COUNTED FAITHFUL
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord
who has enabled me,
because He counted me faithful,
putting me into the ministry.
1 Timothy 1:12
From a human perspective, the apostle Paul’s record as a zealous persecutor of Christians should have precluded him from being used in God’s service. Paul was known as the “chief of sinners,” a blasphemer, and a persecutor (1 Timothy 1:13-15). However, everything changed when God saved him. Paul then embraced the Christian life with the same fervency in which he had opposed it. He worked hard to be faithful in every assignment, no matter how small or how large. Ultimately, Paul was counted faithful by God.
Paul understood that everything he ever accomplished for God’s kingdom was due to the enabling power of God. He did not think that his own intelligence or personal drive brought about God’s will. Instead, Paul was grateful for the opportunity to be tested in any assignment.
Your ability to serve God is not based on your past. Instead, God looks at your faithfulness today. If you are faithful with that task God entrusts to you, then God will enable you to accomplish it. You should not distinguish between big and small assignments from God, but instead look at every task as a privilege, just as Paul did. Whether God has asked you to pray for someone, to minister to a person in need, or to lead a Bible study, strive to be faithful. If you are faithful in a little, God will entrust you with more.
As you pray today, thank God for entrusting you with tasks big and small, and enabling you to complete those tasks. Thank Him for using you in service of Him!