Friday, December 15, 2023

Friday, December 15, 2023
Matthew 6:25
Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

When Jesus sent out the disciples two by two to spread the gospel, He sent them with no money, no food, and no shoes. When Peter stepped out on the water to approach Jesus, he didn’t go with goggles and a life jacket. If God has called you into something, or if you are taking a leap of faith, success doesn’t hinge on your money, your resources, or even your abilities. Though I’m sure they got a little hungry at times, the Lord provided for the disciples when He sent them out two by two, and though Peter probably got a little wet when he stepped out of the boat, Christ kept his head above water. Recognize that there’s something bigger at play in your life than you or your possessions; when He tugs on your heart, let go and let God.

Thursday, December 14, 2023

Thursday, December 14, 2023
1 John 3:17
But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

Everyone is valuable in the eyes of God… everyone. Jesus personally cared for the “unlovable” people of His time, the worst of the worst, healing their ailments and forgiving their sins. When He saw the lowest of the low, He saw a human being made in the image of God, and He treated them like one. His command to anyone who loves the Lord is simple: love His creations and treat them how you would want to be treated. If you see someone in need, use the resources that the Lord has given you to help them, treating the sons and daughters of God like royalty.

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Proverbs 19:17
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.

In Matthew 25, the Lord reveals that “as you did to the least of these, you did to me.” In other words, how you treat the least significant person might as well be the way you treat Christ. He died for the poor, the downtrodden, and the outcasts, the same way He died for you. So, treat them the way you would want to be treated. Give to the poor, be generous toward the needy, and don’t hold back the time and resources that God has given you, as if they were yours in the first place. Bless the less fortunate lives around you, and watch as the Lord blesses you right back, in this life or the next.

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Tuesday, December 12, 2023
Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.

When you hear “generosity”, you imagine someone giving money to charity or volunteering their time to a good cause. But an act of generosity can be simple and personal. Spending time each week with someone who needs company, paying for your friend’s food when you go out to eat, going two miles with someone when they ask you to go one. The money, time, and life you own was given to you by God for a purpose. He expects you to be responsible with what He’s given you. What you give to those around you, you give right back to the Lord.

Monday, December 11, 2023

Monday, December 11, 2023
Hebrews 13:16
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Before Christ, people gave burnt offerings as sacrifices to God. This demonstrated that the intangible King of Kings was worth giving things up for, even if He was unseen. But Jesus emphasized that even a dishonest, coldhearted person can put a sacrifice on an altar. However, giving to the needy and sharing what you have with others is a sacrifice that takes a truly humble heart. And it’s those sacrifices that mean more to God than the ones the Pharisees gave on Jesus’ day, for though outwardly they were whitewashed, on the inside they were full of dead men’s bones.

Friday, December 8, 2023

Friday, December 8, 2023
Psalm 148:7-8
Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word!

God created everything in this world, and the world remembers Him who created it! We read of how the Psalmist is often overwhelmed by God, whose power, mercy, and love exceed every imaginable limit. Don’t forget how big the Lord is! Praise the God of the earth, of the skies and the deeps, and of fire, storm, and snow!