Saturday Reflection – 09 May 2020
A charge to keep I have,
A God to glorify,
A never-dying soul to save,
A rest to gain on high.
Saturday Reflection – 09 May 2020
“It is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” 1 Corinthians 4:2
To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfill:
O may it all my powers engage
To do my Master’s will!
Peter, at his restoration was shown that his love and service to Christ Jesus meant that he bore the awesome responsibility to feed Christ’s sheep. And Paul, in 1 Corinthians 3, reminds us of our role in this ministry saying “For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:9) So we all bear this responsibility as the now people of God who have been called and commissioned to spread the gospel of Christ to the far ends of the earth. This responsibility must not be taken lightly and Paul mandates us as stewards and servants of Christ that we remain trustworthy. Our integrity, transparency and visibility must remain intact and must be not traded for fear or favour. In everything, we must be found faithful.
Arm me with watchful care,
As in Thy sight to live;
And O Thy servant, Lord, prepare
A strict account to give!
As we consider this responsibility, let us reflect on three points as we embrace our calling:
i.) We must clothe ourselves in the righteousness of God: “Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.” (St. Matthew 9:17) The reality is on our own, we will continue to fall into the trap of sin, so, a result we must cling to the salvation, presence of righteousness of God; in whom all demons and temptations flee. We must put on the new self; washed in his blood and anointed by the Holy Spirit if we have any hope of being faithful stewards.
ii.) We must be led by the Holy Spirit of God: “But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7) Quite frankly; it is Christ who first loved us, drew us to himself and has called us in his ministry. He alone can equip us for faithful service. To that end, he has given us his Holy Spirit as our comforter and guide. Let us be careful that in everything concerning this ministry and even in life that we invite the Holy Spirit to indwell us and to lead us into a wise and righteous path.
iii.) We must remain faithful to the ministry of God: “For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.” (Hebrews 3:14) If we are to be trustworthy servants, we must not be wishy-washy, or not fully committed. God desires our full attention and our 100%. When we hire workers to do any job; if they seem uncommitted to the task either by: unreasonable delays, a noticeable lack in zeal or effort, not following your instructions, leaving the work half-done or just not giving enough time to your particular project, then the truth is, we may become disgruntled and frustrated and may even end up firing such a worker. We must be careful that we do not treat God’s ministry in this way, but we give it our very best, and that we labour until the final harvest on the last day.
Help me to watch and pray,
And on still on thee rely,
And let me not my trust betray.
But press to realms on high. (C. Wesley, 1762)
Until next week, as we contemplate this responsibility that has been entrusted to us, let us the hands and feet of Christ, restored and set apart for service, be dressed in the righteousness of God and empowered by his Holy Spirit as we engage his ministry. Then, we shall hear our Lord and master welcome us into paradise on that final day with the words “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Amen.
Dominic J. Blair