August 3, 2026, the 215th day of 2026
Above and Beyond is Where Rewards Come In
When we do just what is required of us, being a servant of our Lord and King Jesus, we have nothing to really brag ab... View MoreAugust 3, 2026, the 215th day of 2026
Above and Beyond is Where Rewards Come In
When we do just what is required of us, being a servant of our Lord and King Jesus, we have nothing to really brag about. We have done our duty.
This teaching of Jesus brings it out really well. They may have been asking to have their faith increased, but they obvipusly needed to learn about their duty as well, because right after He explains that the size of faith is not the problem, so increasing the size was not the answer.
It is a living faith, a seed full of potential, which He explains in other places. A seed is living and has enormous growth potential when planted. A planted pebble would not do such a thing, even larger than that tiny mustard seed.
Faith in the life of a servant, needs to be in compliance with the will of their master, not their will.
We need to ask ourselves if we want our faith to grow so we can be a better servant, doing more than we are commanded to? To go above and beyond what is required of a servant?
Or do we want greater faith to get things we want? Commanding others and nature itself to our whims?
"And the apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith.' So the Lord said, 'If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘"Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea," and it would obey you. And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, "Come at once and sit down to eat" But will he not rather say to him, "Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink". Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, "We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do."'"
Luke 17:5-10
In becoming a subject in the Kingdom of God, through repentance and completely surrendering our life and our all to the Lordship, the Kingship of Jesus, Gd makes of us a new creation in that instant, not only forgiving the debt of sin against us, but giving us eternal life.
If we never got another thing from God, it would be more than enough to praise Him and rejoice for all of eternity! But He wants more for us. He wants us to earn eternal rewards as well, and He gives us chances to excell in righteousness through our service.
Jesus, our Master, determines what is our duty and what is above and beyond it. He obeyed God in everything required of Him, above and beyond over and over again, and He is our example.
This eternal life that Jesus paid for with His suffering and death, was not our doing.
We did not deserve it. We could not earn it. That was all on Jesus. All we did was accept His gift on His terms, to put it into effect. And those terms mean that He bought us and that we are His.
"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit Who is in you, Whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
I Corinthians 6:19-20
But in our slavery, we are freed from the hold of Satan on us. God owns us, and God does not abandon His own to the enemy!
Satan is a cruel, uncaring master, who only cares for his desires. He uses his slaves to steal, kill and destroy, twisting all that is good and of the image of God in them. Satan hates and would have hatred rule the hearts of mankind.
We don't really realize this until we enter into God's Kingdom through salvation, where love rules and reigns over us, even to the point of adopting us into His household and calling us His children.
If we try to accept the gift of salvation on our terms, it will not take. We may call ourself a Christian, but we are doomed to hear Jesus say, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"
"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Matthew 7:21-23
Stay strong! First be sure of your salvation and then be sure you go above and beyond what is required of you as a servant of Jesus, if you want to earn eternal rewards.
NAN
August 2, 2026, the 214th day of 2026
The Time Between
We don't really know what day anything particular is going to happen to us or anyone in our lives.... View MoreAugust 2, 2026, the 214th day of 2026
The Time Between
We don't really know what day anything particular is going to happen to us or anyone in our lives.
That lull between storms in our life can last quite some time, or ne short. Bur, no matter what,r those storms can creep up on us and catch us totally off guard.
Being mentally prepared does not mean worrying about what might happen, but accepting that worrying will not stop anything but the peace we have today.
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
Matthew 6:34
Jesus does not say that we should not worry because there will be no trouble, but precisely because there will be. But we only have strength to handle today and its own troubles.
Every day will have enough in it to cause us trouble. Most days it is mere inconveniences, that don't amount to much. But some will be bigger issues. And every now and then, the storm.
In 2016, this day was not that memorable for me, except being a day after the 5th anniversary of my mom's death.
But the day after this day, in 2016, would be another one of those storms that shifted our life around.
I was unaware of it at the time, but the next day I would get a call from a friend, the wife of the man I was helping with his music, telling me that he was just taken to the hospital with what looked like a stroke, and was there anyway I could come to them there?
Why do I write this here and not write about it tomorrow?
Because I am writing about those normal, everyday days that we have no clue that within 24 hours our life will change.
As I looked at the date before starting this post, I was reminded of how blissfully ignorant I was of the changes that were coming my way, or how it would change my family dynamic yet again.
And isn't that just like life? It wasn't even my family that this happened to, but because of what God asked of me, our lives were also drastically impacted.
But you know? We really do need these blissfully ignorant days, these days that seem so normal, so unhindered by extremes, because they give us rest for what is coming.
To servive what comes, is basically dwelling in the presence of God, in His peace. His peace allows us these days, without even a whisper of what is coming.
Making it natural to pray, instead of being anxious, gives us the preemptive help of God in the upcoming issues.
It is only when we bring our requests to God, that we get His peace that is beyond our understanding. If we fret and are anxious, that peace does not come.
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7
Worrying about what might come, snatches away the normal joy and ignorant bliss of the day before, or the many days before.
Stay strong! Don't borrow tomorrow's worries, they will have enough time of their own...tomorrow.
NAN
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