TODAY’S WORD FOR FRIDAY MARCH 29, 2013.
RISEN
DEFINITION:
Resurrected from the dead.
SCRIPTURE:
But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. I Corinthians 15:20.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
It is Good Friday and in just a few short days we will be celebrating the fact that “JESUS IS RISEN.” Please notice that we said FACT. Jesus is alive. He has resurrected from the dead. He intercedes with God the Father on our behalf. Because of His resurrection we can have the following confidence.
First of all we are confident that our sins are forgiven. Jesus came into this world to give His life as a ransom for not only us but for all who will believe. Through His death on the cross, the debt for our sins has been paid in full. Because of the cross we are forgiven.
Secondly, we can have confidence that the Lord is actively involved in our life. Jesus made many promises to His followers for all generations. He pledged that those who abide in Him and do His will would bear much fruit for God’s kingdom.
Thirdly, we can have confidence in what Jesus spoke concerning the power of prayer. We have assurances that our petitions will be heard and answered. When our requests are in accordance with the will of our Lord, we will receive what we have asked for.
Finally, we can have confidence that because Jesus gave His word that He was going to prepare a place in heaven and return one day that He will return and bring us to our everlasting home. Then we will live with Him forever.
We can face each day with confidence that we serve a risen Savior.
Have a blessed Easter and rejoice with us that HE IS RISEN!
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Proverbs 27:1.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
PRAYER:
Thank You for dying on the cross to save me from my sins and paying my penalty of death. Thank You that You are my risen Savior and alive and interceding for me before my Heavenly Father. Help me to give You my full and steadfast allegiance. Shape my view of life by Your life and words. Help me to honor You by being obedient to Your commandments and following You every moment of this day.
March 31, 2013
The Cross: March 28, 2013
TODAY’S WORD FOR THURSDAY MARCH 28, 2013.
THE CROSS
DEFINITION:
A structure consisting of an up right post with a cross beam which was used as an instrument of death. The means by which atonement was made between God and humanity.
SCRIPTURE:
For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. Romans 6:6.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Since tomorrow is Good Friday maybe you assumed that we were going to share some thoughts today about Jesus dying on the cross. Well you are half right. The cross is always about Jesus. Without Jesus dying on the cross we would continue to be sinners without a hope for eternal life with our Lord.
But believers in Jesus are also destined for death. For example, “death to self” happens at the moment we accept Jesus into our heart. The moment of salvation is our death to self. As it says in the verse above, when we decided to accept Jesus then our old self (our sinful nature) was crucified with Him.
The old self dies and we are given a new nature as the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. We get to that time of sacrifice when we hand over to God all the worldly things we love and value.
But the good news is that God does not stop changing us at the point when we accept Him into our hearts. He continues to work in our lives. He gives us a new mind-set. His purpose is to conform us as new believers to the likeness of His Son. We read this in Romans 8:28: “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.”
God gives us a new nature when we become His and then we can experience freedom because Jesus has triumphed over sin and cleansed us and made us new. To allow this to happen we must give to Jesus the centermost position in our lives. When this happens the Lord calls us to the cross every day to lay down the things that might distract us from our purpose to serve and follow Him.
Putting what we treasure on the cross frees us from the attachments of this world. It does not mean that God takes away from us. We just give what we have to Him and let Him proceed before us as we take up our cross and follow Him.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Proverbs 27:1.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
PRAYER:
Help me to lay down before you each day at the cross all of the worldly attachments. Help me to be sure that my self esteem is not attached to the stuff of this world. Help me to become complete in You.
THE CROSS
DEFINITION:
A structure consisting of an up right post with a cross beam which was used as an instrument of death. The means by which atonement was made between God and humanity.
SCRIPTURE:
For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. Romans 6:6.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
Since tomorrow is Good Friday maybe you assumed that we were going to share some thoughts today about Jesus dying on the cross. Well you are half right. The cross is always about Jesus. Without Jesus dying on the cross we would continue to be sinners without a hope for eternal life with our Lord.
But believers in Jesus are also destined for death. For example, “death to self” happens at the moment we accept Jesus into our heart. The moment of salvation is our death to self. As it says in the verse above, when we decided to accept Jesus then our old self (our sinful nature) was crucified with Him.
