The PassionSample

When you were in school, how did you treat the substitute teacher? You might recall some students putting their heads down and diligently completing the work. More often, though, students would slack off, get distracted by friends, and test the teacher's boundaries. Then, when your regular class resumed, you'd be caught—guilty of not working as hard as you should have and not having the expected work completed.

Today’s passage speaks to this attitude, and Jesus calls us out on it! We have been given instructions from Jesus to work faithfully and with wisdom. Some of us do this with passion and intent—we start working hard for the kingdom of God. But how often do we ride the spiritual highs off a conference or church event, to then taper off and fall back into bad habits, and even continue down the road of destruction? The moment we start to take our foot off the gas, start allowing bad habits to form, start hardening our hearts to sin, is when we are in danger of falling away from a life of righteousness.

Christ encourages us not to fall into this state of complacency. The wise and faithful servant serves God 100% of the time— they don’t slack off or turn back to old ways. We are called to live a life that is faithful and honouring God, and to do so because we have been given an opportunity to dwell with Him in heaven.

God has given you a gift—the ultimate gift of grace through His son. Live in the light of this truth each and every day. Do not neglect this gift. Remain faithful as we await Christ’s return.

Today, ponder this: How might we live ready as wise and faithful servants? What are the gifts God has given you, and how might you use them to serve others and bring glory to God?