Category: Uncategorized

Letting Go and Grabbing Hold

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

        “Again, the kingdom of God is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Mathew 13: 45-46.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

        The message of “The kingdom of God,” is a priceless treasure; a treasure more valuable than gold. For contained within it is the gift of eternal life and the love of God. As Jesus preached the message, a fortunate few recognized the truth and were willing to trade in all of their possessions to receive the Lord’s everlasting gift. Many who came to believe, sacrificed great wealth, time, relationships, homes, and lofty positions within the community in order to take hold of the true riches of God’s eternal kingdom. As believers, we must let go of the world in order to fully embrace the Lord.
        Some people actually make a living letting go of one thing, so they can grab hold of another. Trapeze performers, for example, swing effortlessly back and forth, high above cold concrete floors. For these men and women, timing and precision can often mean the difference between living and dying. The man, who risks his life to spin through the air, must know when to let go of his swing and when to grab hold of his partner, dangling from the opposite swing. So too, the gospel is a message about ‘letting go’ and ‘grabbing hold;’ no one can ‘grab hold’ of the Kingdom of God unless they fist ‘let go’ of whatever they are clinging too in this world. For the Christian, the pursuit of worldly rewards must end, and the pursuit of Godly rewards must begin.
        Sadly, during the Lord’s public ministry, thousands simply passed by him as he spoke; they chose to cling to their own lives rather than to grab hold of God and the life He was offering them. Today, the Lord is still speaking; his message is still being proclaimed throughout the world. Many still choose the temporary pleasures of this life over the eternal peace of God. Most refuse because the Christian life is not easy. There are many trials and hardships that accompany genuine faith. Self-sacrifice and self-denial aren’t always popular, but they are necessary. May we all choose to let go of our selfish pursuits. May we loosen our grasp on the things of this world; and may we grab hold of and embrace the free gift of God.
        “Lord Heavenly Father, we come before You and we ask that You give us the strength to avoid selfish living; we long to serve others, and to sacrifice our lives to accomplish Your desires. May we receive your kingdom with gladness, and may we let go of anything that is hindering us from completely submitting to Your perfect will. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name, amen.” God bless all of you!

Give Without Expectations

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

        “And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back” (Luke 6: 34.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

         Even the cruelest individuals will give money to those who promise to pay them back. And yet, Jesus desired that his disciples be completely selfless. He therefore taught them to give without expecting anything in return. The mandate of everyone who longs to practice genuine Godliness must freely give, when they are able, to those who are in need.
         One day, as I was getting ready to leave the gym, I bumped into an acquaintance who asked if he could borrow $10 dollars. After giving him the money, he continued to insist that he would pay me back. (With this scripture in mind) I told him that the money was from God, and that I didn’t want any form of repayment. He immediately understood that it was a gift and not a loan; as we parted ways, I felt a warm blessing; because I had done God’s will.
         The Lord is pleased when His disciple’s standout; when they shine; when they are more loving and more charitable than those around them. Giving without expectation or the desire for repayment is just one identifiable characteristic of a true believer. Whether we pass by a stranger begging for change, or a family member who needs help paying the rent, we must be willing to freely give, when we are able. May we always choose to freely give; may we love without restriction, and may we receive the ultimate compensation for your unconditional obedience.
         “Lord Heavenly Father, help us to be obedient, to be caring, and to be generous. May we always freely give expecting nothing in return; for we desire heavenly rewards over earthly rewards. May Your love for others flow through us, that our faith might be a light to all those who walk in darkness. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name, amen.” God bless all of you!

The Leftovers

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

        Then Jesus went from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Caanan came from that region and cried out to him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon possessed.” But he said to her not a word. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” But he answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But he answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the masters table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire!” And her daughter was healed from that very hour (Mathew 15: 21-28.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

        In first century Jewish culture, dogs were considered dirty animals; they scavenged through garbage heaps; feeding on the scraps that humans refused to eat. The Hebrew people commonly referred to non-Jews (gentiles) as dogs. Jesus called the begging woman a dog; an insult designed to test her heart. She didn’t react in anger; she didn’t hurl insults at him. Instead, she laid down her pride, embraced his assessment, and continued chasing her miracle. Because she exhibited true humility, Jesus granted her request and praised her for her faith.
        When I was a small child, my family usually ate meals around a dining room table. Of course, we were expected to devour everything on our plates; even the things we didn’t enjoy. Brutis, our overeager collie, always sat patiently beside the table. When my mother exited the room, my siblings and I would gently lower our dishes and Brutis would lick them clean. When she returned, she was pleased to see our empty plates. Our dog wasn’t prideful; he never complained about the taste of the food; nor did he consider leftovers and scraps undignified. Instead, he joyfully consumed whatever we rejected.
        When our messiah walked the earth, the Jewish people were God’s priority; and even today they hold a preferred place. Jesus was Jewish; as were John, Peter, Paul, and the other 10 disciples. In fact, only one of the books in the New Testament was written by a non-Jewish author. Whenever Paul entered a new city, he would walk straight in to the synagogue and proclaim the gospel. Only after they had rejected the message, did he preach to the gentiles. By the grace and mercy of God, we as non-Jews have come to inherit eternal life. If you are Jewish and you have faith in God’s son, you are blessed. If you are gentile, you can humbly and joyfully devour the divine leftovers. Know your place and God will honor you. By discarding pride and embracing His mercy, you will experience the desires of your heart, and you will “dwell in the house of the Lord, forever.” [Note: Despite God’s love for the Jewish people, Jesus Christ has broken down the barriers of inequality that divide Jews and gentiles. ‘We are all one in Christ Jesus.’]
        “Lord Heavenly Father, we thank You for the Jewish people, and for the salvation You have offered them through Your Son. We love them because You love them. May we all, Jew and gentile alike, humbly accept Your message; knowing that we are undeserving of Your grace. Grant us the miracle of reconciliation, that we might experience Your wonderful mercy. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.” God bless all of you.