GIVING IT YOUR ALL

Luke 21:1-4
While Jesus was in the Temple,
he watched the rich people putting
their gifts into the collection box.
Then a poor widow came by and dropped
in two pennies. "I assure you," he said,
"this poor widow has given more than all
the rest of them. For they have given a
tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor
as she is, has given everything she has."



Regarding giving, Christianity is about giving everything you have – just like when Jesus gave His life for all of us on the cross. In Acts 2:45, the first century Christians, “sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need.” Acts 4:34-35 teaches us that, “there was no poverty among them, because people who owned land or houses sold them and brought the money to the apostles to give to others in need.” Today, Jesus is watching us from His throne and He knows who is giving their all, and He knows who's putting everything possible into the kingdom. Ultimately, the rewards and blessings for giving everything you have are absolutely priceless.

MONEY MONEY MONEY

1 Timothy 6:17
Tell those who are rich in this world
not to be proud and not to trust in
their money, which will soon be gone.
But their trust should be in the
living God, who richly gives us
all we need for our enjoyment.



Ray O. Jones said that the dollar bill actually speaks and that when it speaks it says:

You hold me in your hand and call me yours.
Yet may I not as well call you mine.
See how easily I rule you?
To gain me, you would all but die.

I am invaluable as rain, essential as water.
Without me, men and institutions would die.
Yet I do not hold the power of life for them;
I am futile without the stamp of your desire.

I go nowhere unless you send me.
I keep strange company.
For me, men mock, love, and scorn character.
Yet, I am appointed to the service of saints,
to give education to the growing mind and
food to the starving bodies of the poor.

My power is terrific.
Handle me carefully and wisely,
lest you become my servant,
rather than I yours.

Money is a wonderful servant, but a truly awful master. Ultimately, you've got to personally trust the living God and not your riches because it's impossible to serve two masters. Think about it, if you're caught up in the pursuit of money, riches and power, you're really a slave and your master is money. Flip it around so that your master is God and your servant is money.

A BADGE OF HONOR

2 Timothy 1:12
And that is why I am suffering
here in prison. But I am not
ashamed of it, for I know the one
in whom I trust, and I am sure
that he is able to guard what
I have entrusted to him until
the day of his return.



The Apostle Paul was imprisoned because he preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I think it is fair to say that it is a great privilege for one to go through pain and suffering brought about by their service unto the Lord. During pain and suffering there are moments of complete identification with Jesus Christ who himself walked upon a path much worse than the one we tread. John 15:20 tells us that Jesus taught, "Do you remember what I told you? ‘A servant is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you!" Just serve the Lord despite any anguish because your blood, sweat and tears become a true badge of honor.

IMPECCABLE

Isaiah 38:17
Yes, it was good for me
to suffer this anguish, for you
have rescued me from death
and have forgiven all my sins.



History tells us that the most ancient set of laws is the Code of Hammurabi from the King of Babylon (c. 1728-1686 BC). The code divides the population into three classes: gentlemen, citizens, and slaves. Generally, gentlemen would enjoy many special privileges, but if one would commit an offense, that person would be punished more severely than members of the citizens or slaves. As Christians, we are the children of God, with the gifting of many privileges and promises by our Lord. When we are corrected through suffering and hardship, it can be argued under the Code of Hammurabi that the punishment be more severe because of our position as children of God. Behave and walk as a child of God should. If you really think it through, you're a member of a royal family and your behavior should be impeccable.

WHENEVER IT BREAKS

1 Peter 1:9
Your reward for trusting
him will be the salvation
of your souls.



I'd read about a monastery in Portugal sitting atop a 3,000 foot cliff that's reachable only by a basket with a single rope and pulley. Visitors to the monastery ride in the basket, pulled up to the cliff by several strong men. One tourist visiting the site noticed that the rope was old and a bit worn, prompting him to ask, "So how often do you change the rope?" The monk in charge said, "Whenever it breaks." I guess it takes some real faith just to get to this monastery! What's your faith like? How sure are you about your religion? Can you fully trust your religion to bring you to heaven and to save you from hell? The Apostle Peter said that your reward in trusting Jesus will be the salvation of your soul from hell. Here’s the best part - it’s 100% guaranteed and you don't have to worry about old ropes breaking while you're in a basket.

