“who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. [matthew 23:45-46]
getting caught.
all of us have had that moment of being caught in our sin–you know the feeling, the nausea as your stomach drops, the blood rushing to your face, cheeks and ears growing hot as you feel shame and guilt washing over you. in that moment, what do you feel? are you feeling the shame of being caught, or are you feeling the weight of your sin against Holy God and God’s image, his children?
we all want to appear to be doing the right things, but even in this, we sin, because we are not fearing the Lord and his penetrating gaze, but man’s–
for the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” [1 samuel 6:7b]
we are constantly in a state of ‘caughtness’. God knows our every thought and every action all the time:
and no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. [hebrews 4:13]
it is by the Holy Spirit, Christ in us, that we are able to do what pleases the Lord: verse 46 of matthew 23 says “blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing–” Jesus, at the sermon on the mount tells us:
“blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. [matthew 5:2-11]
yes, you are a blessed servant when you ‘do’ the work of ‘giving food at the proper time’, but the doing flows from the ‘being’–when you sit in the presence of God, you become like his son, Jesus Christ–who was mourning, meek, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, merciful, pure, peacemaking, persecuted and reviled, and when we become like that, we will be ‘caught’ doing Jesus’ work when Jesus, the master returns on that glorious day!
rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. [matthew 5:12]
come Lord Jesus!
~ ce