The old self dies and we are given a new nature as the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. We get to that time of sacrifice when we hand over to God all the worldly things we love and value.
But the good news is that God does not stop changing us at the point when we accept Him into our hearts. He continues to work in our lives. He gives us a new mind-set. His purpose is to conform us as new believers to the likeness of His Son. We read this in Romans 8:28: “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.”
God gives us a new nature when we become His and then we can experience freedom because Jesus has triumphed over sin and cleansed us and made us new. To allow this to happen we must give to Jesus the centermost position in our lives. When this happens the Lord calls us to the cross every day to lay down the things that might distract us from our purpose to serve and follow Him.
Putting what we treasure on the cross frees us from the attachments of this world. It does not mean that God takes away from us. We just give what we have to Him and let Him proceed before us as we take up our cross and follow Him.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Proverbs 27:1.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
PRAYER:
Help me to lay down before you each day at the cross all of the worldly attachments. Help me to be sure that my self esteem is not attached to the stuff of this world. Help me to become complete in You.
Awesome: March 27, 2013
Today's Word for Wednesday March 27, 2013.
AWESOME
DEFINITION:
Inspiring; admiration or reverence; feeling awe; amazing; characterized by reverential fear.
SCRIPTURE:
Let them praise your great and awesome name. Psalm 99:3.
Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doings. Psalm 66:5
You shall not be terrified, for the Lord your God, the great and awesome God, is among you. Deuteronomy 7:21.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
We have teenage grandchildren and a frequent word that we often hear in their conversations is "awesome." They talk about an awesome time, awesome events, awesome friends, awesome ideas and the list goes on and on.
In church we sing songs whose words refer to an awesome God that we serve. The use of the word awesome is humbling to all believers when we think of the awesomeness of the God we serve. Our grandchildren often say "awesome" to describe everyday things but they understand that there is a difference in the meaning of "awesome" because they know personally the awesomeness of their Lord.
Each one of us should stop for a moment from our busy lives every day and worship God, who is awesome to say the least. He is all powerful; He is all knowing; He owns the cattle on a thousand hills (as the old hymn says); He is our creator and is our Father. When we think about how awesome God truly is we cannot help but be filled with reverential adoration. We cannot begin to comprehend the awesome love God has for us. He loved us so much that He gave His only Son to die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.
When we accepted His Son into our hearts and asked Him to forgive us for our sins, He did, and at that point we began to serve our awesome God. It was then we began to understand how awesome our God really was. What a privilege is ours to serve our awesome God today.
We have traveled to many areas of our world and have viewed many sites that our friends and grandchildren would call awesome. And when we saw these sites we also thought they were awesome. Some of these sites are considered wonders of the world like the Great Wall of China and the Pyramids of Egypt. Yes, they were inspiring and they left a lasting impression on our minds that we probably will never forget.
But we have experienced other sites that have left an even greater and lasting impression on our hearts and minds. One such example was the garbage dump in the Philippians where 100,000 people, many of them were children, lived literally on top of the garbage. It was at this place that we saw a young girl sitting in her lean-to shack with only a box inside serving as a table. There was one booklet on the box and it was a Sunday school booklet that we had sent to the Philippians months prior to our visit. This was an awesome sight for us. In a dismal and seemingly God-forsaken place our awesome God had found a way to let a little girl know of His great love for her.
But when we think of "awesome," none of these places or events comes close to what we know as the awesomeness of our God. Let us never forget that we serve an awesome God and that He is always available for us if we only ask for Him. Remember today's words from the scriptures above (Psalms and Deuteronomy). We need not fear because our awesome God is with us. God's works are awesome, so let us not neglect to "praise His great and awesome name."
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Proverbs 27:1.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
PRAYER:
You are an awesome God and I praise You for all that You have done for me. Thank You for Your love, Your direction and Your protection in my life. May my family never forget how awesome You are and may we always express our praise and thanksgiving to You.
AWESOME
DEFINITION:
Inspiring; admiration or reverence; feeling awe; amazing; characterized by reverential fear.
SCRIPTURE:
Let them praise your great and awesome name. Psalm 99:3.
Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doings. Psalm 66:5
You shall not be terrified, for the Lord your God, the great and awesome God, is among you. Deuteronomy 7:21.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
We have teenage grandchildren and a frequent word that we often hear in their conversations is "awesome." They talk about an awesome time, awesome events, awesome friends, awesome ideas and the list goes on and on.
In church we sing songs whose words refer to an awesome God that we serve. The use of the word awesome is humbling to all believers when we think of the awesomeness of the God we serve. Our grandchildren often say "awesome" to describe everyday things but they understand that there is a difference in the meaning of "awesome" because they know personally the awesomeness of their Lord.
Each one of us should stop for a moment from our busy lives every day and worship God, who is awesome to say the least. He is all powerful; He is all knowing; He owns the cattle on a thousand hills (as the old hymn says); He is our creator and is our Father. When we think about how awesome God truly is we cannot help but be filled with reverential adoration. We cannot begin to comprehend the awesome love God has for us. He loved us so much that He gave His only Son to die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.
When we accepted His Son into our hearts and asked Him to forgive us for our sins, He did, and at that point we began to serve our awesome God. It was then we began to understand how awesome our God really was. What a privilege is ours to serve our awesome God today.
We have traveled to many areas of our world and have viewed many sites that our friends and grandchildren would call awesome. And when we saw these sites we also thought they were awesome. Some of these sites are considered wonders of the world like the Great Wall of China and the Pyramids of Egypt. Yes, they were inspiring and they left a lasting impression on our minds that we probably will never forget.
But we have experienced other sites that have left an even greater and lasting impression on our hearts and minds. One such example was the garbage dump in the Philippians where 100,000 people, many of them were children, lived literally on top of the garbage. It was at this place that we saw a young girl sitting in her lean-to shack with only a box inside serving as a table. There was one booklet on the box and it was a Sunday school booklet that we had sent to the Philippians months prior to our visit. This was an awesome sight for us. In a dismal and seemingly God-forsaken place our awesome God had found a way to let a little girl know of His great love for her.
But when we think of "awesome," none of these places or events comes close to what we know as the awesomeness of our God. Let us never forget that we serve an awesome God and that He is always available for us if we only ask for Him. Remember today's words from the scriptures above (Psalms and Deuteronomy). We need not fear because our awesome God is with us. God's works are awesome, so let us not neglect to "praise His great and awesome name."
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Proverbs 27:1.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
PRAYER:
You are an awesome God and I praise You for all that You have done for me. Thank You for Your love, Your direction and Your protection in my life. May my family never forget how awesome You are and may we always express our praise and thanksgiving to You.
Wrath: March 26, 2013
Today's Word for Tuesday March 26, 2013
WRATH
DEFINITION:
Strong, stern or fierce anger; rage; vengeance; deeply resentful; punishment; extreme displeasure.
SCRIPTURE:
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Psalm 37:8.
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. John 3:36.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
John the Baptist used the word "wrath" in Matthew 3:7 when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to see him as he was preaching and baptizing. John the Baptist called them a "generation of vipers" and asked them "who warned them to flee from the wrath to come?"
What is the "wrath to come" that John the Baptist was talking about? It is the wrath of God against sin. The wrath of God is seldom talked about in the church today. People like their concept of God to be a God of love, kindness, and peace.
The question is often asked by non-believers how a God that is holy can get angry and still be holy. It is God's holiness that requires that He be a God of wrath. God cannot tolerate sin and be holy. God hates sin and therefore must condemn it and judge it. It is because God is a God of love that He provided a way of escape from the wrath of His judgment through His gift of salvation that He provided through the sacrifice of His Son on the cross for the sins of everyone. It is because He is a God of love and kindness that He is so patient with the ungodly and the wicked and gives them every opportunity to repent of their sins and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
The words in John 3:36 gives us a little insight into what is the reality of God's wrath. In this passage the writer, John tells us that all who do not believe on the Son of God will experience the wrath of God and not only not spend eternity with God but will spend eternity in hell.