OBSTACLES TO HEAVEN

1 Corinthians 9:22
When I am with those who are oppressed,
I share their oppression so that
I might bring them to Christ.
Yes, I try to find common ground with
everyone so that I might bring them to Christ.



Mahatma Gandhi said, “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” I heard that Gandhi also said, “I should have been a Christian if not for the Christians.” Often, the biggest hindrance of Christianity is the Christians themselves. We set up standards making it difficult for people to know of and believe in Jesus Christ. We scare people with our own personal preferences in music, musical instruments and even the manner of worship in the church. The very people that we want to reach end up excluded and sometimes even scared to come to the feet of Christ. We need to stand with conviction in upholding the truth of Christ and decrease our personal preferences for the salvation of the lost. After all, the common ground is bringing the unsaved to Christ.

VICTORY IN JESUS

John 5:24
I assure you, those who listen
to my message and believe in God
who sent me have eternal life.
They will never be condemned
for their sins, but they have
already passed from death into life.



Death can arguably be called the greatest enemy of man. Voltaire the Incomparable Infidel told his doctor while on his deathbed, “I am abandoned by God and man. I will give you half of what I am worth, if you will give me six months of life.” The doctor replied, “Sir, you could not live six more weeks.” Voltaire said, “Then I shall go to hell, and you will go with me.” Misery must truly love company! If only Voltaire had realized that death was already conquered by the Jesus on the cross. The Word of God testifies in 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 that, “When this (death) happens – when our perishable earthly bodies have been transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die – then at last the Scriptures will come true: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?’ For sin is the sting that results in death and the law gives sin its power - Thank God, who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord! We can enjoy life and not be scared of death if our trust is in Jesus.” You see, with Jesus Christ we have victory because we get to go from death unto life. You just have to sincerely make the choice to be in Christ and your greatest enemy becomes nothing more than a dog who's bark is worse than it's bite.

WHAT CAN WASH AWAY MY SINS

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins,
he is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness.



Supreme Court records tell us that Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan, in a 1998 dissenting opinion said that the, “Scrutiny of another's trash is contrary to commonly accepted notions of civilized behavior. A search of trash, like a search of the bedroom, can relate intimate details about health and personal hygiene... as well as financial and professional status, political affiliations and inclinations, private thoughts, personal relationships and romantic interests.” God would love to clean out all the garbage that we've personally accumulated in our lives. However, because of the free will He has granted us, He won’t intrude on our right to choose what we accumulate, whether or not it may or may not be garbage. You have to choose to take out your own trash and He’ll be just and faithful to cleanse us from all the dirt that's left behind with the blood of the Lamb. It's your choice and He'll faithfully be there for you when you make your decision. All you have to do is decide and choose.

SEXUAL TEMPTATIONS

1 Corinthians 10:13
But remember that the temptations
that come into your life are no
different from what others experience.
And God is faithful. He will keep
the temptation from becoming so strong
that you can't stand up against it.
When you are tempted, he will
show you a way out so that
you will not give in to it.



Here’s a silly anecdote for you: The head of a dormitory was giving instructions to the dorm residents informing them that the, “Male students are not allowed into female dorms, and female students are not allowed into male dorm rooms. Anybody caught breaking this rule will be fined $20 the first time. The second time you will be fined $60. A third time will cost you a fine of $180. Any questions?" A male student quipped, "How much for a season pass?" It's certainly a comedic statement, but in all seriousness, rule are meant to be obeyed and not to be violated. God's rules even have the sovereignty of His throne. That said, during times of fleshly temptation, you need to remember that God is faithful to show you a way out. If you are faithful and obedient when following Him, the way out that He provides will be obvious and easy to see.

I AM IN TROUBLE

Isaiah 38:14
Delirious, I chattered like
a swallow or a crane, and then
I moaned like a mourning dove.
My eyes grew tired of
looking to heaven for help.
I am in trouble, Lord. Help me!



Have you ever been in such deep trouble that you felt it might be the end of everything? King Hezekiah of the Old Testament was in the prime of his life when he became deathly sick. His power, popularity, money and everything else under his power were useless and couldn’t bring healing. He was tired and dying, and he had exhausted everything he possessed to get better. He realized that the only One who'd be able to heal and lead him out of his troubles was the Lord. You might have everything going in your life at the moment, and you may even feel that you don’t need God right now, but you really ought to start thanking Him for all the blessings you have because the time may come that you’ll go through what King Hezekiah experienced. God will again be the only one left to help you after you exhaust all of your possibilities. If you're a believer you shouldn't be afraid because He'll always be there for you in your time of need.

