Daily Devotional for Sunday, August 20

The Lord Preserves the Faithful

“O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord,” Psalm 31:23, 24.

He sat on the pew week after week. He would shake your hand if you stuck it out, but his hand would shake a little. Words were few that came out of his mouth, but around 10:45 a.m. every Sunday morning he would come walking in the door, until one day he did not. We would gather around his graveside within a few days and person after person would speak of how he had influenced their life over the years by sitting in that pew.

God has ordained the steps of each life and while He may call one to the mission field, another may be called on to simply stand. Each believer responds to the Lord according to his call such that he lives out the great commandment to love the Lord with everything (Matthew 22:37). Our Lord is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. Some spend their whole lives seeking, but others find great joy in serving in the moment. Their faith is lived out in the doing and proves itself profitable rather than dead (James 2:26).

Our hope as saints is built on Jesus. We rely on His righteousness to preserve us in the end. Day by day we await the appearing of the Savior, but it requires courage and a strong heart. A strong heart requires doing what God has asked you to do over and over. Be courageous as you do the little things and the big things the Holy Spirit leads you to do all the way to the end.

THOUGHT: Are you always looking to do big things to prove your faithfulness at the expense of being faithful in the moment?

David Thompson