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.

Fellowship is Essential

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

       “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Mathew 18: 19-20.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

       The word ‘Amen,’ so commonly spoken at the end of most prayers, essentially means ‘I agree.’ Like so many Christian practices, prayer is meant to be exercised in community, as well as well as alone. No one can have a complete relationship with God until they share Him with others. When two or more gather together to celebrate Christ, his Spirit is made manifest in their hearts; those who are weak become strong and those who are empty are made full. An isolated Christian is a Christian who is weak and vulnerable to attack. To avoid fellowship with believers is to avoid fellowship with Christ himself.
       Some time ago, I regularly answered the prayer lines at my local church. After gaining a lot of experience, I was able to make some profound observations. Those who were not involved in a church fellowship, or a small group bible study, suffered great difficulties. Many isolators were addicted to drugs or struggling with some other terrible sin; nearly every detached person was stuck in a continual state of crisis. On the contrary, those who expressed a spirit of joy were actively involved in service work; they usually attended a small group fellowship; and they maintained close friendships with other believers.
       Are you involved in fellowship today? Do you have close Christian friends that you regularly pray with? Is your experience with Christ exercised in community, or in isolation? If you are not plugged into the body of Christ, go down to your church and ask them about weekly fellowships you might attend. They usually have lists, and you can always find one that fits your schedule. Make friends with other believers and pray with them regularly; become a part of God’s family and be renewed by the Holy Spirit. Without fellowship, you will never know the fullness of God’s power in your life.
       “Lord heavenly Father, we come before You and ask that You help us to be members of Your body. We desire to share You with others, and to be in fellowship with our eternal brothers and sisters. May we draw near to one another as we all draw near to You. May Your Spirit flow freely between us. If we have isolated, give us opportunities to fellowship with others and to grow strong. 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!