Faithful In Little Things

Good day One and All,

In the world of sports, there are a few athletes who live their faiths as it were on their sleeve. This has surprised sports fans and coaches when it comes to them being professional athletes. In a world of self-aggrandisement, some professional sports figures still rank God as number one in their lives, and they're not afraid to show their dedication and religious beliefs both on and off the field. With so much corruption and disruption in the sporting world, the list of athletes and coaches who have deep religious faiths and live out their religion as the major light of their lives is still popular.

Such persons as Josh Hamilton according to Newsmax Media, Inc. — “The five-time Major League Baseball All-Star and Texas Rangers outfielder came clean about his struggles with addiction to drugs and alcohol in his autobiography "Beyond Belief," and said he credits God for saving his life and career. "It's a God thing," he says.

Greg Ellis — The former Dallas Cowboys linebacker turned to God after serious injuries threatened his career. In a video for non-profit group "I Am Second," he said: "God just had a different plan. He blessed me to be the comeback player of the year in the NFL. You have to realize that there is a God and he does show up and do miracles. My faith in Jesus is everything. It is my life."

Michael Chang — The top tennis player won a Grand Slam singles title in 1989 and immediately thanked Jesus for his victory, saying, "Without Him, I am nothing."

John “Buddy” Ford a Bermudian former cyclist who competed in the individual road race event at the 1984 Summer Olympics, and now owner of A-Ford-Able Massage & Therapy. As he passes out a smile button or does a good deed for someone without looking back. You contently see the power of God in him saying, “I counted all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Today the word of the Lord to us is, “Be ye faithful in little things.”  In the book of Luke 19:17 the word of the Lord says, “And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.” 

God is speaking to everyone about their talents. It is said by them of old that a person with a natural ability that needs to be developed is called a talent. This is liken to persons with the FACULTY, APTITUDE, BENT, GENIUS, KNACK  or special ability for doing something that is calls a talent. On the other hand a gift often implies special favor by God such as found in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11. Let us take a few moments to read it. Paul drives this point home in Romans 12:6-8 / 1 Corinthians 12:28-31, when he talks about Gods church having different gifts. But always remember that it is God that gives the gifts to His church and not men. Ephesians 4:11-16.

According to our text today we see that talents used are talents multiplied. Success is not the result of chance or of destiny; it is the outworking of God's own providence, the reward of faith and discretion, of virtue and persevering effort. The Lord desires us to use every gift we have; and if we do this, we shall have greater gifts to use. He does not supernaturally endow us with the qualifications we lack; but while we use that which we have, He will work with us to increase and strengthen every faculty.

Through faith in the power of God, it is wonderful how strong a weak man may become, how decided his efforts, how prolific of great results. He who begins with a little knowledge, in a humble way, and tells what he knows, while seeking diligently for further knowledge, will find the whole heavenly treasure awaiting his demand. The more he seeks to impart light, the more light he will receive.

The man [in the parable] who received the one talent “went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.” It was the one with the smallest gift who left his talent unimproved. In this is given a warning to all who feel that the smallness of their endowments excuses them from service for Christ. If they could do some great thing, how gladly would they undertake it; but because they can serve only in little things, they think themselves justified in doing nothing. In this they err. The Lord in His distribution of gifts is testing character. The man who neglected to improve his talent proved himself an unfaithful servant. Had he received five talents, he would have buried them as he buried the one.

Remember, however small your talent, God has a place for it. That one talent, wisely used, will accomplish its appointed work. By faithfulness in little duties, we are to work on the plan of addition, and God will work for us on the plan of multiplication. So be faithful in little things, and God has promised that they will become the most precious influence through your life, and in His work.

“This is THE VERDICT OF GRACE. Blessed is the man who shall acknowledge himself to be an unfaithful servant—and blessed is the man to whom His Lord shall say, “You good and faithful servant…” God first gives us Grace and then rewards us for it! He works in us and then counts the fruit as our work. We work out our own salvation, because “He works in us to will and to do of His own good pleasure.” If He shall ever say, “Well done” to you and to me it will be because of His own rich Grace and not because of our merits! And, indeed, this is where we must all come and where we must all stay, for the idea that we have any personal merit will soon make us find fault with our Master and His service as being austere and hard.” Charles Spurgeon’s Sermon on the Parable of the Talents June 6, 1880

For further reading, go to Luke 19:11-26 / Matthew 25:14-30 / Mark 13:32-37.

A prayerful moment: Father, help me to be faithful in small things always. Amen

Song of the day: No Higher Calling

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Blessings, Blessing, Blessings

  

Garden Ministry Devotionals are written by Chaplain Dr. Kevin J.T. Santucci

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