The Bible also speaks of human wrath. Our wrath differs from God's wrath. Our wrath tends to be vindictive. When we get disturbed at someone or something, normally we react with wrath and not kindness and love. God's wrath is untainted and tempered by mercy. We have heard many people say that life is not fair and, indeed, it is not. Any theory that insists that life is fair is really deceptive.
We have mentioned several times in prior devotionals about David and the struggles that he had in his young life running from the wrath of King Saul. He would be the first to tell you that for him life was not fair. He had to live in caves and run from Saul’s people who wanted to kill him. He had reason to be angry, yet he was able to advise us to cease from anger and forsake wrath (Psalm 37:8). He always survived despite his own sins and mistakes, because of his faith in God.
David, in Psalm 37 prays that he will not retaliate against those that have been unfair to him but that he will rest in the Lord and wait patiently for God to bring justice to the earth in due time. In Psalm 37: 9 it reads that those who wait upon the Lord will inherit the earth. David had to learn to patiently wait upon the Lord.
In Ephesians 6:4 we have another reminder of the word wrath. This reminder is that as fathers and parents we are not to provoke our children to wrath. Very simply said, the lack of love, uncontrolled anger and constant harassment in the home will provoke children to wrath.
We must not then avenge ourselves because, as the scripture says in Romans 12:19, 21, "For it is written, vengeance is mine, and I will repay, do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
The key is what we feel in our heart. May we cease from anger in our lives, forsake wrath at all costs, and wait patiently on the Lord. Someone once said: Revenge restrained is a victory gained. This is easy to say but difficult to do. May we urge you today that when you get angry do not make retaliation an option for your response but turn the other cheek and smile and be kind. Then see what God will do for you.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Proverbs 27:1.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
PRAYER
Give me the courage and strength today, Lord, to be an example to my family and friends by showing them a loving heart. Give me an opportunity to share with someone the importance of eliminating anger in our lives. May each person that I meet today realize that if they do not accept You as their Savior that they will receive the wrath of God and will spend an eternity in hell.
WRATH
DEFINITION:
Strong, stern or fierce anger; rage; vengeance; deeply resentful; punishment; extreme displeasure.
SCRIPTURE:
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath. Psalm 37:8.
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. John 3:36.
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
John the Baptist used the word "wrath" in Matthew 3:7 when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to see him as he was preaching and baptizing. John the Baptist called them a "generation of vipers" and asked them "who warned them to flee from the wrath to come?"
What is the "wrath to come" that John the Baptist was talking about? It is the wrath of God against sin. The wrath of God is seldom talked about in the church today. People like their concept of God to be a God of love, kindness, and peace.
The question is often asked by non-believers how a God that is holy can get angry and still be holy. It is God's holiness that requires that He be a God of wrath. God cannot tolerate sin and be holy. God hates sin and therefore must condemn it and judge it. It is because God is a God of love that He provided a way of escape from the wrath of His judgment through His gift of salvation that He provided through the sacrifice of His Son on the cross for the sins of everyone. It is because He is a God of love and kindness that He is so patient with the ungodly and the wicked and gives them every opportunity to repent of their sins and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
The words in John 3:36 gives us a little insight into what is the reality of God's wrath. In this passage the writer, John tells us that all who do not believe on the Son of God will experience the wrath of God and not only not spend eternity with God but will spend eternity in hell.
The Bible also speaks of human wrath. Our wrath differs from God's wrath. Our wrath tends to be vindictive. When we get disturbed at someone or something, normally we react with wrath and not kindness and love. God's wrath is untainted and tempered by mercy. We have heard many people say that life is not fair and, indeed, it is not. Any theory that insists that life is fair is really deceptive.
We have mentioned several times in prior devotionals about David and the struggles that he had in his young life running from the wrath of King Saul. He would be the first to tell you that for him life was not fair. He had to live in caves and run from Saul’s people who wanted to kill him. He had reason to be angry, yet he was able to advise us to cease from anger and forsake wrath (Psalm 37:8). He always survived despite his own sins and mistakes, because of his faith in God.
David, in Psalm 37 prays that he will not retaliate against those that have been unfair to him but that he will rest in the Lord and wait patiently for God to bring justice to the earth in due time. In Psalm 37: 9 it reads that those who wait upon the Lord will inherit the earth. David had to learn to patiently wait upon the Lord.
