Have you ever known anyone who was faithful in the small things to you? I have. Was it someone who faithfully said good morning to your every morning? Was it someone who always remembered your birthday or an anniversary? Have you ever been faithful in the little things to others? Have you ever remembered to do the dishes without being asked or take out the garbage or if you are a guy put down the toilet seat or pic up your clothes? Do you get the picture? Do you understand that God asks us to be faithful in the little things? Let me share with you what I learned about how endurance brings hope.
Pastor Troy Dobbs from Grace Church Eden Prairie gave a sermon on Sunday on this subject and it is the reason why I believe God lead me to write on this topic. I was inspired because he said that the message to the Church of Philadelphia in Revelation was the only one that does not have any things against them. You can read the message here Revelation 3:7-13. The crux of the message was that because the Church was faithful in everything that they were given some great promises.
I learned that the most important thing I need to do is to let people know how great my God s. It is not to make a name for myself. It is enduring in the faith no matter what
So even though they were most likely the smallest of the seven churches in Revelation. There are six promises of hope in the message. Jesus set before an open door that no one can shut. Revelation 3:8a “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut.’” (ESV) for further insight see Isaiah 22. So Jesus opened the door of salvation which no one can close it. False Jews will fall at their feet. This is a promise of vindication. They will hear that the God of the universe loves me. This is a promise of eternal love. Jesus will keep me from God will keep you from the coming trials that will occur in earth, the tribulation. Jesus is coming soon. Jesus will keep me to the end. I will become one of the pillars of the temple of the New Jerusalem. He will give me three new names the name of my God, the name of the city of Jesus’ God and Jesus’ new name. Because of Jesus I am a new person with a new name.
You too can become a new person with a new name and have all these hope filled promises. All you need to do is accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior.
I pray that you if you are not being faithful in the small things to God that you will start because God has made some big promises to those who are faithful in the small things. It is that relationship that solves the problem of sin and brings us hope in the present and the future. I would also encourage you to seek Jesus for He is the only opportunity there is to have eternal life. This is to me the greatest source of hope. In doing so, I believe we will have hope and joy in our everyday lives. Understanding how Jesus Christ grants us access to eternal life, allows us to live in hope. “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3 (ESV) At the same time understanding you will live eternally knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ will also bring you the greatest hope. Because of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, all of our sins were satisfied and the penalty for them was paid. His payment satisfies all my sins from the past, the present and in the future. My penalty and yours was satisfied on the cross by the death of Jesus, God’s greatest act of love and wrath, who became sin for me and you. It was also God’s greatest act of faithfulness because “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (ESV) Because holiness shows us, we need to believe in Jesus. I hope that you join me in helping others to choose Jesus.
If you have not read my previous blogs, you can find them here. You can watch a book trailer about my book. You can find my book, Hope Amid Hopelessness: Our Abba Father Provides a Way Through Mental Illness here. eBook or Audiobook versions can be found at Westbow Press or Christianbook.com at Amazon or Google.
I mentioned that I was going through a difficult time right now. If you are interested in what I am going through you can read about it here.
