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Why should you take your hard-earned money and give part of it away? That is a valid question that needs to be asked, and today we will look into the Bible to see if we can find any valid answers. If there are no good reasons to give, then let’s not do it. But if there are good reasons, then let’s commit to becoming joyful, generous givers to the Lord!
When Christ left heaven to come and save us, He didn’t stop halfway or just give His second-best. He gave up everything for us by willingly pouring out His blood on the cross. Knowing that Christ gave His all for us, we must ask ourselves the question, “Am I giving my all for Him?”
If a wealthy businessman entrusted his entire company to you while he was away on a yearlong journey, but you failed to follow any of his instructions and you bankrupted the corporation, you could not act surprised if he became angry with you. When we are entrusted with something, it carries with it an expectation. Our Lord has entrusted us with His message, and one day He will return to settle accounts. Are we putting what He has given us to good use?
The Bible tells us not to ignore our spiritual gifts, but rather to use them. However, are we aware that it is possible for us to misuse our spiritual gifts in ways that can bring hurt to others, and even to the entire church? While there are many benefits and blessings that are sure to come as we allow the Holy Spirit to use our spiritual gifts, we must be careful never to use them in ways that are harmful. As you find your place in the Body of Christ, keep these cautions in mind.
The Bible tells us not to ignore our spiritual gifts, but rather to use them. However, are we aware that it is possible for us to misuse our spiritual gifts in ways that can bring hurt to others, and even to the entire church? While there are many benefits and blessings that are sure to come as we allow the Holy Spirit to use our spiritual gifts, we must be careful never to use them in ways that are harmful. As you find your place in the Body of Christ, keep these cautions in mind.
Is the great commission a humanitarian cause to better mankind? If we think of the Great Commission as Karma, then it really is nothing more than a humanitarian cause. So what is the motivating factor that causes men and women through history to be obedient to the Great Commission?
What is a communion service? Is it just a public acknowledgment that Jesus died on the cross for our sins? What exactly is my part in the whole thing? Am I just a participant in the event or is there more to it than that?
Someone once said, “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.” Our thoughts are so important, they will ultimately determine the course of our lives. Romans 12:2 tells us that we will either be conformed to the world or conformed to Christ based on what we think about. It also tells us that we will either find God’s will or miss it based on what we think about. It is absolutely vital that we learn how to surrender our thoughts to God so that our lives will be shaped by His thoughts, not ours.
In a culture that constantly urges us to strive to get ahead, to climb the ladder of success, to never settle for second place… what motivation could there possibly be to completely surrender our lives to the will of someone else? This command of Jesus comes as a startling shock to our senses. Surely no one would ever demand such a thing! And yet that’s precisely what Jesus demands. Could there be any reason compelling enough to make us not only obey this command, but to do it willingly?
The well-known preacher, Jonathan Edwards, once wrote the following New Year’s resolution: “I will live for God. If no one else does, I still will.” He was making a commitment to consecrate himself to God regardless of the decisions or opinions of others. The word consecrate means to set apart, and the Bible says our lives must be set apart for God’s use. Are we willing to consecrate ourselves to live for God, even if no one else does?
If someone bought you a new car, paid for it in full, and gave you the title, would you go to the dealership every month to make payments on it? Of course not! And yet that is exactly what we often do as Christians. Our sin debt has been paid in full and our record has been wiped completely clean, but we continue to live as though we’re guilty in God’s eyes. Once you understand the truth about God’s forgiveness, you will see your standing before Him in a whole new light, and you will be free to live your life for Him without being crippled by the guilt of your past!
Imagine yourself being chained in a dark, gloomy dungeon, kept as a slave by a cruel master, with no hope at all of ever being set free. That is exactly the condition we were all in before Christ! We were slaves of Satan and bound by the chains of sin, with absolutely no way to buy our own freedom. But God loved us so much that He paid the price for our ransom by sacrificing His Son on the cross. Christ paid for us with His own precious blood, and because of this, we have been redeemed!
