“Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” – Matthew 25:21
When you think of the face of your Heavenly Father, what do you see? Do you imagine the sternness of an impatient Father, or of a Father who is disappointed with His children? Do you envision stoicism that is neither happy nor sad, like an expressionless statue? Do you see sadness, as he weeps over the human condition? Or do you imagine a joyous expression?
Today’s verse says that, when you have done the Lord’s will, you enter into His joy. Try this view of Nehemiah 8:10 which says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” You might take this to mean that God gives joy to you which strengthens you. But what if it means that you know God is joyful over you? He both expresses and possesses that kind of joy when He sees you walking in His truth. Realizing this as His view of you would certainly strengthen you. and you would desire to draw even nearer into a closer walk with Him, whatever circumstances you may be facing.
In 1 Timothy 2:1-3, where you are instructed to pray for those in authority, among others, you are reminded that this pleases God. Take time to contemplate His joy at your alignment with His will as you intercede for this troubled and divided nation and those in positions of leadership today.
Today’s Verse: Matthew 25:21
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Proverbs 8:22-30
“The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work,
the first of his acts of old.
23 Ages ago I was set up,
at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
24 When there were no depths I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 before he had made the earth with its fields,
or the first of the dust of the world.
27 When he established the heavens, I was there;
when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28 when he made firm the skies above,
when he established the fountains of the deep,
29 when he assigned to the sea its limit,
so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 then I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing before him always,
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
