The Word for Today
With Bob Gass

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Stewards - Not Owners! He must increase, but I must decrease. - John 3:30

When the crowds left John the Baptist to follow Jesus, he said: "This is the assigned moment for Him to move into the centre, while I slip off to the sidelines" (Jn 3:30 TM). John thought like a steward. A steward simply manages something for the owner until he comes to take it back. John knew that the crowd leaving him for Christ was never his to begin with. God had simply placed them under his care for a period of time to accomplish certain purposes. With John this was apparently just fine.

John's view of stewardship presents us with an important principle. For his crowds may be our careers, our assets, our natural and spiritual gifts, etc. Are these things owned or merely managed in the name of the One Who entrusted them to us? Your answer depends on whether you're called or driven. Driven people consider them owned; called people don't. When driven people lose things it's a major crisis; when called people lose them, nothing's changed. Why? Because their calling is not to a position, it's to a person - the person of Christ. Knowing who he was not was the beginning of John knowing who he was. And who was he? A steward! And he didn't aspire to anything beyond that.

What is success, as God counts success? It's when others hear you, but follow Jesus. It's when others see some quality in you that causes them to fall more in love with Him. Only when that happens, and you feel like you've lost nothing in the process, can you truly say, "Father, I've done what You called me to do."

SoulFood Bible Readings: Ezek 27:25 - 30:26, Mark 12:28-44, Ps 78:32-39, Pr 20:20-21

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This message from The Word for Today came from Rhema Broadcasting Group Incorporated in association with The Vine, New Zealand. "The Word for Today"® is copyright © Bob Gass Ministries.

Used under 'limited copy' permission by:

UCB

Hayden Andrews

Are all Christians going to heaven? Is it automatic? The school of Christianity has been split on this one since the beginning, because there are excellent scriptures to support either view. In Matthew 7, verse 21, Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!'”

Lots of accomplished Christians are in for a surprise! We are not talking pew-sitters, either. Jesus is talking about some heavy hitters who operate in the miraculous. Some real ministry doers are going to be left out. Why?

It's not about how much we do for the kingdom. It's about how much we listen to the King.

It's not about accomplishments and religious deeds – it's about relationship and obedience. “I never knew you,” Jesus says to these. That's His reason for not welcoming them into eternity with Him. They're strangers to Him! They knew Christianity, but they never stopped to let Christ know them.

In contrast, those whom Jesus welcomes in are those who “do the will of My Father.” This speaks of obedience, but it first requires relationship. You can't do someone's will if you don't know what they want. Jesus wants us to know Him, our true Shepherd, and to obey Him out of true love.

Used with permission by: FreshBread

Hayden Andrews