Today’s AMI QT Devotional is provided by Tina Hsu. Tina, a graduate of Biola University and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.), currently serves as a staff at the Church of Southland, Anaheim, California.

 

Devotional Thoughts for Today

“Being a Servant Whom My Master Trusts”

John 10:40-42

And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He was staying there. 41 Many came to Him and were saying, “While John performed no sign, yet everything John said about this man was true.” 42 Many believed in Him there.

During a four-month hiatus between the mission field and stepping into my current job, I didn’t have any concrete plans for what I would do after my time-off. A close friend wrote to me, saying, “I can’t wait for what God has in store for you. I think He trusts you so much.” I was overwhelmed with this encouragement—even though I didn’t deserve such a comment. But her words led me to ponder about the nature of trust in my relationship to Jesus. I always knew following Jesus involved me trusting Jesus, while Jesus leads; however, I never interacted with the possibility of Jesus trusting me. Why would Jesus trust me? It’s not like He needs to rely on me or count on me. I thought trust is one-way, from me to Him, since all the power and strength is in Him anyways. In diving more into this perspective, I realized that our relationship with Jesus is not only a love relationship between the Redeemer and the redeemed, but it is indeed also a trust relationship between Master and servant, as many of Jesus’ teachings, such as the parable of the talents (Mt. 25:14-30), teach so clearly.

In this morning’s passage, Jesus leaves Jerusalem, as more religious teachers were questioning His authority and angered by His teachings; yet many outside of Jerusalem were placing their belief in Him. The passage testifies that John the Baptist was integral in leading these people to Christ. Though they didn’t believe in Jesus immediately after listening to John’s witness, but eventually, they realized “everything John said about this man was true.” John the Baptist never performed a miracle. He was simply a voice that talked about the Light, and he was content to be a voice, without a ministry of signs and wonders, as long as it caused people to consider Christ. Jesus says about John, “Among those born of women, there is no one greater” (Luke 7:28). Jesus must have trusted John so much, for he completed the work that God entrusted to him—nothing more, and nothing less. In being trustworthy to his Master, he led people to know Christ for themselves. This morning, as we long to deepen our trust in Jesus, let us consider also how we can live a life as trustworthy servants.  

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me unconditionally and also entrusting Your precious work to me. Give me understanding for how to steward my time, resources, and energy, so that I may use all that I have to Your service. Help me to consider how to be a trustworthy servant for You today. In Jesus’ name.  Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Daniel 7