You may have heard this before, and if you haven’t, it is something worth thinking about. “Faith is the currency of heaven.” Wait, you might say, you can’t buy things with faith. However, Jesus said to the blind men in Matthew 9:29, “According to your faith let it be to you.” Or to the woman who touched Jesus’ robe believing it would heal her in Luke 8:48 Jesus said, “your faith has made you well.” On many other occasions in the Bible, Jesus tells people they are healed because of their faith. They obviously didn’t pay for the healing like purchasing a product, but the value of the faith is what Jesus said mattered.

Jesus also criticizes others on occasion saying, “you of little faith” in several passages where those involved needed Jesus to rescue them, like Peter walking on the water. So the size of the faith affects the outcome. Maybe this is partly what Jesus was talking about in Matthew 6:20 in saying, “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

It is a different way to look at faith.

Dear Lord, we know that you want us to have faith, hope and trust in you to guide, protect, and also do great things with us. Help us remember that if faith is a currency, our account is only limited by ourselves. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Why do we do what we do? Sometimes, it is a reflex, a learned response that becomes somewhat automatic, sometimes it is an emotional reaction that we don’t control, and sometimes we do things because we think through our reason’s and consciously take actions. Regardless of why we do what we do, as adults we are responsible for those actions. I think most would also agree that in the absence of a disability, adults should be able to control their actions with their thoughts.

There is competition for our thoughts. Our human nature is regularly trying to get us to focus on satisfying our short term desires, pleasures, and greed. As Christians, the Holy Spirit in us is encouraging us to focus on the things of the Spirit, Love, Joy, Peace, and Salvation.

Paul writes in Romans 8:5-8, “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.”

What we let control our minds, also controls our actions. Letting our human nature control our thoughts interferes with and possibly destroys our relationship with God.

Dear Lord, by your grace we are saved and are given the Holy Spirit to live in us. Help us give control of our minds to your Spirit’s guidance, and have the courage and will to turn away from the evil and immoral behaviors that often pass for “normal” in our sinful nature. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

When the police encounter a situation too big for one officer, he or she will call for backup. The military uses QRF’s, Quick Reaction Forces, or Aircraft that are on “Alert” ready to support others in need.

In a similar way God says in Psalm 50:15, “Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” God is always there for us if we honestly call on him. He will not ignore us. This is not to say that life will be without challenges. Often challenges or tests are what God gives us to bring us closer to him. Sometimes we have been the ones ignoring God, and the only way for him to get our attention is to put a challenge in our lives.

More importantly however, is not just rescue and help in our lives on earth, but rescue of our souls. In Romans 10:13 Paul writes, ” For Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” God will not ignore people who call on him for salvation.

Dear Lord, Thank you that we can always know that you are there for us in our times of need, and that through Jesus Christ anyone who calls can be saved. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Is it wrong to wear blue jeans to church? How about spending a million dollars on a car? Is eating certain things wrong? How about drinking alcohol?

These are kind of trick questions, but considering them is a good exercise for us. Paul writes in Romans 14:1, “Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.” He goes on in verse 10, “So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.” and verse 13, “so let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. Finally in verse 15:2 he says “We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.” NLT

Each of us needs to follow the conscience God gave us when answering these types of questions, for ourselves. When interacting with others, however, we need to remember that everyone is on his or her own faith journey. Paul says in Romans 14:17,18 “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God.” NLT

Dear Lord, It is hard for some of us to suppress the critical nature to judge others. You have given each of us a conscience to judge ourselves, and You have also given others a conscience to judge themselves. Help us focus our actions more on how we can help others feel Your love, and as they grow closer to you, they will listen to your guidance. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Happy New Year!

This time of year many people are preparing resolutions for their lives in the new year.

Peter writes in 2 Peter 1:5-7 about the characteristics we could include in our resolutions. He writes: “In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.” NLT

Dear Lord, as we begin a New Calendar Year, thank you for your guidance, promises, and support. Help us establish our foundation on You so that we may set and achieve goals that glorify You. Give us your peace this year. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.