To Be Found Faithful

I have written many times, in several different forms, that we are to be obedient, be found faithful, and trust God for the details.

Recently, He has confirmed that this concept.

I was reading Jeremiah 35 when I came across the Racabites. Not much is said about them throughout the Old or New Testaments. As a matter of fact this may be the only mention of them (I haven't confirmed this, so don't call me on it yet).

As it turns out the Racabites are a remnant of faithful people among those in Judah. In the midst of all the sinning, turning from God, debuachery, hedonism, and idol worship going on among the leaders and people of Judah, there remains a group of people who are faithful - the Racabites.

God tells Jeremiah to bring them into one of the inner rooms of the temple and offer them some wine. Jeremiah, being the obedient prophet, does as the Lord commands. When the wine is set before the Racabites they respond . . .

"We do not drink wine, because our forefather Jonadab son of Recab gave us this command: 'Neither you nor your descendants must ever drink wine. Also you must never build houses, sow seed or plant vineyards; you must never have any of these things, but must always live in tents. Then you will live a long time in the land where you are nomads.' We have obeyed everything our forefather Jonadab son of Recab commanded us. Neither we nor our wives nor our sons and daughters have ever drunk wine or built houses to live in or had vineyards, fields or crops. We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed everything our forefather Jonadab commanded us." - vv. 6-10

Then see what the Lord says,

Then Jeremiah said to the family of the Recabites, "This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: 'You have obeyed the command of your forefather Jonadab and have followed all his instructions and have done everything he ordered.' Therefore, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: 'Jonadab son of Recab will never fail to have a man to serve me.' " - vv. 18-19

Oh to be found faithful - faithful in all thinkgs. Oh to be equated wtihthe Racabites - to do what you know is right, when all those around think and do differently. We may not realize it at the time - don't think the Racabites thought much about how God would belss - they just did it. They were found faithful.

Allow me to encourage you. It doesn't, or shouldn't, matter what the Lord will do, we should be found faithful. It shouldn't matter our valley - be found faithful. It doesn't matter how deep, how long, or how hard the valley is. It doesn't matter what all your friends say. It doesn't matter what think or how you feel - be found faithful.

What has God asked you to do? What is God expecting you to do? Be found faithful. I don't have the slightest idea what God will do for you - it shouldn't really matter. Just be found faithful.

So. . .today, while it is still called today remember. . .be obedient, be found faithful, trust God for the details.

Mike