of laundry, and pack your kids’ lunches. He sees you wake up early to pray and study the Bible before you leave for a busy day at work. God sees you and your faithfulness, even when you think no one sees or cares!

When Jesus returns, wouldn’t it be wonderful to hear Him exclaim, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21)?

What task has God assigned to you that you feel isn’t very significant? Whatever it is, God is watching. Open your eyes and heart to a fresh encounter with Him every day.

Lord, help me to be faithful where You have called me in this season. Lift up my eyes to see that even while I am doing the most ordinary task in front of me, I may have an incredible encounter with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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FOR DEEPER STUDY

Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (NIV).

What are your daily responsibilities? Examine your attitude toward them. If you believed that your faithfulness to God’s calling could open the door for a life-changing encounter with Him, how would it change your perspective on your work today?

© 2023 by Anne Graham Lotz and Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries thanks WaterBrook & Multnomah for their sponsorship of today’s devotion.

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