MOVIN' ON UP

Philippians 3:14
I strain to reach the end
of the race and receive
the prize for which God,
through Christ Jesus,
is calling us up to heaven.



One of my all time favorite hymns is Higher Ground which was written in 1892 by Johnson Oatman, Jr.

I’m pressing on the upward way,
new heights I’m gaining every day;
still praying as I’m onward bound,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
by faith, on Heaven’s table land,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
My heart has no desire to stay
where doubts arise and fears dismay;
though some may dwell where those abound,
my prayer, my aim, is higher ground.

Paul wrote in Colossians 3:1-2, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God's right hand in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth.” There's really not much more to add. If you're a believer in Christ, you're heaven bound and heading upward to higher ground.

A DEGREE FROM THE SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS

Genesis 41:52
Joseph named his second son
Ephraim, for he said, "God has
made me fruitful in this
land of my suffering.



This story is just too good to be true, yet it's true. Joseph was sold by his brothers to become a slave. Later, he was charged with a crime that he never did commit and was imprisoned for that crime. Throughout all of this, his faith in God remained steady and he never violated the commands of God. It seemed impossible for him to get out of prison, but God still made a way. Not only was he released, but in due time he would became Prime Minister of Egypt. More than half of his life was spent in the school of hard knocks, but every time he passed his tests, the Lord promoted him. Don't question what God has promised in the light as you pass through the night. You can still be fruitful in the darkness and the land of suffering.

IT'S ALL ABOUT PEOPLE

2 Timothy 2:10
I am willing to endure anything
if it will bring salvation and
eternal glory in Christ Jesus
to those God has chosen.



It was Paul who said in 1 Corinthians 2:16, “We have the mind of Christ.” Paul put into practice the example of Christ when reaching out to the masses. Jesus was radical in His way, but it was all grounded in the Truth because Jesus is the Truth. Jesus healed a sick person during Sabbath and He allowed His disciples to eat during Sabbath. He wasn't trying to be irreverent, He was just showing that above all else, it's not the rules that are important, it's the people that are important. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He told them to begin prayer in this manner, "Our Father." Just uttering those words wasn’t even possible for the common Jews of that day. They couldn't even mumble "God," not to mention that they would need to be completely cleansed before saying “God.” Also, just to make their hallowed approach clear, even a pen that would be used for writing "Yahweh" couldn’t be used for writing any other words. When Jesus arrived and began teaching the disciples to pray to God as their “Father,” it becomes even more evident that people were the most important thing to Jesus. Whatever the cost may be, we must do everything for every person to become a child of God. After all, Jesus paid the ultimate price for every person to come to salvation in reconciliation with God the Father.

SPIRITUAL BATTLE

1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight
for what we believe.
Hold tightly to the eternal
life that God has given you,
which you have confessed so
well before many witnesses.



Jesus said in Luke 17:6, “Even if you had faith as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May God uproot you and throw you into the sea,’ and it would obey you!” Everything in life is a part of a spiritual battle. Paul said in Galatians 4:3, “And that's the way it was with us before Christ came. We were slaves to the spiritual powers of this world.” You may find this odd, but our physical body is just an instrument useD to carry out what the spiritual body desires and dictates. Freedom from the powers of the spiritual realm is achieved by believing in the salvation offered by Jesus Christ alone. To win the fight, you must have eternal life brought about by your faith in God. Your physical life is all about a spiritual faith battle, so train up, put on the armor of God and be prepared for what's coming at you.

REAL LOVE

1 John 4:10
This is real love.
It is not that
we loved God, but
that he loved us
and sent his Son
as a sacrifice to
take away our sins.



I read this incredible story about a mother who was trapped by a prairie fire while carrying her baby on her back. The wildfire was moving so fast that the woman came to realize that there was no escape. Quickly taking the baby off of her back, she began digging a hole in the ground with her bare hands. She then placed her child into the hole and covered the hole and child with her body. Later, when the field was being searched, this woman was found dead, but the child was alive. I truly believe that every loving mother would do the same for her children. This kind of love is a physical reflection of the source of love: God. "For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).” If you're looking for what real love looks like, look no further.