In Ephesians 6:4 we have another reminder of the word wrath. This reminder is that as fathers and parents we are not to provoke our children to wrath. Very simply said, the lack of love, uncontrolled anger and constant harassment in the home will provoke children to wrath.
We must not then avenge ourselves because, as the scripture says in Romans 12:19, 21, "For it is written, vengeance is mine, and I will repay, do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
The key is what we feel in our heart. May we cease from anger in our lives, forsake wrath at all costs, and wait patiently on the Lord. Someone once said: Revenge restrained is a victory gained. This is easy to say but difficult to do. May we urge you today that when you get angry do not make retaliation an option for your response but turn the other cheek and smile and be kind. Then see what God will do for you.
LEARNING
Our memory verse for this week is found in Proverbs 27:1.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
PRAYER
Give me the courage and strength today, Lord, to be an example to my family and friends by showing them a loving heart. Give me an opportunity to share with someone the importance of eliminating anger in our lives. May each person that I meet today realize that if they do not accept You as their Savior that they will receive the wrath of God and will spend an eternity in hell.
Cheerfulness: March 25, 2013
Today's Word for MONDAY MARCH 25, 2013
CHEERFULNESS
DEFINITION:
Serene joyfulness; an attitude of hopefulness and gladness.
SCRIPTURE:
A happy heart makes the face cheerful. Proverbs 15:13.
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
We live in stressful times and sometimes it is difficult to find something to be happy about. How many people do you know that are always cheerful when you meet them? Frankly, the pressures of life today make it difficult for one to live a consistent cheerful life.
Those that are cheerful usually have a more positive outlook on life and have found some measure of peace and contentment. Usually these are people of faith who are believers in Jesus Christ and have a relationship with Jesus. Jesus said that it is in Him that we have peace (John 16:33). Those who do not have that right relationship with Jesus cannot know this peace or begin to comprehend it.
In the ministry that we worked in for over 30 years we had a secretary that always was cheerful. Every day when you met her she had a big smile and a cheerful comment. She loved the Lord and her face always radiated His love for her.
We all know that we have good and bad days. On our bad days, few of us feel naturally inclined to be cheerful. The scriptures tell us that cheerfulness comes from a happy heart (Proverbs 15:13 above). If our hearts are right with the Lord they can be, as this scripture says, happy. When we have a happy heart it is going to be seen by others.
Jesus warned us in John 16:33 that in this world we will have tribulation (trouble). Not every day will be a good day. But Jesus also tells us that we can be of good cheer because He has overcome the world and all the evil in it. We can have cheer because the victory has already been won. When we let the Lord control our lives, we know that our Lord is on our side in every battle we face. As believers we have peace in our hearts because our sins are forgiven and we have the gift of eternal life. Just thinking about all the Lord has done for us and remembering His promise to never leave us nor forsake us will bring cheer to our heart and life and encourage our spirit.
All that we have belongs to the Lord, because He has given it to us and we are required to honor the Lord by our giving back to Him a portion of what He has given to us. When we talk about giving back to God we refer to our time, our talent and our resources. All we have has been given to us by God. In II Corinthians 9:7 Paul reminds us that God loves a cheerful giver.
Some can give more than others because they have been blessed with more to give. It isn't about how much we give, but about our attitude of giving. We should not give reluctantly, or just because we feel we have to, but we should give willingly and gladly (cheerfully). The Lord knows our heart and it is the cheerful attitude of our heart that is pleasing to God.
In Romans 12:8 Paul also reminds us that we are all given different talents and abilities and we have a responsibility to use them for His glory and to grow the family of God but we must do it cheerfully. It is by our cheerful attitudes that others see in us that we are Christians and that we have something that they do not have. It is by our attitude that others will see that our faith is real.
We have been in many places around the world and have witnessed church conferences and church meetings. Probably our visits to Kenya have left the most lasting impressions of cheerfulness among believers on our hearts. These people that we worshipped with and ministered to were the poorest of the poor in worldly goods, but they were the richest of the rich when it came to spiritual things. Their outward cheerfulness they exhibited could only come from their love for God and the inward joy they had in their hearts.
