Increase & Overflow

SCRIPTURE
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else...

I Thessalonians 3:12

OBSERVATION
Paul, with Silas and Timothy, is writing this letter to a new community of believers in Thessalonica.  At the beginning of the letter, he commends them for their love.  This new group of Christ followers are living out their faith in love and it is having an impact on the world around them.  It's as if Paul is saying, "you guys are doing a great job, keep it up.  Then, in chapter 3, Paul says "may the Lord make your love increase and overflow...."  

APPLICATION
As a follower of Jesus, my love needs to continue to increase and overflow, impacting those around me.  The application question for me is:  has my love increased from year to year?  Am I more loving today as opposed to 5 years ago?  Is so, what is the evidence of this love?  Where is the overflow from my love?  These are difficult questions for me to answer which tells me that I need to pursue a closeness with Christ where his love is evident in my life.  I need to combat selfishness and serve others.

PRAYER
Father, I pray the same thing that Paul prayed over the Christians in Thessalonica.  May you make my love increase and overflow for those I encounter on a daily basis.

To Live or Die

SCRIPTURE

Matt. 27:1 ¶ Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death.

OBSERVATION

This beginning verse talks about a group of religious people who came together and discussed their concerns about Jesus. They ultimately made a fatal decision - the wrong decision! Maybe that is why I am a bit cautious when it comes to releasing committees to make decisions.
The phrase “came to a decision’ reveals that this was a process which took some time and discussion. It was not a snap decision! Have you ever wondered what they discussed and why they reached their conclusion? Maybe the discussion went like this…

Have you heard that Jesus has a lot of followers? Yes even more than we have. What about the people being healed? Many are experiencing miracles and beginning to say he is God! I too have heard that he stilled the Sea of Galilee and saved the lives of several people. All he said was “Be Still” to the waters and they obeyed. Yah and what about the man who had a legion of demons? Jesus set him free. In view of all these acts of kindness and love there is only one conclusion… We must kill him!

One would think that Jesus should be praised rather than killed. Amazing isn’t it!!!
(Read Mark 5:1-17 and note vs. 17)

APPLICATION

Our decision as followers of Christ is quite different from those of the religious leaders of that day. We choose to die rather than crucify Christ.

Gal. 6:14 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
1Pet. 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
Gal. 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Phil. 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
What Decision will you make today?

PRAYER

Lord, show me a better way of dying rather than a better way of living. If you do, I know I will experience eternal life.

First Things First

SCRIPTURE

Matt. 26:7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
Matt. 26:8 ¶ When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked.

OBSERVATION

What this woman did was an act of worship! Yet, many felt it was a waste?
It always surprises me to discover Christian people who do not understand the purpose, place or power of worship. If we fail to grasp the foundational truth about praise and worship, life will never be experienced to it fullest dimension. You worship God when you put Him FIRST in everything you say or do. Every time you make tithing the first thing you give from your paycheck, (A tithe = a 10% of your income) you worship God. (Mal 3:8-11) Every time you put some persons need before your very own, you worship God. (Phil 2:4) Every time you sing songs to God from the heart, you worship God. (Eph 5:19) Worship makes Him FIRST and FOREMOST. It gives him the seat of honor, the place of preeminence. Worship is anything but a waste - It is the pathway to eternal life. (Deut 6:5)

APPLICATION

I personally have many people that I value greatly. Without them I would be at a loss and my joy would be incomplete. My wife has been my personal friend for 35 years and
a wonderful mother to our two sons. Words can’t express her value to me. I am a better man because of her. My two sons and grandchild are priceless - I would give my life for them. Many other friends cause me to cherish the relationship I have with them.
Jesus, however, is above all other relationships and holds the most important place in my heart. At some point everyone will abandon you. It might be through death, divorce or practical changes in life but Jesus will never leave you or forsake you (Heb 13:5)
Your wife (If you are married) your children and your friends deserve to be valued but only Jesus deserves to be worshipped! I don’t know about you but I’m deciding to put Him first in my life today by allowing Him to lead and committing myself to follow. It’s not a waste but true worship! Who is most important to you?

PRAYER

O Lord, you are worthy of all praise!
Help me value things through your eyes and continue to lay the foundation of worship.

What's In Your Pocket?

SCRIPTURE

Matt. 25:14 ¶ (The Kingdom of God) “It’s also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities.
Matt. 25:15 To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. (The Message)

OBSERVATION

When some people read this verse they focus on the apparent inequity of the money (talents) given to the servants (you and me) by the man. (God)
When I read the text, however, I am grateful that God has given something to everyone. No one is left out! While we are in pursuit of God and waiting for His return, we have all been given gifts to utilize for the benefit of His Kingdom. God is not unfair nor does He play favorites. He gives to each person according to their abilities. Remember, it is not what you have been given that is important but what you do with what you have been given.

APPLICATION

What has God given to me? Am I using my gifts, talents and resources to expand His Kingdom? Do I focus more on what others have received or on what I have been given?
Do I spend more time thinking about what I don’t have or on what I do have? Do I compare myself with others or do I realize that I am unique? What am I going to do today with the gifts God has given me?
When we answer these questions by the help of the Holy Spirit and make any necessary adjustments, God will work IN us as well as THROUGH us.

PRAYER

O Lord Thank you for your gracious gifts that I have received. May I use them to bring you honor and glory! May you lead me to a person in need of what I have to give. May we celebrate Christmas in May and rejoice as your gifts to us are opened.

