04/23/2024
“For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—-a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills. When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.” (Deuteronomy 8: 7-9 10-14, 18)
Material items that God intends to be good can be misused by people and lead us away from God. Remembering God in times of prosperity can be difficult. Abundance is truly a blessing when one remembers who gives it and when we use it to achieve God’s purposes. God made material things to serve Human needs and to bring glory to God. Both purposes are achieved when Christian use their God-given possessions for care of family (See note on 1st Timothy5:4, 8), giving to needy (See note on 1st John 3:17), service to God (See note on Matthew 25:31-46), and support of the ministry (See note on 2nd Corinthians 11:8-16). In times of prosperity, believers should remember God is the source of all blessings. We receive gifts because of God’s goodness, not because of our education, intellect, or hard work. Education and hard work can develop the gifts God gives. The blessings of life confirm the covenant relationship God has established and kept.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY:
Dear Abba, today’s focus is upon the question: “What is a Purpose of Possessions as part of Stewardship as Covenant People?” There is nothing wrong in enjoying prosperous times, as long as we all remember to set aside for those who struggle to find enough food to eat, who are out of work, who may have lost their housing, etc., and of course remember them when you give your tithe to the church, to help people as part of the Saint Richards Mission in our community. Today, bless all those who are hurting in body, mind, and/or spirit, that they might set aside their issues and let You deal with them on their behalf, and accept their humble repentance of their sins Abba. For those in conflicts around the world, especially in the Middle East, with wars and natural disasters, pour out an anointing upon them all, that they too, might feel You near them and take comfort in that knowledge. Amen
THOUGHT OF THE DAY:
“By our accepting God through Christ Jesus, we are also agreeing to be what we will be when Christ returns.”
KNOWING GOD:
“For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” (Colossians 1-16-18)
Christ is the source of creation and the power that sustains it. Christ is the source of creation and the power that sustains it. He gives purpose and stability to the material order. This provides the basis for the Christian view of the material world. This view contrasts sharply with non-Christian views of the material world. This view contrasts sharply that either say material things are evil and valueless or think the material world is all that exists and so is all-important. Christians view material things as good and valuable if used to fulfill God’s holy purposes for money and possessions and to reach the lost world.
SECOND THOUGHT OF THE DAY:
“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’” (Matthew 4: 8-9)
The father of all lies (I call him the great deceivers) will come one day, pretending to be Jesus. He will come in some splendor and do his very best to take away from God, His people. Beloved, this is the single most important value in studying the Bible, so that we are able to see through all of his histionics or as I heard growing up, that, “Satan will come with his smoke and mirror show with one purpose, to make us believe that he is Jesus Christ. As my dear sweet mother used to say, “We can deflect his show by the truth, which is the one weapon, he cannot handle, the Truth!” We are to handle him by simply allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to him on our behalf. Beloved, the creation is God’s not the devil’s. Part of our worship of God should include our gratitude for the creation and God’s continue care of it. Gaining the world and all its wealth is not a goal for Christians. Material possessions can be used for good or evil. Satan tempted Jesus to become the Messiah of a temporal or material kingdom instead of a spiritual one. The devil seeks to deceive Christ’s followers. A Christian who follows Satan’s methods sins against God. He will have a short time to convince people, but if you have studied your Bible, you have read in Revelations, that Christ comes on the opening of the 7th Seal, while old Satan comes on the opening of the 6th Seal.
Satan was one of God’s own, but Satan decided he wanted to be God, and that where he got himself in trouble. But trouble will come for him and he will become a permanent resident of the Lake of Fire for all eternity. Upon the Seal opening for the 7th Seal, he will come no longer as the humble servant, as He will be coming in all His glory with legions of angels coming with Him to restore this world and all that is within it. Threre will be no “three ring circus” like Satan, it will be our Lord and Savior coming on behalf of His people and there will be no question as to who He is. Are you ready?
Daily Meditation by Rev. Jerry 