Yup...that's the name of today's reading...Money Troubles. My reading continued yesterday's discourse between Jesus and this rich young ruler. After the young man informed Jesus that he had kept all those commandments and that he was a "good person," he was readily taught that he only had to give away all he had to the poor and follow Christ. Well, he didn't stick around much longer. And that's too bad because when Jesus noticed the man's sadness (interesting that the man had so much, yet he couldn't buy the one thing he didn't know he always needed), He taught that as much as we lay down here on earth, we will be rewarded with 10 times that much in heaven.
It's so easy to say, "Oh, that's not my problem. I don't have too much. Sheesh...I don't have much at all! Money isn't my focus." But I was gently reminded this morning that money can be so much of a focus whether we have it or not. In today's world, when people have money, they often want more. When people don't have money, they want more. It becomes such a focus, such a top priority, that all else is lost.
And a chunk of our faith goes with it. God constantly reminds us throughout His Word that we are to trust Him for all our needs. The Psalmists sing it. The Gospels teach it. The apostles Paul and Peter preach it. We are never without encouragement to put our trust in our Provider. When we take away that trust and put it in ourselves, our abilities at work, our new job application, our chance for a raise, etc..., we fall farther away from "our first love." (Rev. 2:4-5)
Let's be encouraged today to keep placing our faith in the One who cares for the birds of the air and knows the number of grains of sand on the seashore! He cares for us and He knows our needs. "Financial Stress" is not one of the Fruits of the Spirit!!!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Living out God's plan
Good morning!
I've been wanting to get back to these devotional thoughts in the morning, but summer was so hard to get up before the kids did! Now with school in full swing, my morning routine is back and I'm working to get back on here. I've had a few requests for it and I really like the idea of getting these thoughts out of my head. (I only process written information---is that bad?!)
We're starting a new book at our Ladies' Bible Study. So far, it's just 'okay.' I'm still a bit wrapped up in my 90-Day Study in the Person of Christ. (Day 67) I'm planning to finish that as we start this other study about personal revival and seeking God.
Today's reading took me to Luke 18:18-21. This is the first half of the story of the rich young ruler who asks Jesus what he can do to inherit eternal life. Jesus kindly responds that he needs to keep the commandments. The young man claims, "All these things I have kept from my youth." Now, my reading just dug into this first half of the conversation. And for me, it was a good reminder of how we so often claim to "be good" and expect that will be enough for eternity.
And isn't the concept of "being good" a very subjective one? I mean, if I do something that I think is good, but it may be a little self-serving and someone else views it as selfish, how does that fit in? "Being good" is a process that we design ourselves and give ourselves the "All Clear" sign when we deem we're finished. One commandment Jesus reminds this man of is, "Honor your father and your mother." Well, sure, we honor them to their face as young children. But what is in our hearts? At age 6, my daughter knows there is a line to be crossed with what she says to me. But she is quickly learning that how she says it and how she storms upstairs in a hissy fit is just as dishonoring as if she would have told me, "I don't care what you think, I'm doing it anyway!"
The section of my reading entitled, "Praying God's Word Today" was great. I'd love to share it with you as it not only utilizes my favorite verses in Scripture, but also puts them in a new way so that I was reminded that God is in charge of my days. I may follow His commandments, but my heart needs to be in the right place at all times. For that to happen, I need to be always looking to Him for strength and guidance through my day as He is the One who is orchestrating my day!
"Lord Jesus, I know that You created me for good works, which You prepared ahead of time so that I would walk in them. But I am more aware than ever each day that it is by Your grace I have been saved through faith -- not from works, so that I have no reason to boast (Eph. 2:8-10). May I never boast in anything except the cross of Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world (Gal. 6:14)." (Jesus: 90 Days with the One and Only, Beth Moore)
I've been wanting to get back to these devotional thoughts in the morning, but summer was so hard to get up before the kids did! Now with school in full swing, my morning routine is back and I'm working to get back on here. I've had a few requests for it and I really like the idea of getting these thoughts out of my head. (I only process written information---is that bad?!)
We're starting a new book at our Ladies' Bible Study. So far, it's just 'okay.' I'm still a bit wrapped up in my 90-Day Study in the Person of Christ. (Day 67) I'm planning to finish that as we start this other study about personal revival and seeking God.
Today's reading took me to Luke 18:18-21. This is the first half of the story of the rich young ruler who asks Jesus what he can do to inherit eternal life. Jesus kindly responds that he needs to keep the commandments. The young man claims, "All these things I have kept from my youth." Now, my reading just dug into this first half of the conversation. And for me, it was a good reminder of how we so often claim to "be good" and expect that will be enough for eternity.
And isn't the concept of "being good" a very subjective one? I mean, if I do something that I think is good, but it may be a little self-serving and someone else views it as selfish, how does that fit in? "Being good" is a process that we design ourselves and give ourselves the "All Clear" sign when we deem we're finished. One commandment Jesus reminds this man of is, "Honor your father and your mother." Well, sure, we honor them to their face as young children. But what is in our hearts? At age 6, my daughter knows there is a line to be crossed with what she says to me. But she is quickly learning that how she says it and how she storms upstairs in a hissy fit is just as dishonoring as if she would have told me, "I don't care what you think, I'm doing it anyway!"
The section of my reading entitled, "Praying God's Word Today" was great. I'd love to share it with you as it not only utilizes my favorite verses in Scripture, but also puts them in a new way so that I was reminded that God is in charge of my days. I may follow His commandments, but my heart needs to be in the right place at all times. For that to happen, I need to be always looking to Him for strength and guidance through my day as He is the One who is orchestrating my day!
"Lord Jesus, I know that You created me for good works, which You prepared ahead of time so that I would walk in them. But I am more aware than ever each day that it is by Your grace I have been saved through faith -- not from works, so that I have no reason to boast (Eph. 2:8-10). May I never boast in anything except the cross of Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world (Gal. 6:14)." (Jesus: 90 Days with the One and Only, Beth Moore)
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