More, Please

ALL – Psalm 115:1-18
ALL – Proverbs 27:21-22
OT – Ezekiel 33:1-34:31
NT – Hebrews 12:13:1-25

Interesting passage for the day: Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never, never fail you nor forsake you.” – Hebrews 13:5, The Living Bible

Thought: Does God want you to stop earning money? Is He against an income (we’ll leave income taxes for another discussion)? Or does God just want your attention on Him rather than on accumulating George Washingtons?

It’s easy to think that money can solve all our problems. Everything we can’t have has a price tag attached to it. We’re constantly told that the primary barrier between us and our dreams is the sheer limitations of our bank accounts.

So we get educated to pursue a higher income. We stuff our consciences away somewhere in the dusty corners of our closets to avoid offending that boss who might just be about to give us a raise. We leave friends and family behind because our career is beckoning. We make money our god—we’ll do anything to deserve its blessings.

God isn’t against work. He spent the first six days of creation working. God isn’t against compensation for work. He says, “The worker deserves his wages.” But God hates to watch His people cry out to false gods for food, clothes, shelter, transportation, joy, security or anything else. If anyone’s capable of providing those things for us, it’s God. Our God has pledged to be faithful to us, to stay with us, never to leave us high and dry.

So should we work? Draw a paycheck? Yes. And breathe a prayer of thanks to Jesus for the strength and opportunity to work, the money He’s provided, the food and clothes and everything else. Pursue more? Not necessarily. Accept raises, promotions, new job opportunities? Often, if we’re convinced that they’re coming from Jesus’ hand. But pursue them? No. Instead, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you as well.”

You can either love God or money. Not both.

Question: Have you ever been uncertain of whether you were about to choose a direction out of love for God or out of love for money? How did you guard your love for God? How did you oppose your love for money?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.

First-Time Faith

ALL – Psalm 25:12-22
ALL – Proverbs 20:16-18
OT – 2 Chronicles 32:1-33:13
NT – Romans 15:23-16:7

Interesting passage for the day: Greet my good friend Epaenetus. He was the very first person to become a Christian in Asia. – Romans 15:5b, The Living Bible

Thought: Isn’t it amazing that we know who the very first Christian was in Asia (Roman Asia, mind you, not the continent of Asia, necessarily)? What exciting times those must have been for the early believers, going to new places with good news that no one had ever heard!

As each generation passes away, opportunities like this keep being renewed. Missionaries around the world continue to encounter remote people who have never heard the gospel—the good news that Jesus died to save them from their sins, and that He rose again to offer them an eternal, untarnished life. Even here in Swanton, OH, there are people who do not know Jesus Christ, people who would be the first Christians in their families if they would put their hope in Him (at VBS last night, we had some children who did not know what the Bible is, and some who were very confused because they didn’t know what was expected of them during our prayer time).

Christianity is always one generation from extinction. Fortunately, we have Jesus’ promise, “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” Many people are still waiting to hear the good news for the first time—and when they receive it, it will be just as transforming as it was for Epaenetus, the first believer in Asia. Sharing the gospel is still a history-making enterprise—it makes history for each new person to receive Jesus Christ as Lord.

Question: Who was the first person you led to the Lord? How many people do you know for whom turning to Jesus would be a first-time experience in their lives?

To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.