LISTEN, BELIEVE AND LIVE

John 5:24
I assure you, those who listen
to my message and believe in God
who sent me have eternal life.
They will never be condemned for
their sins, but they have already
passed from death into life.



There is no condemnation for anyone who believes and receives the Lord Jesus Christ. Believers get an early verdict on death and they pass from death directly unto life. Paul recognized this amazing work of Christ when he wrote in Romans 8:1, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” The condemnation according to Romans 6:23, “Is death.” That condemnation gets replaced by the gift of God which is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. If you haven’t received the gift of eternal life, you aren’t truly living, but rather you’re just existing on borrowed time. Listen to the message of Jesus, believe God's promises and live an amazing eternal life without condemnation.

FREE FROM STRESS AND DEPRESSION

Hebrews 4:9
So there is a special rest still
waiting for the people of God.



Over the years I've consistently heard people tell me that they're stressed out, tired or depressed. I can understand what's happening with those folks because they're under the constant pressures of life's daily grind. The average person has a rent or mortgage, utility bills, insurance, groceries and so many other expenses. Sometimes it feels like we’re just living to work. Once pressure and depression hits you, the sleepless nights aren't far off and there are those that would even rely on medication just to find some rest. If you have God on your side, however, He has a special rest waiting for you. If you're a believer, I encourage you to sit back and commune with God during those testy moments. Philippians 4:7 teaches us, “If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” He can give you rest from stress, pressure and depression. He can give you the special rest that can only be found in Christ. Just let Him carry you.

UNIMAGINABLE

Isaiah 55:8-9
"My thoughts are completely
different from yours," says the LORD.
"And my ways are far beyond
anything you could imagine.
For just as the heavens
are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher
than your ways and my thoughts
higher than your thoughts.”



Having all the right college degrees and all the right experiences in life still can't make a person know everything. Make no mistake about it, only God knows everything. I remember a story about four students that cut some classes to go and just hangout. After lunch, they told their teacher that they had a flat tire and that was the reason that they weren’t at their morning classes. The teacher smiled and said, "Well, you guys missed a quiz today, so take your seats apart from one another and take out a blank piece of paper." The four followed the instructions and the teacher wrote a single question of the board: Which tire was flat?" They looked at each other and hung their heads because they knew their alibi didn't work and that they had been caught in their own lie. In Romans 1:22, Paul said: “Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead.” Even the brightest among us have to follow God’s way presented by His Holy Word because only God knows what's best for each and every one of us at each and every possible moment.

HARDENED HEARTS

Hebrews 3:8
Don't harden your hearts
against him as Israel did
when they rebelled, when
they tested God's patience
in the wilderness.



In his letter to the Hebrews, Paul reminds Christians of the past mistakes made by God's chosen. They had rebelled against and disobeyed Him on their way to the Promised Land, and the consequences were pretty harsh because not a single one of the original Israelites who had come out of Egypt were allowed to set foot upon the Promised Land. Philosopher George Santayana said, “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” By learning from the Bible, you can break the chain of repetition and move onto glory. Believe, learn and obey the Word of God. Trust all of His promises. Do not harden your heart and never doubt Him if you want to touch and see the blessings God has meant for your life. Always be mindful of your actions because you may not even realize that you're being rebellious or disobedient.

ON YOUR DAY OF DISASTER

Jeremiah 17:17
Lord, do not desert me now!
You alone are my hope
in the day of disaster.



When desperate people completely lose hope, it's not out of the question to find them thinking about suicide. The main reason that the desperate would even consider such a tragic "solution" is that they're just not able to see any hopeful bright spots with everything feeling dark, painful and hopeless. The concept of hope represents something unseen in the future that a depressed mind just can't materialize in their present situation. Only God knows the things that are hoped for because He is present in the eternity past and the eternity future at the same exact time. This makes God able to simultaneously see that which is hoped for and know whether or not it materializes into reality. God is even able to see if what we hope for is good or bad for us. The prophet Jeremiah recognized the value of hope in Jeremiah 17:17. His prayer was for God to rescue him because God was indeed his only hope. Without question, if God is in your life, even your most desperate days have bright spots because of the hope that God places in your heart.

