GET TOGETHER- The Small Things Can Become Big Things

Heb 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Mt 25:21,23 “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

One of my favorite ways to exercise and to keep off some of my weight is playing basketball with two of our grandsons Judah and Micah. It also brings some healing for when my Junior High Coach benched me for throwing up in a game at one of our rival’s gym. Judah is eleven and Micah will soon be eight. Sometimes our games get kind of heated. They had beaten me I think over thirty something games in a row. We referee on the honor system. I went in for a layup and called a foul on Judah which gave me a three-point play. They hotly disputed my call, but we let it stand. I threw up a three pointer that I still don’t know how on earth that it went in, and I broke the losing streak. They were not very happy, and I attempted to give them a lesson on sportsmanship.
That night the Holy Spirit brought to my attention that one time when I scored that day that I had slid my feet and taken an extra step. I didn’t call traveling on myself. The Holy Spirit then had me to ask both boys to forgive me. Then He reminded me that we had gotten away from praying before and after each game. What a great lesson God taught me.
This week when we played, we returned to praying before and after the game and although I got beat by over twenty points things went much better. There are several lessons in this. I am not being legalistic. But what the Holy Spirit was showing me is that it might not appear to be a big thing not calling traveling on yourself in a pickup basketball game. But what does it say to Micah and Judah? Also, if God is going to trust us with bigger things, we must be faithful in the small things. When we cheat in the small things it can also get easier to cheat in the bigger things.
The Good News for us is that our Heavenly Father loves us enough to correct us when we mess up. We are told in Heb 12:6,7 “For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?” The Greek term for chasten is paideuo. It means to train up a child. It means to educate. To discipline with punishment. I praise the Lord that He corrected me and did not punish me. There is also good news for those of us that have been saved. When the Holy Spirit convicts us and shows us an area that we need to repent of and to ask for forgiveness we are told in 1Jo 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1Jo 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. And praise God because of the Blood of Jesus Christ we can walk in the light and not have to walk in the darkness.
Again, I want to emphasize that God does not go behind us with a lightning bolt looking for every mistake that we make. But He does from time to time give us some integrity checks to help us to stay on the right path and to not be drawn away by the temptations that Satan brings our way. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ who is the Light of the World may we allow His light to shine through us in the small things of everyday life. When we do, He will help us in being faithful over even bigger things.
Let Us Pray
Lord Jesus we thank You that You love us enough to correct us when we may mess up in some way. We thank you that you do not condemn us, but You forgive us, and You help us not to repeat those same things that we have done wrong. May all of those who read this be faithful in the small things. We know that when we are that You will make us faithful in even bigger things.
In Jesus Name
Amen

Love You All
Your Friend/Kinfolk
Preston

Merry Christmas!