Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 9 Oct 2007

Word of Encouragement for Every New Day ~ 9 Oct 2007

Today’s word of encouragement is about being faithful with the little things. It is amazing to study the life of Jacob, who served Laban for 14 years just to marry Rachel, Laban’s daughter. Furthermore Jacob served another 6 more years working and helping Laban, tending his flock. Imagine 20 years of your life serving someone; furthermore, serving a difficult person. Putting myself in Jacob’s position, I know that I would have become worried, impatient, and frustrated. 20 years is a long time, and I can just picture myself questioning God, saying to Him, “God I thought you said you were going to give me this great calling in life? I thought you were promising me this? Severing Laban for 20 years is just not what I expected." Being faithful with the little things is vital. Through those 20 years that Jacob served Laban, God worked in Jacob’s character, tested him, and prepared him. In Genesis 27:28, 29 Isaac, Jacob’s father, blessed Jacob with this powerful destiny, “May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness— an abundance of grain and new wine. 29 May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed." Imagine receiving this blessing, this promise from God, what would you do and how would you react? I know if I got a word like that in Genesis 27:28,29, I’d expect within a few years I’d be the richest man, and many nations would be under my control bowing down to me. However, as we look at the life of Jacob, he faithfully served Laban 20 years. Jacob was not being bowed down to by anyone, but he was bowing down to Laban. God was humbling Jacob. With a great destiny it is easy to become selfish and proud. Despite all those years, Jacob did not give up his destiny, and he didn’t give up on God. Today, let us be faithful with the little things that God has put on our plate. It may seem small, we may feel like this is a waste of time, we may feel inadequate, and we may feel others are better than us, but let us remember Jacob today, who was faithful with the small things. In Luke 16:10 the Word of God says, "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” © Oct 2007 Shaun Lee