Faithful In The Least
After reading some old post and after the blog went through a small identity crisis, I decided to return to just telling the things that God has been showing me (and a few tidbits as to what’s going on with life as well). While I know that sounds rather uninteresting, it’s what I know God would want me to do. I sat here contemplating how I could get more readers and try to get the blog better known. The truth is, I don’t need it to be. God brings the readers here that He wants to be here. If that happens to be only a few people from time to time, then so be it. But I think it’s best if I just keep things the way He would want it.
This made me think of Matthew 25:21 which reads: “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” This is near the end of the parable about the talents. Each servant was given a certain amount that they were entrusted with. One of them had doubled his investement, the smallest amount, and was given the best reward. Sometimes I think we all become to ambitious. I know I have at times. Even recently I’ve caught myself trying to jump ahead of what God’s will seems to be. We begin to think that we can somehow change up our pace without involving God and end up messing the whole thing up. But when it comes down to it, if we just are faithful and do what God wants us to do with the our smallest gifts, then He will multiply the blessings beyond what we can count.
Not By My Strength
The cliche verse is Philippians 4:13 which says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I didn’t label cliche, I saw it on another Christian blog listed as a cliche. It’s a truth we can grasp and hold on to. It is true forever and while seemingly overused, it remains the truth. Today I had a frustrating day. Yet, I know that God gave me the strength to make it through the day.
I encounter kids all the time that make the day more difficult. Today was rough with some of them. But, I know that God has it all worked out and He is there to help me conquer any obstacle. Isaiah 41:10 says: “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” You might think dealing with difficult children is a rather nominal issue to deal with, but enough problems consecutively, and anyone can get pushed over the edge. It becomes a further problems when you must deal with parents that have to invent reasons why their child might misbehave–even if that makes the teacher out to be made a liar. Obviously, this complicates what should have been simple discipline and undermines one’s authority.
So, how do I keep from losing my cool and just throwing a chair? The end of Isaiah 41:10 ends with; “I will hold you up with my VICTORIOUS right hand.” (emphasis mine). Look at the word victorious. Isn’t it great to know that with God, we will always end up victorious? It might not always seem that way but in the end, we have victory to look forward to.
It is that hope that helps me through the roughest of days. That, along with Philippians 4:13 help remind me that it’s not about me and that I am not doing it on my own strength. Our children’s church lesson taught us to look at ourselves as a guitar pick and to look at God as the guitar player. Nobody thanks the pick for it’s work, but the commend the player. If we use that mind set, we should be looking forward to the finale when our “guitar player” gets His well deserved standing ovation.