Take time today to be cheerful to those you meet. Remember each person you meet today is facing frustrations and concerns in their lives, but a smile and a touch of cheerfulness from you could lift their spirits.
Proverbs 11:22 says that a cheerful heart is good medicine. A cheerful word of encouragement from you can be like a pain relieving medicine for someone going through a tough time.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Proverbs 27:1.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
PRAYER:
Give me and my family today a new attitude of cheerfulness. Help us to be cheerful to each other and also to those we meet today. Help me to manifest my cheerfulness to You by giving a portion of my time, talents and resources back to You.
CHEERFULNESS
DEFINITION:
Serene joyfulness; an attitude of hopefulness and gladness.
SCRIPTURE:
A happy heart makes the face cheerful. Proverbs 15:13.
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33
KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:
We live in stressful times and sometimes it is difficult to find something to be happy about. How many people do you know that are always cheerful when you meet them? Frankly, the pressures of life today make it difficult for one to live a consistent cheerful life.
Those that are cheerful usually have a more positive outlook on life and have found some measure of peace and contentment. Usually these are people of faith who are believers in Jesus Christ and have a relationship with Jesus. Jesus said that it is in Him that we have peace (John 16:33). Those who do not have that right relationship with Jesus cannot know this peace or begin to comprehend it.
In the ministry that we worked in for over 30 years we had a secretary that always was cheerful. Every day when you met her she had a big smile and a cheerful comment. She loved the Lord and her face always radiated His love for her.
We all know that we have good and bad days. On our bad days, few of us feel naturally inclined to be cheerful. The scriptures tell us that cheerfulness comes from a happy heart (Proverbs 15:13 above). If our hearts are right with the Lord they can be, as this scripture says, happy. When we have a happy heart it is going to be seen by others.
Jesus warned us in John 16:33 that in this world we will have tribulation (trouble). Not every day will be a good day. But Jesus also tells us that we can be of good cheer because He has overcome the world and all the evil in it. We can have cheer because the victory has already been won. When we let the Lord control our lives, we know that our Lord is on our side in every battle we face. As believers we have peace in our hearts because our sins are forgiven and we have the gift of eternal life. Just thinking about all the Lord has done for us and remembering His promise to never leave us nor forsake us will bring cheer to our heart and life and encourage our spirit.
All that we have belongs to the Lord, because He has given it to us and we are required to honor the Lord by our giving back to Him a portion of what He has given to us. When we talk about giving back to God we refer to our time, our talent and our resources. All we have has been given to us by God. In II Corinthians 9:7 Paul reminds us that God loves a cheerful giver.
Some can give more than others because they have been blessed with more to give. It isn't about how much we give, but about our attitude of giving. We should not give reluctantly, or just because we feel we have to, but we should give willingly and gladly (cheerfully). The Lord knows our heart and it is the cheerful attitude of our heart that is pleasing to God.
In Romans 12:8 Paul also reminds us that we are all given different talents and abilities and we have a responsibility to use them for His glory and to grow the family of God but we must do it cheerfully. It is by our cheerful attitudes that others see in us that we are Christians and that we have something that they do not have. It is by our attitude that others will see that our faith is real.
We have been in many places around the world and have witnessed church conferences and church meetings. Probably our visits to Kenya have left the most lasting impressions of cheerfulness among believers on our hearts. These people that we worshipped with and ministered to were the poorest of the poor in worldly goods, but they were the richest of the rich when it came to spiritual things. Their outward cheerfulness they exhibited could only come from their love for God and the inward joy they had in their hearts.
Take time today to be cheerful to those you meet. Remember each person you meet today is facing frustrations and concerns in their lives, but a smile and a touch of cheerfulness from you could lift their spirits.
Proverbs 11:22 says that a cheerful heart is good medicine. A cheerful word of encouragement from you can be like a pain relieving medicine for someone going through a tough time.
LEARNING:
Our memory verse for this week is found in Proverbs 27:1.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
PRAYER:
Give me and my family today a new attitude of cheerfulness. Help us to be cheerful to each other and also to those we meet today. Help me to manifest my cheerfulness to You by giving a portion of my time, talents and resources back to You.
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