Matthew 6:19 – 21 (LSB)

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Jesus talks a lot about our treasures, money, and possessions. He knew a great deal about it because He knew it would be a stumbling stone to many. He had a knack for knowing what to teach. He knew what the downfall of many people would be.

Sometimes we spend money on things we need yet other times it may be binge buying. I know several people who have espoused a minimalist lifestyle. We are not there yet but getting closer as Cindy looks toward retirement.

It is not about what we acquire as Randy Alcorn has said “God doesn’t look at just what we give, He also looks at what we keep.”

I read the following story and thought I would share it today. Here is a person who gives so much his mother criticized him for it.

When the supermarket clerk tallied up my groceries, it was $12 over what I had on me. I began to remove items from the bags when another shopper handed me a $20 bill. “Please don’t put yourself out,” I told him. “Let me tell you a story,” he said. “My mother is in the hospital with cancer. I visit her every day and bring her flowers. I went this morning, and she got mad at me for spending my money on more flowers. She demanded that I do something else with that money. So, here, please accept this. It is my mother’s flowers.” —Leslie Wagner, Peel, Arkansas

God has incredible gifts for us – more than we can hold.

God Bless.

Bible Study January 11, 2024

Philippians 4:11 – 15 (LSB)

“11 Not that I speak from want, for I learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in abundance; in any and all things I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. 14 Nevertheless, you have done well to fellowship with me in my affliction. 15 And you yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church fellowshipped with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone.”

Giving is something that many people struggle with toward the church and the work of God in the world. There are many promises in the scriptures that tell us not to be concerned about such things. Yet people worry.

I have heard of evangelists and preachers who never passed an offering plate during their meetings but trusted God to provide the funds needed. Paul was even instructed not to worry about money. When Jesus needed to pay the tax He sent a follower to get the money out of a fishes mouth. ““Go to the sea and cast a hook; take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin; take that and give it to them for you and me.”

God doesn’t need our money but we need to honor Him with our giving. Giving involves more than money. I heard yesterday (might have been David Jeremiah) giving involves money than money it was said “what ten percent of your time?”

I believe stewardship is important to the Christ Follower. We should not be put in condemnation by Satan about our giving it should be the best we can do, with a thankful heart that is what we are asked to do. The attitude of the heart is equally important.

Do not marry yourself to money.

God Bless.

Bible Study January 10, 2024

Psalm 119: 1 – 5, 33 – 34

1 “How blessed are those whose way is blameless, Who walk in the law of Yahweh. 2 How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, They seek Him with all their heart. 3 They also do not work unrighteousness; They walk in His ways. 4 You have commanded us, To keep Your precepts diligently. 5 Oh may my ways be established To keep Your statutes!

33 Instruct me, O Yahweh, in the way of Your statutes, That I may observe it to the end. 34 Cause me to understand, that I may observe Your law And keep it with all my heart.”

Are there certain things you do on a daily basis that is consistent? Some days I may do things a bit differently but there are those things that are done consistently. My feet hit the floor and so does Molly’s she is ready to go out and I open the door. Then it’s time to brush my teeth, then check email, do our Bible study, pray. It has become a routine but I look at it as being consistent.

Oscar Wilde said, “Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.” So stop getting up at 6:05. Get up at 5:06. Walk a mile at dawn. Find a new way to drive to work. Switch chores with your spouse next Saturday. Buy a wok. Study wildflowers. Stay up alone all night. Read to the blind. Start counting brown-eyed blondes. Subscribe to an out-of-town paper. Canoe at midnight. Don’t write to your Congressman; take a whole scout troop to see him. Learn to speak Italian. Teach some kid the thing you do best. Listen to two hours of uninterrupted Mozart. Take up aerobic dancing. Leap out of that rut. Savor life. Remember, we pass this way only once.

I once was in a class where the instructor told us he took a different way to the office each day to avoid getting used to what he saw making him less conscious of his surroundings. It simply takes balance in our lives.

Consistency is good unless we let it become so that we lose the meaning.

God Bless.

Bible Study January 9, 2024

John 15: 1 – 8 (LSB)

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine-grower. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He cleans it so that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit from itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciple.”

One of the references Jesus made about the church is that it is the branches and He is the vine. Interesting to note from verse two. Even though the branch is in Him He continues to clean it, purifying it so that it will produce more fruit. The purification process is ongoing.

Abiding in Jesus is the key to producing fruit. How do we produce fruit as part of the vine? We do so by staying on the vine and we do that by staying close to the vine. We have two lilac bushes in our backyard along with two burning bushes. They need pruning. It seems strange that by cutting them back they will flourish but that is the case.

When God prunes us it is for our good that we may bloom more brightly where He has planted us. Sometimes it is unpleasant but it helps us grow and mature into the bloom He has for us.

Do not resist the pruning, it brings new life.

God Bless.

Bible Study January 8, 2024

Galatians 6:6-10 (LSB)

“6 And the one who is instructed in the word is to share in all good things with the one who instructs him. 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. 10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”

Last Sunday I shared some thoughts on the church from what the scriptures say. We are called to work together, to put aside our own agenda and follow Gods. He has established the church as His bride and we are to present ourselves pure in His sight.

The church is a place to help others similar to a hospital. The church offers the Great Physician who can heal all things of any nature. That’s where our vitality and strength is rejuvenated.

Paul admonishes us to do good and along with doing good do not lose heart in doing so. Keep the faith, keep working, keep sharing the good news as an opportunity for us to do good to all people.

Nothing can slow the church from moving forward but people let’s be a forward-looking church.

God Bless.

Bible Study January 6, 2024

Luke 14:34 (LSB)

““Therefore, salt is good, but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned?”

Salt is an essential element in our lives. It helps us physically in our bodies to function properly. Salt has many uses such as a preservative for meat used in early days before we had refrigeration. It preserves, it flavors our food.

But Jesus said something about salt also. He told His disciples they “were the salt of the earth.” Which means they have (as we do) opportunities to influence the lives of other through whom they (we) interact.

I read where salt from the Dead Sea was mixed with other minerals and became worthless because its purity was wasted. That salt had no value or no use. It could only be disposed of. It had lost it value.

Often times things come into our lives that pollute them and interfere with our relationship with God. We must guard against that or we will become the salt referred to above that is mixed with other elements and must be disposed of. In other words “Guard your heart.”

We should strive to be pure salt not just salt.

Vance Havener said “We are the salt of the earth, mind you, not the sugar. Our ministry is truly to cleanse and not just change the taste.”

God Bless.

Bible Study January 5, 2024

Matthew 5:14 (LSB)

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

Light is talked about much in the scriptures. Jesus said in John 8:12 He is the Light of the world.” He said in Matthew “be salt and light.” John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Paul speaks of light in 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

Light when spoken concerning Jesus is an important aspect of Christianity. Light dispels darkness. The light that we walk in will keep us out of darkness but we must be intentional on staying out of the darkness.

When Jesus said, “I am the light of the world” He didn’t stop there but He told His disciples they too were the light of the world. If we walk in the Light then we too are His disciples. What is a disciple? Bonhoeffer said a disciple “is one who gives away everything he has been given.”

As you approach today what spiritually can you offer to someone. We must be intentional. Maybe today is a day you cannot get out but promise yourself the next opportunity you have you will give them something spiritually that God has given you.

Don’t let Satan defeat you by telling you anything different.

We can only shed light when light is in our lives.

God Bless.