Whether or not you accept Jesus as Lord of your life, He is still your Lord and Master. As your Owner, He has purchased you at the costly price of His outpoured, precious blood (1 Cor 6:19-20). He is entitled to receive your lifelong service. He expects a fruitful harvest from you (see Jn 15:16).
Before you die, Jesus will eventually say to you: "Give Me an account of your service, for it is about to come to an end" (Lk 16:2). He will then settle accounts with you (see Mt 25:19).
What will your grade be? Will Jesus say to you: "I find that the sum of your deeds is less than complete" in My sight (Rv 3:2)? Or will He say to you: "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Mt 25:21, JB)?
Jesus exhorts us to always be ready to settle accounts with Him (see Mt 24:43ff; 25:13, 19). Therefore, "in whatever you do, remember your last days, and you will never sin" (Sir 7:36). "Do not grow slack but be fervent in spirit; He Whom you serve is the Lord" (Rm 12:11).
"Let us not grow weary of doing good" (Gal 6:9). "While we have the opportunity, let us do good" (Gal 6:10). "Continue, my dear ones, to stand firm in the Lord" (Phil 4:1) and to serve Him with gladness (Ps 100:2).
| PRAYER: | Jesus, Master, let me never grow tired of serving You. "A steadfast spirit renew within me" (Ps 51:12). |
| PROMISE: | "They who received no word of Him will see Him, and they who have never heard will understand." –Rm 15:21 |
| PRAISE: | Father Jim hears twenty hours of Confessions each week. He finds his joy in leading people to receive forgiveness and mercy from Jesus. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College