Faithfulness in Little Things

With so many of you taking the step of being baptized in the Holy Spirit over the past two weeks, one of the most important reminders I can offer is this--remember that faithfulness to God is developed in the "little things."  Often when we have enjoyed a mountain top experience, we want to stay in that.  We feel so close to God in those moments that we want to do something BIG for God.  That's fantastic, it really is, but we do most of our living someplace other than the mountain top!  From the parable of the talents we learn that Jesus expects faithfulness only in what He has entrusted to us.  The master in the parable gave each of the servants a different amount of money to manage while he was away.  Faithfulness was not measured in absolute terms---the one had gained the most total dollars--but rather in terms of faithfulness with what one had received.  Each of the first two servants doubled the master's assets.  The third one maintained what was given, but nothing more.  The master actually punished the one who only maintained his assets, because our life in the Lord is a life of GROWTH!

We have been entrusted with the Holy Spirit.  He has baptized and filled us with Himself.  He has given us gifts to manage in building up the Kingdom of God.  We will be "rewarded" based on our faithfulness in using these blessings each day.  Remember that each day we build on the baptism in the Holy Spirit by reading God's word, by praying--with our minds and with our spirits, and by obeying what we find in God's word and what the Spirit tells us.  Have you ever noticed how God seems to speak so clearly to some people, but that it's often hard to hear God ourselves?  God speaks clearly to each of us. He has spoken quite clearly in His word, and most of what we experience each day is made clear by learning and living what the Bible teaches.  In addition, as we live in tune with the Spirit, He gives us specific instructions and most of them concern "little" things.  He will prompt us to start a conversation with a friend or stranger.  He will prompt us to carry out an act of kindness.  He will prompt us to pray for someone or for a certain situation.  When the promptings come--ACT.  Jesus told us that if we know His teachings we are BLESSED if we do them. 

As we go about this day, let's focus on the "little" things.  Faithfulness there will equip us when the "big" things come!