What've You Got?

 However, Peter said to him, “I don’t have any money, but I’ll give you what I do have. Through the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, walk!” Peter took hold of the man’s right hand and began to help him up. Immediately, the man’s feet and ankles became strong. Springing to his feet, he stood up and started to walk. He went with Peter and John into the temple courtyard. The man was walking, jumping, and praising God.

Acts 3:6-8 GWT

This is a man who had been carried to the gate Beautiful...every day...so he could beg. Just think about that for a moment. Try to put yourself in that position. Every day, carried by others to the Temple courtyard. Every day - all day - being left there to beg alms from the same people who showed up - every day - at the 3 o'clock prayer meeting... (if you read down to verse 10 - they all knew the beggar, too!) Every day - calling out "Alms for the poor!" "Alms for the poor!" 

What have you got to give? I'm certain that after not too long, people avoided eye contact—wouldn't look at him—didn't "see" him. We've all been guilty of it, especially if we've got something to give, but we're choosing to spend it on something else.

Pay attention - what've you got? Are you free to give it? If not, GET free! Peter did and told him so! "Look here! I don't have what you're asking for, but I'll give you everything I've got which is everything you'll ever need!" Is that what YOU'VE got? Is that what you'll give?

Prayer:

Father,
           Birth a new desire for Your Word in our hearts and the understanding to know how to apply it, and where and when to share it to those in need of what You've given! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

For the Neighbors

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.
Proverbs 3:27 NLT

God blesses us, and in fulfilling His Word that we are to be like Him, we should bless others. This Scripture is the same principle as in the Ten Commandments to love our neighbor. In Luke 10:25-37, Jesus clearly defines who is our neighbor in the parable of the Good Samaritan. 

I don't believe this is limited to our financial resources and blessings. I believe it includes our time, compassion, understanding, love...  If we have it, we should freely and lovingly give it. Just as God has done for us. 

Prayer:

Father,

           Please give us Your eyes to see the needs of others. Please give us Your heart so that we are quick to respond to those needs. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Through the Bible in a Year
Reading for January 18th
Genesis 37:1-38:30
Matthew 12:22-45
Psalm 16:1-11
Proverbs 3:27-32

Easy for You to Say

And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
1st John 2:3-6 NLT

Oh, the things we say we love - that song! That color! I love that movie! That TV show! Popcorn! I love the beach! The mountains! Ice cream! I love that guy (an actor or someone else we don't know) or I do NOT love him (or her)! You get the picture. 

What does that love mean? How is it defined? It's not deep. It's not truly meaningful. It doesn't cost anything. It's easy.

It's NOT the love that God has called us to. It's NOT the love by which the world will know that we are Christ followers. It's not world-changing. It doesn't save lives. It doesn't require a personal investment of any kind. It doesn't take time or energy. There's no blood, sweat or tears involved at all.

We are called to love as Christ loved and gave Himself as a ransom for us. It's easy to look a friend or family member in the eye and say that they must walk in love. Yes, that's easy for you to say. It's a whole 'nother story when we are to live our lives as Jesus did. That's real love and it will cost you everything.

Prayer:

Father,
            We pray the words from the old song, "I'm going to live the way You want me to live. I'm going to give until there's just no more to give. I'm going to love, love till there's just no more love. I could never, never outlove You, Lord." We cannot do it without You, Father. Give us Your grace and Your strength to do exactly that. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Give What?

However, Peter said to him, “I don’t have any money, but I’ll give you what I do have. Through the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, walk!” Peter took hold of the man’s right hand and began to help him up. Immediately, the man’s feet and ankles became strong. Springing to his feet, he stood up and started to walk. He went with Peter and John into the temple courtyard. The man was walking, jumping, and praising God.
Acts 3:6-8 GWT

This is a man who had been carried to the gate Beautiful...every day...so he could beg. Just think about that for a moment. Try to put yourself in that position. Every day, carried by others to the Temple courtyard. Every day - all day - being left there to beg alms from the same people who showed up - every day - at the 3 o'clock prayer meeting... (if you read down to verse 10 - they all knew the beggar, too!) Every day - calling out "Alms for the poor!" "Alms for the poor!" 

What've you got to give? I'm certain after not too long, people avoided eye contact - wouldn't look at him - didn't "see" him. We've all been guilty of it - especially if we've got something to give, but we're choosing to buy the burger and fries or the grande at the coffee shop.

Pay attention - what've you got? Are you free to give it? If not, GET free! Peter did and told him so! "Look here! I don't have what you're asking for, but I'll give you everything I've got which is everything you'll ever need!" Is that what YOU'VE got? Is that what you'll give?

Prayer:

Father,
Birth a new desire for Your Word in our hearts and the understanding to know how to apply it, and where and when to share it! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Born to Just Do It

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them...

Genesis 1:27-28a NKJV

God has a reason, a design and a plan for everything He creates. We may not know or understand a large part of it, but that doesn't matter. Mankind was created in His likeness.

The original plan was that our nature would be like His, but it didn't take us long to fall, did it? One thousand, one hundred, eighty-nine chapters in the Bible, and by chapter 3, we'd already fallen. The fallen nature of man just wants to be blessed. And in our fallen nature, we started the "What about me?" saga. It doesn't want to work for it, to have to earn it - it's that whole I-didn't-ask-to-be-born-You-owe-me selfish, self-focused and self-consumed attitude.

The good news is that those who choose to follow God, to walk in Christ's footsteps - to pick up their Cross and be redeemed from the curse of sin - they can once again be the image of God. The redeemed nature wants to give and to bless others. That's following God. He's not asking us to do anything He hasn't already done Himself. You see, He gave us our very breath of life and then He gave us the opportunity for Life abundantly through the death of His Son. He gave - after we had already fallen. 

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds. Titus 2:11-14

Prayer:

Father,

         We want to be more like You. Redeem us unto every good work, Father, according to Your Word. in Jesus' Name we pray. Amen