He Is Coming

SCRIPTURE

Matt. 24:3 ¶ As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

OBSERVATION

Jesus is coming again! This truth is consistently echoed from Matthew to Revelation. I cant’ speak for you but I’m ready right NOW! Eternity with Him sounds very good.
We all want an E.T.A. (Estimated time of Arrival) but God has chosen to keep the specific time to Himself. This unknown fact keeps us on our toes and causes us to depend upon Him each and every day. We are to live every day as if it were our last. There are signs, however, which indicate His return could happen at any moment. In Revelation 22:12 it says: “Behold, I am coming soon” Are you ready.

APPLICATION

If you are like me, you want to be in “The Know!” I want to know all the details; be informed of all the data, be able to speak my opinion and be prepared in my mind for any surprises. Our Christian lives, however, are to be lived on the basis of TRUST and not knowledge. As we put our faith and confidence in Jesus, we can trust him to give us the knowledge we need and determine the right time. That goes for everything else in our lives too. Timing is important. If you have been waiting a long time for God to answer your prayers, remember these four things.
1. If your prayer request is wrong He may say “NO”
2. If the timing is wrong, God will say, “SLOW”
3. If you are wrong, God will say ”GROW”
4. When the timing is right, God will say, “LET’S GO”.
Check out 2 Peter 3:9 - You may rejoice that He hasn’t come yet!

PRAYER

O Lord - Come Quickly

You Are Invited!

SCRIPTURE

Matt. 22:1 ¶ Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying:
Matt. 22:2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.
Matt. 22:3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. NIV

OBSERVATION

As I read these verses today and the rest of the chapter, I realize how desperately God wants us to be in His presence. He goes to great lengths to make sure everyone is invited to a feast yet the surprising thing is: many refuse to come. Imagine… A free meal and no one accepts the invitation! In our culture, free food is an automatic YES when invited. I can’t remember the last time I said NO to a free meal!
Possibly they are too busy with other things or maybe they were not interested in what was being served. The truth, however, might be - they just weren’t hungry!
Sometimes I find myself feeding on things that are temporal and experience a fullness of sorts that leaves me with no appetite for the eternal. I am FULL but not FILLED with the Holy Spirit. Jesus invites us to set our minds upon eternal things. (Col 3:2) He invites us to feed and think upon what is true, noble and right… (Phil 4:8) If we are to do this, we may need to adjust our eating habits. What are you full of today?

APPLICATION

I am going to eat from God’s table FIRST. I will not fill up on the things that distract me from God. My mother use to say: Timmy, don’t eat that candy because it will ruin your appetite for dinner. Well… Jesus has provided a full course meal and I am deciding not to ruin my appetite by eating too much of the temporal world. After all, man doesn’t live by bread alone.(Matt 4:4)

PRAYER

Jesus, may you help me make wise decisions today and may I acquire a taste for your word and your wisdom. I choose to be filled with your Spirit rather than filled with temporal things. O Jesus, baptize me in the Holy Spirit a fresh today.

SCRIPTURE
Matthew 20:13-16
13 "But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius?
14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you.
15 Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?'
16 "So the last will be first, and the first will be last."


OBSERVATION
The workers in this parable expected a different result from the one they received. At the end of the day, all the workers lined up to get paid in reverse order from their time of hire. Interestingly enough, it would seem that the master could have lined them up differently, but chose not to. So the men that had worked all day long stood and watched as those who had worked for only a couple of hours received the same pay as what they were promised.

I would guess that had I been one of these, I would have been thinking that perhaps the master had decided to pay me more! My hopes would have been lifted, but only for a moment. As soon as the next group of workers stepped up (they had worked a few more hours then the previous group) and received the same pay, my hopes would have been dashed again. At that point, I would start to get a little frustrated, starting to stew on the injustice of working all day and getting paid the same as those who had worked for only a few hours.

I can see myself being the man who objects to the master for this perceived injustice. Of course, the master's response is unanswerable — you agreed to work for the wage I have paid you.

APPLICATION
We are always worried that we are going to get the short end of the stick somehow. One of my sons is in a stage of life where he feels that he is always being treated unfairly. Somehow he perceives that his brothers are always being treated better and that his lot in life is somehow less than.

I think this tendency is innate in all of us. We constantly compare ourselves with what others are receiving and are constantly worried that we are going to be treated fairly. I think sometimes this expresses itself in the way we treat those to whom we are responsible — kids, employees, etc. We are obsessed with making sure we treat them equally because anything different from equal is unfair.

But this parable teaches us that this internal tendency is not a good one. If we compare the workers in the vineyard to those who have chosen to follow Christ and labor in His Kingdom, then we immediately begin to see how we are exactly like those who worked starting in the morning. We are constantly wanting to compare ourselves to each other and when we see what we perceive as an injustice in the way they are being blessed or recompensed or rewarded or whatever, we start to whine to God.

What we forget is that we are fortunate to be working in the vineyard to begin with! The reward of the Master is what we are working for, not to get more then our fellow laborers.

PRAYER
Lord, help me not to fall into the trap of comparing myself with others. Let me be concerned about my relationship with You first and foremost. Dig the root of comparison out of my heart. I find that this desire to outshine others is one that keeps creeping to the surface. Help me, my Lord!