Those of us in the ministry should take special care to avoid even the hint of scandal, including that involving sex. Not long ago I heard about a friend of mine in the ministry who had fallen into temptation and grievous sin, had scandalized himself, his family, and the church of Christ. He had lost his church and now was in incredible trouble.

Thankfully, he had but a small church, and the scandal never made the daily news or the newspaper. I called him long distance and spoke to him. I don’t think I have ever talked to a man who was so crushed. He said, “I… I can’t go out of the house. I feel that everybody is looking at me and pointing at me. ‘There he is. He’s the one.’ I don’t know what I’m going to do. My life is destroyed. What have I done?”

Then he said something that fell on my ears like a ton of bricks. He said, “Jim, I’ll never hear Him say, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant.’” With that, I choked. I thought that was the saddest thing I’ve ever heard a human being say.

How about you, my friend? Will you hear those words from Him? May God grant us the grace that moving forward we so live our lives that when we die and stand before Jesus He will look us in the eyes, call us by name, and say, “Well done, you good and faithful servant…”

Lord, give me the strength to obey You and live for You so that when I die, You may say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Please, lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from the fiery darts of the evil one…