Kenneth Copeland Devotional 1 July 2024 – Later Is Here!
Topic: Later Is Here!
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household? – Matthew 24:45
Scripture Reading: Matthew 24:42-51
42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The Word tells us that God shows Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are “perfect” toward Him (2 Chronicles 16:9). That word perfect doesn’t mean that we have to do everything just right and live without making a mistake. Thank God, we don’t have to do that. It means “devoted”—a heart consecrated, dedicated, loyal and faithful to God.
The mistakes we make will not stop God from working in our lives. Only our lack of faithfulness can do that.
Who is faithful? The one who spends his time doing what God has called him to do. Or as Jesus put it, the one who takes up his cross and follows Him. The one who denies his fleshly desires and spends his life on the things God desires him to do.
Maybe God has been urging you to spend more time in His Word and in prayer or dealing with you about ministering more to the people around you. He may be calling you to pray for the sick or to teach the Word. But you’re busy, so you glide on with good intentions and tell God you’ll do it later. Well, later is here!
Decide today that you are going to be the faithful and wise servant. Find out what is stealing your time from the Lord. Serve His interests instead of your own.
Do you want to be a ruler in the household of God? Do you want Him to show Himself strong for you? Then take up Jesus’ thoughts today. Take up His purposes and His plans. Now is the time to be faithful!
This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith – prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.
