The Reward For faithfulnessSpeaker: Dr. Paul Dhinakaran Gist: Even after accepting Christ, there would be occasions, when you might slip into sin. When the Spirit of God fills you all such temptations will flee from you and you become witness to Christ to the ends of the earth. The Holy Bible talks about a young man named Joseph, who was faithful to God, his father and to his master and how wonderfully God exalted him at the appointed time. His jealous brothers sold him to the traders. But God exalted him at the right time before the same jealous brothers and made him a blessing to not only his family but to his country itself. Joseph might have thought perhaps, "It is all because that they sold me as a slave. If I had only ignored my father's words, I would have never become a slave!" And he might have been heart-broken. Yet he obeyed his father. He honoured him and was faithful to him. That is why the Lord blessed him. Though Joseph was sold as a slave and worked as a bondman, he was faithful to his master. He might have thought, "The Lord has forsaken me. I am a slave now. My master is not of my kin. He is a total stranger. Why should I be faithful to him?" Yet, Joseph was faithful to his master. Joseph told his master's wife, "There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" (Genesis 39: 9)
"A faithful man will abound with blessings" (Proverbs 28:20). There is another man named Solomon in the Bible who obeyed God first and next to God he obeyed all the commands of his father. So, God blessed him.
Dear friend, in today's modern world, many a time situations may come in your life, where you may not be able to really understand the value of your parents and without your knowledge ignore to honour them. Give up such ways. Be obedient and faithful to your parents like Joseph in your lives, in your studies, in your jobs. It is God's desire that you should obey your parents and be faithful to them. In my life, though I carry heavy responsibilities, when my father says something and I do not do it accordingly but do it, as I want, it ends in failure. The Lord says, "It will be good for you to listen to the words of your parents and do their will. When they lead you in My path I will bless you."
Your friends may come to you and give suggestions that may sound perfect to their mind, never forget that the Lord is watching you. Try your level best to remain faithful before Him always. There were many temptations I had even after the Lord came into my life! Yet, I would commence each day with the prayer, "Lord! Grant me the strength I need today!" Even after I had accepted Christ, there would be occasions when you might slip into sin. But when the Spirit of God filled me, all such temptations fled from me. When the Holy Spirit comes upon us, we receive power and become witnesses to Christ to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).
My dear friend, you can live in this world faithfully, surrounded by the Lord's presence and obtain His perfect blessing. He has exalted me even in my 27 the year to go all over the world and proclaim His word to people in different nations and also discharge many other responsibilities. If I had listened to my friends and gone after the world's allurements, my life would have become miserable. But I said, "I will be faithful before the Lord Jesus. He will exalt me!" Accordingly, He has granted me His perfect blessing. He will give it to you as well. Be faithful to Jesus and to your parents in your studies, in your work. The Lord will exalt you.
Prayer:
Loving Lord Jesus,
You know the temptation that satan bring in my life through many ways. Please make a way for me to come out of all the sin that I have committed thus far of my own and as my friends encouraged me to do it. I plead You to kindly cleanse me from all my sin and make me Your precious and beloved child. Bless me and make me a blessing to all even to those friends who showed me the wrong way. Help me to remain faithful always before You, my parents and before my worldly masters, and in my job. I give You all the glory and honour.
Amen. |