TRULY BEAUTIFUL

1 Peter 3:3
Your beauty should not come
from outward adornment,
such as braided hair and
the wearing of gold
jewelry and fine clothes.



An attractive older woman was asked about her beauty secrets. Her reply was this: "I use for my lips, truth; for my voice, kindness; for my eyes, compassion; for my hands, charity; for my figure, decency; for my heart, love; for any who do not like me, prayer." Notice the ties to what Jesus teaches us in Mark 7:14-15, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.'" I guess it can be argued that what comes out of us is entirely dependent upon what we allow to be put into us. If we take a stance to fill ourselves only with good things, and we ask Jesus to truly live in our hearts and lives, then only true beauty could come out of you. At the end of the day, nothing that you can adorn yourself with can make you beautiful the way Jesus can. Nothing.

TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS

James 4:14
You do not even know
what will happen tomorrow.
What is your life?
You are a mist that
appears for a little while
and then vanishes.



A doctor that had been desperately trying to contact one of his patients was finally able to speak with the man via phone. The doctor told his patient, “I have the results of your tests. Which do you want to hear first: the bad news or the very bad news?" His patient responded, "Well, I guess I'll take the bad news first." With that the doctor replied, "Well the bad news is, you have only 24 hours to live." His patient in a state of shock asked, "24 hours to live? That's horrible! What could be worse than that? So what's the very bad news?" The doctor replied, "I've been trying to contact you since yesterday." It’s a really silly story, but the Bible tells us that our lives are like a mist appearing for a short while and then vanishing quickly. Let’s be real about the fact that your life can end at any point because life is short. Because life is short, you need to be ready for whatever tomorrow brings by entrusting your life to God. He knows your story, He knows what you really need and He's an expert on everything.

DEALING WITH TEMPTATION

Matthew 6:13
And don't let us yield to temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.



Jesus demonstrated how to face temptations that the devil will use while you're upon your path. Jesus Himself was brought to the desert where food and drink were scarce, and needs were overwhelming. That scenario is symbolic of what most people are currently experiencing in their lives right now. Times are difficult and Satan will likely come along to offer you something desirable, something that your heart would desire. Satan said to Jesus in Matthew 4:9, "I will give it all to you, if you will only kneel down and worship me." Ironically, Satan’s statement unveils the key to our connection with God: worship. Our enemy understands that when we worship our Father in Heaven, He is moved to provide all of our needs. When Satan tries to get you to worship something other than God, he knows that you won't be blessed. Jesus responded bluntly to Satan when He said, “Get out of here, Satan. For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God; serve only Him.’” When temptations appear before you, know that Jesus experienced the same exact challenges you're facing. Face it, He came to down to earth and lived as a man, so He understands the temptations you're facing. Stay strong and be devoted in your worship of God, your Father.

THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH

Romans 7:5
When we were controlled by our old nature,
sinful desires were at work within us,
and the law aroused these evil desires that
produced sinful deeds, resulting in death.



How would you know if what you were doing were right or wrong? Some situations are really easy to determine, but others can be really tough. Because of this difficulty, some may say that truth is relative to the situation. It's even possible that whatever passes as a proper practice in one culture might even be deemed wrong in another culture. Paul writes in Romans 7:25, “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.” Jesus Christ is the truth and the life according to John 14:6, therefore making His word the standard for truth. If you know the Truth and are obedient to Him, you will not fall into your old sinful nature. When it comes to Jesus, the truth is never "relative" because His truth is absolute.

LYING LIPS

1 Peter 3:10
For the Scriptures say,
“If you want a happy life
and good days, keep your
tongue from speaking evil,
and keep your lips
from telling lies.”



When God created us, we were given a full life where just about everything and anything was created just for us. Paradise was created just for us. God even gave us the authority over everything that He created for us. Everything was perfect until sinful lies became a part of our makeup. In fact, the paradise that was available was lost because Adam chose to believe the father of lies (see John 8:44) instead of the Father of truth (see John 14:6). To begin the road to regaining the full life that you were meant to live, there's a simple solution: know your Father of truth personally. When you know and understand the truth, center your tongue to speak no evil words and to keep your lips clean and free from lies.