Give What You Have

Give, and it will be given to you - Luke 6:38.

                  God wants us to use our time, talent and treasure to honor Him. A boy who had five barley loaves and two fish gave them away when the disciples asked (John 6: 9). Because of his great sacrifice, nearly 5000 people were fed in the wilderness. A poor widow put in two very small copper coins into the temple treasury. Her sacrifice was so costly as she gave her all to the Lord, not thinking of her future though she was poor (Luke 21: 1- 4).

                A woman came to Jesus with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on the head of Jesus. She was appreciated by Jesus for her great sacrifice (Mark 14: 1- 9). They all have done great things for the Lord. It is more blessed to give than to receive - Acts 20:35. Let us store our treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also - Mathew 6:21.

                Let us invest our time to build the kingdom of God with a willing heart. Do not be unwise but wise, making the best use of your time, because the times are evil - Ephesians 5:15-16. Let us give all our talents and gifts to glorify God. Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully - 2 Corinthians 9:6,7. May we use our time, talent and treasure which we have to honor God.

                                    

                                         

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We offer our life to You. Let us use our time, talent and treasure for Your glory. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Do Not Fear Only Believe

But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well” - Luke 8:50.

                Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue came to Jesus as his only daughter was sick. My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live. And He went with him - Mark 5:23,24. Jairus was in need of a miracle and he was so close to get that blessing. But Jesus had to spend some time in conversation with the woman who had the issue of blood for twelve years. At that time, someone came and told that the daughter of Jairus is dead.  

               Jesus encouraged Jairus not to fear but only to believe. While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe” - Mark 5:35,36. Jesus did not forget about Jairus even though He stopped to bless a woman. It is easy for Jairus to believe God when the girl was sick as she can recover if Jesus heals her. But though it is very hard to hold faith after hearing that the girl was dead, Jairus was not afraid but only believed God.

               Jesus said that the girl was not dead but asleep and restored her back to life. Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking – Mark 5:41,42. All things are possible for one who believes - Mark 9:23. Whatever our fears may be, God tells us not to fear but only to believe. When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, In God I trust; I will not be afraid - Psalm 56:3-4.

                                            

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Help us only to believe You and not fear about anything. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Blessed Are The Merciful

Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy - Mathew 5:7.

              A man who went down from Jerusalem to Jericho on a journey was attacked, robbed, beaten by thieves and left half dead. A Priest who came by that road saw the man and passed on the other side. A Levite who arrived at that place saw the man and passed by another side. A Samaritan who came there had compassion on the man when he saw him. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion -Luke 10:33.

             The Samaritan went to him, bandaged his wounds, brought him to an inn and took care of him. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him - Luke 10:34. He showed mercy on him. So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves? And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise” -Luke 10:36,37.

             We honor God when we show mercy to the needy people. He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy - Proverbs 14:31. God wants us to love mercy. He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? - Micah 6:8. If we are merciful to others, we are blessed and God will be merciful to us. Like the good Samaritan, let us show mercy to others. The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him - Psalm 103:17.

                                               

PRAYER: Dear Lord. Help us to be merciful to others. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

We Live By Every Word of God

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God - Luke 4:4.

                 God’s word is the food that nourishes our inner man. As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby - 1 Peter 2:2. The word of God has the life-giving power as it is the life that gives health to our flesh. My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh - Proverbs 4:20-22.

               When the devil tempted Jesus to turn the stones into bread, the Lord replied that a man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). The word of God purifies us and builds us up. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth - John 17:17. To the word of His grace, which is able to build you up - Acts 20:32. Let us taste and see that the Lord is good by feeding upon the word of God every day.

                    The word of God refreshes our soul, makes us wise, gives us joy and gives light to our eyes. The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes - Psalm 19:7,8. Let us live by every word of God. Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart - Jeremiah 15:16.

                                                

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We thank You for Your word that gives us life. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

God Is In Control

A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps - Proverbs 16:9.

                  God is Sovereign and He has control over all things. He controls nations and its leaders. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne - Psalm 47:8. A king's heart is a water channel in the Lord's hand: He directs it wherever He chooses - Proverbs 21:1. He controls nature. He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow - Psalm 147:18. He is in control of us. My times are in Your hand - Psalm 31:15.

                     Joseph knew that God is in control of his life as everything work for good to those who love God. He told his brothers that God had turned what they have done evil against him for good.  Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?  As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good - Genesis 50:19-20. Job confessed that God can do all things. I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted - Job 42:2.

                  There is a purpose for every situation in our life as God is in control. We are in the loving care of God and He knows all about us. He will use our situation to get us into the place He has positioned for us. He is the powerful God who is in control of everything. Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, And as I have purposed, so it shall stand - Isaiah 14:24. Let us trust God who is in control.

                                                 

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We thank You for everything in our life as You are in control. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Our Awesome God

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome – Deuteronomy 10:17.

               Our God is an awesome God. We serve a great and awesome God who calls the stars by name. He is awesome in wisdom, power and love. Let us praise the greatness of our awesome God. Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him - Psalm 33:8.

In wisdom

               Our God’s wisdom is awesome, rich, and deep. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! - Romans 11:33. He is the only wise God in whom the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge - Colossians 2:3.

In power

             Our God is awesome in His power. He made the heavens and earth by His great power. Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You - Jeremiah 32:17. But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding - Jeremiah 10:12. Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite - Psalm 147:5.

In love

              God’s great love for us is awesome. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life - John 3:16. He loved us so much and gave Himself for us. Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God - Ephesians 5:2.

                                                           

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We praise You for Your awesome wisdom, power and love. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Keys To Access God's Wisdom And Knowledge

In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge - Colossians 2:3.

              Our God is all-knowing and all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him. He is the only wise God. To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen - Romans 16:27. We need the wisdom of God to make right decisions in every area of our life. God’s wisdom will make us wise and help us to lead a successful life. He shares His wisdom and knowledge with us in the following ways.

Fear of the Lord

            The Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom - Psalm 111:10. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge - Proverbs 1:7. The fear of the Lord is the key to access the treasures of God's wisdom and knowledge. He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure - Isaiah 33:6.

Ask the Lord

                  Another way to access the riches of God’s wisdom and knowledge is to ask the Lord. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him - James 1:5. Like Solomon, let us ask the wisdom from God more than anything. Ask, and it will be given to you - Mathew 7:7. Our God is generous to give us wisdom when we ask Him.

The Word of God

                 We will receive God’s wisdom and knowledge when the word of God dwells richly in us. See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding - Deuteronomy 4:5-6. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it - Proverbs 8:33.

                                                   

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Grant us Your wisdom and knowledge. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.