"For where your treasure is there will your heart be also." Luke 12:34
This is an amazing verse of Scripture. Read it again slowly. Notice the words and meditate on them as you reread them over and over and over: "For where your treasure IS there your heart WILL BE also." "Is" is a present tense verb. It means "now" or "currently." "Will be" is a future tense verb. This means "in the time to come" or "in the future." Wherever you choose to place your money, your energy, and your time will be the place your heart will go. In other words, when you place your treasure in pleasure on earth, that is where you'll find your heart sooner or later. We cannot invest in something and not care about its health or well-being. And conversely, we will not be concerned with things we have not placed time and energy on or in. Ask God to be wise with the treasure He has provided for you. Ask Him for the desire to "send it on ahead" instead of placing where it will never last. Prayer: Are you investing your time, talent, and treasure in that which is eternal for the sake of mission?
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"Provide yourselves with money bags that do not grow old; with a treasure in heaven that does not fail" - Luke 12:33
Generous living was a life theme for Jesus. He gave of Himself in so many ways. He also, though, saw many in Israel at the time who were investing wrongly. They would speak of giving to God of their possessions, but what they were actually doing was spending only on themselves or on things on earth that would not last. Jesus encouraged His followers to give forward to the Kingdom to come. In other words, He was saying "invest in that which is eternal instead of that which is temporary." Feed the homeless, give to church planting, adopt the orphan, invest in the Kingdom activity around you. In these money bags, there will never be rot. These are the money bags from heaven. This investment is in the Kingdom of God and not the kingdom of earth or of mankind. Thank Him for providing for you and ask Him what He wants you to do with what He has blessed you with. Prayer: Where do you invest? In the Kingdom of God or in the things of this earth? Do you invest in the Kingdom at all? "But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33
As human beings, there are things we want and there are things we need. And unfortunately, we sometimes get these two things confused. Thankfully, our heavenly Father knows what we need before we even ask Him (Matt. 6:8). These are the things that He has promised "will be added" to us. He did not say that they might be added or even probably will be added. He promised is that He will provide! And in this promise, we have great confidence because it is He who is making this promise to provide. For He is able to do far more abundantly that all we can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). Are you experiencing a season where you need to experience God's provision? Trust Him! He promised to provide for you as His son or daughter as you seek first His Kingdom on mission with Him. Prayer: Are you trusting in His promised provision for your life? "Proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance." Acts 28:30, 31
Luke relays to his readers that Paul was proclaiming with all boldness and without hindrance both the Kingdom of God and the teaching of Jesus. And that is what we as Followers of Jesus should do as well. We don't "have to share." We "get to share" the Kingdom of God and the Gospel of Jesus. How much do you believe about your faith? Is your faith so real that you see people like God sees people? Do you believe that people who are separated from God will be separated forever in a place called hell? Do you believe that Jesus' death was sufficient payment for the penalty for your sin? If the answer to these questions is "yes," then why would we not share this message with boldness? When you believe something is true, you want others to know it too. Be bold. Ask Him to use your life and your lips as you share in the mission. Prayer: Who needs to hear this life-changing message of Jesus? "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
What is a steward? Biblically, a steward is one who faithfully manages God's resources for God's glory. Often times, followers of Jesus think too narrowly of the concept of a steward only equating it to the management of money. However, stewardship is a much broader biblical principle. Here, Peter reminds believers that we are to be good stewards of the spiritual gifts God gives to us. Meaning, there can also be bad stewards. Here is an evaluation question to see whether or not you faithfully stewarding the grace gift you've been given as a Jesus follower: Are you using your grace gift to serve the body of Christ? And if you don't know how God's designed you to function with His body, one of the ways you discover your gifting is to start serving. To read more about spiritual gifts, look up the following passages: Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, and Ephesians 4:11-12. Prayer: What are some tangible ways you can serve those within the body based on who God's created you to be? |
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June 2018
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