He commends the servant as dependable and good

He sends the servant away for more training

He tells the servant to wait for a better chance

Treat small assignments as important and do them faithfully, even when no one notices

Put off small duties until you are given something bigger

Do the task mainly so other people will notice and approve

Reserve your effort for impressive work and leave ordinary duties aside

If you would like to receive Jesus, pray this with me: Lord Jesus, I admit that I have sinned and have not been faithful with the life you gave me. I turn from my sin and from living for myself. I believe you died for my sins and rose again. I confess you as Lord, and I ask you to bring me into your joy and make me new. Amen.

Come Into Your Joy

Lord, revive your Church to be faithful in the small things. Where we have chased status, teach us humility; where we have been careless, make us dependable; where we have lost sight of your joy, draw us back to glad service. Make us a people you can trust with much because we have been faithful with little, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Make Your Church Faithful in Little Things

Father, thank you that you see steady service even when it seems small. Thank you that your approval is better than human applause, and that you invite faithful servants into joy. Help me rest in your notice and keep serving well, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Thank You for Seeing Faithfulness

Start by naming one ordinary duty you are tempted to overlook. Ask God for a faithful heart, ask for strength to finish it, and ask him to help you do it quietly and well rather than for praise.

Pray Over One Small Responsibility

Lord, strengthen all who serve in hidden, tiring, or unnoticed places. Give them joy in obedience, steadiness in small duties, and courage to keep going when no one applauds. Let your kindness sustain them, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

For Those Serving in Hidden Places

Bring these to God: a desire to be dependable, freedom from the need for recognition, willingness to serve in ordinary tasks, and trust that his joy is enough.

A Heart That Values the Small

⸀ἔφη{E-fee###EH-fee###(He) said} αὐτῷ{af-TO###ahf-TO###to him} ὁ{ho###ho###the} κύριος{KEE-ree-os###KEE-ree-os###master} αὐτοῦ·{af-TOO###ahf-TOO###his} Εὖ,{EV###EHV###Well} δοῦλε{DOO-le###DOO-leh###servant} ἀγαθὲ{a-ga-THE###ah-ga-THEH###good} καὶ{KE###KEH###and} πιστέ,{pee-STE###pee-STEH###faithful} ἐπὶ{e-PEE###eh-PEE###over} ὀλίγα{o-LEE-ga###oh-LEE-gah###a few things} ἦς{EES###EES###you were} πιστός,{pee-STOS###pee-STOHS###faithful} ἐπὶ{e-PEE###eh-PEE###over} πολλῶν{pol-LON###pohl-LOHN###many things} σε{se###seh###you} καταστήσω·{ka-ta-STEE-so###kah-tah-STEE-soh###I will set} εἴσελθε{EE-sel-the###EE-sehl-theh###enter} εἰς{ees###ees###into} τὴν{TEEN###TEEN###the} χαρὰν{kha-RAN###khah-RAHN###joy} τοῦ{TOO###TOO###of the} κυρίου{kee-REE-oo###kee-REE-oo###master} σου.{soo###soo###your}

Matthew 25:21 — FormalTAB

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