The Power of Faithfulness

"His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' Matthew 25:23 NASB

Have you ever heard of a man named John Egglen? I never had until today and I was so blessed to read his story that I wanted to share it with you. He lived in Colchester, England and was a deacon at his church. One Sunday morning he got up to find it had snowed. It was going to be hard to get to church; but John went. He thought about not going; but he went because he was a deacon and knew he should try his best to go. He walked 6 miles to the Methodist church that he attended. Apparently lots of members decided to stay home that day as there were only 12 members and one visitor present. The preacher was completely snowed in and did not make it. Being the only deacon present, it fell to John to bring the message. He had never in his life preached a sermon. The sermon was less than 10 minutes long and he wasn't sure he made any point at all. However, with uncharacteristic boldness, John felt that he needed to speak directly to the visitor, a boy. John said, "Lad, look to Jesus, Look! Look! Look! The boy heard John and apparently he did look to Jesus. That young teenager was Charles Haddon Spurgeon. Four years after his conversion he began to preach. He is known as the Prince of Preachers. He became the man God used to bring revival to England.

John Egglen was faithful to fulfill his obligations and faithful to step out and step up when the opportunity arose. Faithfulness may sound like a dull and plodding word, but it is the word that Jesus chose to commend the righteous servants in his parable in Matthew 25. I love it when I work with people and find that they are faithful and that I can count on them to do what they said they would do and be where they say they will be.

Could John have ever dreamed that his faithfulness would one day bring such a rich harvest? Do you suppose as he plodded through that snow that the enemy tried to discourage him? Maybe it was his own flesh that battled him. I know that is source of most of my battles with faithfulness.

Oh let us not be weary in well doing because in due season we will reap if we don't faint and keep being faithful.

MY PRAYER: Lord, help us to wait on you and renew our strength to keep on keeping on. Help us to mount up with wings like eagles so that we can run and not be weary and we can walk and not faint. We want to hear your "well done good and faithful servant." Thank you for leaving us John's example. Help us to be an example to others. In Your precious name, amen.

MY CONFESSION: I am called, chosen and faithful. I stand on Your Word! Revelation 17:14