Growing in the Experience

“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.” Luke 16:10

God rewards those who are faithful. Throughout your life God will seek to grow you in your faith. He will continually bring you to times when you must trust Him. He will lead you into situations that require a “little” faith, and if you are faithful, He will then take you into situations that require even greater trust in Him. Each time you are able to trust God at a higher level, God will reveal more of Himself to you. Your faith and experiencing God are directly linked. The best way to tell if you are prepared for a greater revelation of God is to see how faithful you have been with what God has given you. This is a foundational principle in God's relationships with us: If you have been faithful with the little He has given you, you are ready to be entrusted with more. If you failed to trust God with the little He gave you, He will not trust you with more. God will not lead you beyond your present level of trust and obedience to Him. He will return you to your area of unfaithfulness until you are prepared to trust Him. The children of Israel were unwilling to trust God to lead them into the Promised Land, and their generation never again was able to move forward with Him. You stand at an exciting new door of opportunity to know God more intimately every time you believe Him. Every step of faith leads you to a deeper relationship of faith with Him. It is an open invitation to know God more intimately. - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day 

Before beginning writing anything, reflect on the words to "Through all of it" by Colton Dixon 

There are days I've taken more than I can give
And there are choices that I made
That I wouldn't make again
I've had my share of laughter
Of tears and troubled times
This is has been the story of my life

I have won
and I have lost
I got it right sometimes
But sometimes I did not
Life's been a journey
I've seen joy, I've seen regret
Oh and You have been my God
Through all of it

You were there when it all came down on me
When I was blinded by my fear
And I struggled to believe
But in those unclear moments
You were the one keeping me strong
This is how my story's always gone

I have won
and I have lost
I got it right sometimes
But sometimes I did not
Life's been a journey
I've seen joy, I've seen regret
Oh and You have been my God
Through all of it
Through all of it

And this is who You are
More constant than the stars up in the sky
All these years of our lives, I
I look back and I see You
Right now I still do
And I'm always going to

I have won
and I have lost
I got it right sometimes
But sometimes I did not
Life's been a journey
I've seen joy
I've seen regret
Oh and You have been my God
Through all of it
Oh and You have been my God
Through all of it
Oh and You have been my God
Through all of it

We who live in the here and now, going through the massive changes and challenges of this world today, who are believers, need to remember the words to that song.  But not only that, after reading my Bible this morning, read what Jesus said...of which I do not consider it a coincidence at all.

Luke 10:23-24 "Turning to the disciples, He said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see, for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them.”"

My Dear reader...if you are indeed a part of the family of God...you should indeed be excited in the hour in which we live.  We are in that same position as those first Disciples.  Blessed we are to see what we are seeing because it's proof yet again that Scripture will not be thwarted.  We experience the birth pangs Scripture says would be coming.  We see what the Scriptures say the world would be like when Christ returns.  We are living out what Scripture says!

We often suffer through a great many things.  Jesus said it would happen.  But note the reason is to bring Him glory.  Not ourselves.  It's to reach others for Christ. Not our own personal satisfaction.  It may indeed coincide with satisfaction but it's not guaranteed.  God knows what we need versus what we want.  

Another part of my Bible reading this morning was in Samuel. Saul had just been made King, but almost immediately he royally messed up.  God was sorry right away that He chose one who would so quickly not rely on the Lord.  Saul jumped the gun in serving and was outside the will of God.   We as Christians can and do the same.  We are safe in Christ, unlike what Saul went through.  But oh how we will long to get back the moment in time when we could have obeyed. When we could have done it right the first time.  

We choose to obey and we choose not to. We can lay the blame at the feet of fear, but we choose to do so.

My Friend, obey in this hour.  Obey Christ in every moment.  We need to remember everything that we read in the Bible has potential to apply to us.  If the Government authority issues orders to stay at home whenever possible, then it's Scriptural to obey.  It's not violating Scripture to obey. They are not asking you to violate Scripture.  In fact we are COMMANDED to obey those put in authority over us because God put them there.  The only Scriptural basis we would have is if they attempted to command us to directly violate Scripture.  Not meeting is congregational groups is not a violation of Scripture.  In this hour in which we live God has graciously provided a means to still meet with live video.  We can still be an encouraging force in this world. We can still point people to Jesus.  Perhaps now that 90 percent of the entertainment industry and sports industry are shut down, more people are looking at online Church than ever before in the history of the Church.  People are seeking God whether or not they admit it. It's happening.  A Pastor friend saw over 700 people watching his sermon one Sunday.  Their whole congregation is less than 150. That's God doing what only God can do!

Look at your attitude and your level of gratitude in this hour.  God has given you many people to pray for.  Oh my dear reader now is yet another of what Jesus said earlier in Luke 10 as well.  Lift up your eyes and look upon the fields for it is ripe for the harvest.  

Pray for our leaders. We are commanded to.

Pray for one another. We are commanded to. 

Be the light in the world. We are commanded to. 

Point people to Christ. We are commanded to.  Show them Jesus!  That is where hope is!

Pray without ceasing the Scriptures say. 

As soldiers of Christ we have our orders. 

Remember to pray this day. It could be a rough day or a good one.  Regardless the Lord Jesus Christ says He is with you in it. 

Live in obedience in this situation and you will grow in Christ.  

He is my God.. through all of this...