“Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over few things. I will make thee ruler over many things.” Matthew 25:21
Dear Ones:
In the book of Ester, when Haman was seeking to annihilate the Jews, Mordecai, Ester’s uncle, told her words that resonate down the centuries to this very day: “…and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Ester 4:14) Mordecai had a vision of the sovereignty of God in such a way that it specifically applied to individual lives, his own, as well as those of Ester and all the Jews. That vision of spiritual reality brought an enormous amount weight of responsibility brought to bear upon the situation, requiring the action of faith and obedience to meet it. Through the prayers of an entire nation, and the intervention of one woman, who understood something of her calling by God, the people were delivered from being killed. How do we see our role at this present point in time? Are we gripped by the sovereign will and purpose of God, that it too causes us to seek Him above all things, to know His will and do it?
In the first of Paul’s two letters to Timothy, he unveils his knowledge of God, and how that knowledge brings a weight of responsibility that has eternal ramifications. He writes of Christ: “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.” (1 Tim. 1:17) Here is the vision of God, of Christ, that dominates the apostle. Ushering from that perspective of reality is the weight of responsibility to know the calling of God, and being committed to its fulfillment. He writes, in speaking of this “…one God, and mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”…”I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.” (2:5,7) Paul is a man, conscious of his eternal Master and Savior. He is also a man who is on a mission, according to the choice, wisdom, and equipping, by the Master. He sees this Master as one who has had mercy on him (1:13), One who has shown forth His grace, which was, “…exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” (1:13,14) With His Master clearly before him, and the Spirit of Christ within, he is entirely committed to the service at hand, a service much like the servant in one of Jesus’ parables. That servant, to whom was committed a great deal of responsibility, having been equipped completely for the task, was provided every resource necessary for its accomplishment. This servant was faithful and wise. His task was very simple, yet all-encompassing: “…to give them (the Master’s household) food in due season.” (Matt. 24:45) Paul was committed to doing this, with the authority of Christ given to him for the task. How do we see our Master, and Savior? How do we see our calling from heaven? How do see our existence at this present time, indeed, “…for such a time as this?”
In Paul’s letters to Timothy, we discover that Paul sought to communicate that which he knew in practice, and purpose. His words were designed by God to stir up Timothy, and in the time and opportunity allotted to him, to use well his gifts, fulfilling the objective of his calling. He would instruct him: “Stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.” (2 Tim. 1:6) He then would point Timothy immediately to Christ: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (v.7) His charge to Timothy, “…before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ,” was very clear: “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (4:2) Through Paul, the Savior spoke to His servant, Timothy, to be faithful and true, deriving all from Christ, to serve well and effectively.
Dear Father, Give us abundant grace to grasp our eternal calling, and resources, for such a time as this. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad