on March 19, 2014
Luke 12:32-34 – “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Have you ever been afraid to give your heart to the kingdom of God? Last week I mentioned that one of our problems is that we set our hearts on things of time and sense and we worry about how we’re going to obtain them, or IF we will obtain them. That can be a big problem because such worry and focus demands most of our energy and time and will keep us from experiencing life in God’s kingdom! We cannot serve both God and material things! Most of us Americans have far more “things” than we need or use. Yard and garage sales may be a good way to trim some of that excess and have something to give – and there is always someone with a need! You may not even have to sell something, just find someone who needs what you have and give it to them! This practice of giving helps us keep God’s kingdom a priority and delivers us from greed and hoarding. Humans have a tendency to think that if we give things away then we won’t have what WE need! So, we get fearful when we hear Jesus say, “Sell your possessions and give to the poor.” Even more significantly, we LOVE those things that we’ve worked to obtain! What possession do you love so dearly that might cause this directive of Christ to cut to your heart if He specifically asked you to sell it and give to the poor? Is this something that will last forever? I’m sure we all remember the Rich Young Ruler that Jesus gave this very directive to. He went away sorrowfully because he loved his possessions more than he loved Christ! He was afraid to give his heart to the kingdom of God!
Jesus instructs His followers to invest in treasures that will not wear out, will never be exhausted, and cannot be stolen or destroyed. Just what are those treasures? Well, they are things that last forever – things of faith, hope and love! Rather than laboring your whole life for what will not last, invest in actions and attitudes that are eternal. Invest in things that demonstrate that you really believe that what you believe is really real! Demonstrate that you really love what you believe! Do you believe in God, and in His beloved Son our Savior? And do you believe in the Holy Spirit our Counselor and guide for truth and righteousness? And, do you believe in the Church, the universal body of believers in Christ Jesus who live for His glory? And, do you believe in the resurrection? Do you believe that we will all one day stand before the judgment seat of God, that He will separate believers from unbelievers, and that there is everlasting joy for those who belong to Him and everlasting punishment for those who will be condemned by their own unbelief? If you believe all these things, then let your life reflect that you are investing in these things that will never wear out, never be exhausted and cannot be stolen or destroyed.
“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” If we invest most of our time, money and life’s energies in things that are temporal, those things usually captivate our heart and become our most precious and important investments. If we invest ourselves in the things that last forever, then the things of heaven and God’s eternal kingdom grow more precious and sacred to our heart. Jesus speaks great encouragement to our hearts when He says, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” It is God’s good pleasure to GIVE the kingdom! His kingdom cannot be purchased or earned! It is His good pleasure to GIVE it! So, don’t be afraid to give your heart to His eternal rule and glory!
Thursday: Meet together with at least 1 or 2 other believers to enter the Throne Room of Grace.
Friday: Pray for the families of the week: Aaron Montanaro, Mike & Megan Murano (Emily, Noah, Avi, Jacob, Fynn), Dave Prevosti (Georgianna, Noah).
Saturday: Don’t be afraid to give your heart to Christ and His eternal kingdom!
Sunday: Put God’s kingdom and His righteousness in first place in your life and worship!
Monday: Let the beauty of God’s kingdom and His righteousness permeate your life.
Tuesday: Don’t be afraid to let go of earthly treasures that tend to get in the way of heavenly treasures!
Wednesday: Remember that life is more than this life! Live the life that is eternal!
Prayer Challenge – I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. – Revelation 3:18-20