Be encouraged

1 Corinthians 4:2 (ESV)

Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

In the early 1800's a preacher gave a message to call men to join him on the mission field in Africa. In the audience were only a few women along with a boy. The pastor knew that few women were expected to volunteer to face harsh African jungle conditions. However, he gave the message; and no one responded. What he didn't realize was that he had touched the heart of a little boy whose name was David Livingstone. This boy would grow up to spend the rest of his life ministering to Africa's unreached tribes.

David Livingstone was touched by the faithfulness of a pastor who gave his message when there seemed to be no obvious fruit from its delivery – and that made all the difference! The lesson is this: we are not in charge of results, but only responsible to be faithful to what God has given us to do. You may not be seeing any fruit from your obedient labor at the moment – it may appear next week, next year or a century from now, but in its time the fruit will appear, and may be greater than you could have ever imagined. Heaven will, one day, reveal the fruit of lives we have touched by our faithfulness!

Be encouraged – and don't give up. Your faithful stewardship will produce its true harvest which will never fade or pass away!

Dear Lord, help us be faithful and not give up when there seems to be no fruit. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Happy New Year 2015 - Commitments

Luke 9:23 (NIV)

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

When missionary Dr. David Livingstone was working in Africa, a group of friends wrote him: "We would like to send other men to you. Have you found a good road into your area yet?" Dr. Livingstone sent this message in reply: "If you have men who will only come if they know there is a good road, I don't want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all."

There’s a big difference between just being interested in doing something and actually making a commitment to doing it! Just being interested allows us the freedom do a thing only when our circumstances permit. But making a commitment to do that thing means accepting no excuses and no reservations — it means putting aside our fears and reservations moving forward till we see the end result! Dr. Livingstone was looking for results, and this required men of commitment!

As we head into 2015 let’s make some commitments! Our Lord, our families, our jobs and our congregations are awaiting us!

Dear Lord, we pray that we will be committed to serve You this year. Help us reach out to those around us and share Your love with them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

When You Think Nobody is Listening.

Ecclesiastes 11:6 (New International Version)

Sow your seed in the morning,

   and at evening let your hands not be idle,

for you do not know which will succeed,

   whether this or that,

   or whether both will do equally well.

When Robert Moffat, Scottish missionary to South Africa, came home to recruit helpers in his homeland, he was greeted by the fury of a cold British winter. Arriving at the church where he was to speak, he noted that only a small group had braved the elements to hear his appeal. What disturbed him even more was that there were only ladies in attendance that night, for he had chosen as his text, "Unto you, O men, I call" (Proverbs 8:4).

When he gave his appeal that night, nobody answered the call or volunteered for missionary service. But what Moffat almost didn't see was a small boy in the loft who had come to work the bellows of the organ and he was greatly challenged by the message.

Deciding that he would follow in the footsteps of this pioneer missionary, he went on to school, obtained a degree in medicine, and then spent the rest of his life ministering to the unreached tribes of Africa. His name? David Livingstone!

Dear Lord we pray today that we would not to become discouraged when we see little or no results, but that we would keep faithfully serving You no matter what. In Jesus' name. Amen.