Latest / The Daily Word / July 9 – God Never Overlooks Faithful Service
Transcript
- Robert Rosales: Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, Lakeshore family, whatever time of day you find yourself in. Welcome to the Daily Word Podcast. I'm Robert Rosales, and alongside my wife Yolanda, we have the honor of serving as campus pastors of our Gastonia campus location. Just a reminder: this podcast is a simple space we share each day to slow down, open God's word, and pay attention to what he's saying. As a church family, We're committed to meeting with God daily, not out of religious routine, but out of our relationship, through scripture, through prayer, and by capturing what the Holy Spirit is stirring in our hearts and how it connects to our everyday lives. We're walking together through the life journal reading plan. And today we'll be focusing on the New Testament portion from that plan. Now, when I invest time with the Lord, I try to keep things uncluttered. My Bible, my journal, something to write with and a highlighter to mark what stands out. At times I'll also lean in on a couple of trusted study tools to help me get a little deeper and stay grounded in the text. Not to replace God's word, but to help me listen and study more closely. We also follow the SOAP method, SOAP, and that stands for scripture, observation, application, and prayer. It's a simple and practical tool that we find in our life journal plan. And it just helps us to read God's word and to respond to God as we read. Now, before we jump into today's passage, just kind of take a moment with me. Let's prepare our hearts and say a quick prayer. Lord, as we open your word, we ask that you would open us. By your spirit, make your truth come alive in us. Give us ears to hear, hearts to receive, and courage to respond. Speak, Lord, we are listening. In Jesus' name, amen. Well, friends, today's passage for July 9th is Hebrews chapter 6, and I journaled from verse 10. Let me start by reading it out of the New King James Version. This is what it says. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love. Which you have shown toward his name, in that you have ministered to the saints and do minister. Now let me read it out of the New Living Translation. For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers as you still do. I love the NLT, just so easy. To understand the title of my journal entry. You ready? God never overlooks faithful service. Come on, say that with me. God never overlooks faithful service. Here's the observation. I love this verse. It's often the verse I use to thank those who serve in ministry in one way or another. God never overlooks faithful service. Wow. Exclamation mark. The writers just challenge believers who had become spiritually sluggish. We see that in verses one through eight. Then in verses nine through twelve, he shifts his tone and he says, But beloved, we're convinced of better things concerning you. And verse 10 explains why the writer is confident. The believers had demonstrated genuine faith by loving God and his people through consistent acts of service. The author isn't saying they earned salvation. Rather, their service was evidence that genuine faith was alive in them. And here's three big truths that I see here. Well, maybe four. You know how we are. Number one, God is just. Notice it says, For God is not unjust. God's justice means he never fails to recognize what truly matters. People may overlook. Your sacrifices, church members may never say thank you, leaders may never notice, but God sees everything. Jesus taught the same principle in Matthew 10, 42, promising that even a giving a cold of a cup of cold water in his name will not lose its reward. Second thing I noticed was this: that God remembers. Notice it says, He will not forget your work. This doesn't mean God has a poor memory that needs reminding. It means he never ignores or disregards faithful obedience. Throughout scripture, remember means to act upon what is known. God remembers in order to bless and move on behalf of his people. Here's the third thing that I caught. Notice the verse says the love you have shown for God's name. See, their service wasn't motivated by guilt, recognition, or even obligation. It was flowing from their love for Christ. Because they loved Christ, they loved Christ's people. Notice the order love for God or love for Jesus, then service to his people. Serving believers was evidence of devotion to God and Christ's. Himself. So here's an application for us. I always write this down. How does this apply to my life? Well, first let me speak to those of us that are volunteers. Many serve quietly every week, setting up, greeting church family and guests, teaching children, running sound, cleaning the building, praying for others. Most of it goes unacknowledged, some goes unnoticed. Hebrews 6:10 reminds us God notices every unseen act of faithfulness. Amen. Next, how about for pastors and ministry leaders? Ministry can feel discouraging. Attendance fluctuates. People leave. Criticism comes easily. Encouragement sometimes doesn't. This verse reminds me. This verse reminds leaders. That God's evaluation matters more than people's applause. And how about for churches? Healthy churches aren't built merely by gifted leaders, they're built by faithful followers who consistently love and serve one another. This verse highlights something God continues to reveal to me through followership. Mature followers strengthen the church through steadfast, love-driven service. Finally, the last thing I'll jot down here is this for every believer. Ask yourself: Am I serving out of love for Christ or merely out of duty? Have I become weary in doing well? Who can I encourage through practical service this week? Now, why is this important for all of us? Because God never overlooks faithful service. Amen, church? Come on, pray with me as we close. Father God, thank you for speaking to us today through your word. Thank you for reminding me that you never overlook faithful service. Holy Spirit, help me to never forget this and to always be ready to demonstrate my love for God and for his people through serving. Not because I'm a pastor, but because I'm a follower of Christ. I ask these things and I thank you for them. In Jesus' name, everybody said, Amen.