Today you should read: 2 Samuel 3
Samuel had anointed David as king when he was a young man by the command of the Lord. David knew that he had been set apart by God to be king – but not yet. In between the anointing and becoming king laid some long lonely days, fear, and pain. God always fulfills His promises, but sometimes suffering may proceed that. For example, God promises to take His children to heaven, but some believers are still persecuted and endure physical suffering until God comes for them. God only requires one thing – that we remain faithful.
David was faithful to God. While David was on the run from Saul, God blessed David with some good moments like the birth of his six sons (v.2-5). On and on the conflict goes – Abner joins forces with David then is killed by Joab.
Are you going through a difficult time in between the promises of God? How are you responding? Are you remaining faithful to God? Faithful with all He has entrusted you with?
Time
All of us are given the exact same gift of time no matter who we are or what season of life we’re in. It one of the most precious things given to us by God. Paul exhorts us in Ephesians 5:15-16a to:
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time…
How can we do that? Make sure God is first in our allocation of the time we spend. Do we honor Him with our time or does everything else in our lives take precedence over the things of God?
Talent
God has blessed each of us with special gifts from him – natural and spiritual. Peter said,
As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:10
Are you faithfully using the gifts God gave you for Him and to advance His kingdom?
Treasure
Everything we own is a gift from God and belongs to God. He has trusted us with His resources to use for His glory.
Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. Malachi 3:8-10
Are you freely giving of God’s resources to His church and efforts to advance the Gospel around the world?
Faithfulness is what God requires and expects of us.
Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2
Ask yourself the hard questions today and live today faithfully.
By: Tim Parsons — Lead Pastor
JumpstartCPC.com 
“God always fulfills His promises, but sometimes suffering may proceed that.”
Good word today Tim. This is a hard truth. Most of us in America have grown up facing little to no persecution for following Jesus. The “suffering” we endure is more often than not a minor inconvenience. I believe suffering is coming to American Christians and will intensify as we near the Lord’s return. My prayer is that we remain faithful in the day of persecution and bear witness to our Savior.
John 15:18-19 (NIV) If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
Thank you for your words Mike and for being a faithful JumpStart reader!