It is not difficult to do enough to get to Heaven……It is impossible.

This is a bit of a play on words, but it is clear that we don’t “do” anything to be saved. God is the doer, he saves us by his grace through our faith in Jesus Christ, we cannot save ourselves.

I am reemphasizing this truth because I have what may be a slightly different perspective on the story of the rich man that is recorded in Matthew 19, Mark 10, and Luke 18. In the story, a rich man comes to Jesus and asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. The man said he had obeyed all the commandments since he was a child. Jesus tells him, “go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Jesus then tells his disciples that it is harder for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.

What I see in this story is that Jesus told the rich man, and is telling us, to follow him as our first priority, and put everything else below. The reason it is more difficult for a rich person is the common tendency to rely on riches as their “god.” Their riches are what they rely on to solve their problems, make them happy, and give them peace and security. It is also what they often spend their time and energy thinking about. It doesn’t take a lot of riches to fall into this trap.

Dear Lord, it is not only difficult for the rich man, but also for us to rely on you more than ourselves and our money. We often believe intellectually that you are there with unlimited power to save and support us, but we don’t always put this belief into practice. Help us remember to put our trust in you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Click Here – to Receive These Messages Every Morning In Your Email Box

The dictionary defines the word worship with the following phrases: “extravagant respect, admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem.”

So what do we do if we have extravagant respect, admiration for or devotion to something? We dedicate time on our schedule for it, we take time and energy to learn more about it, we purchase books, magazines, on-line subscriptions to stay up to date, we buy t-shirts, go to events, talk about it with others with the same interests, an so on.

The question is, Does this description of worship sound more like our activities revolving around our favorite sport, team, athlete, TV show, musician, band, movie star, business person, or our activities revolving around God?

The first commandment given to Moses by God in Exodus 34:14 Is, ” For you must worship no other gods, but only Jehovah, for he is a God who claims absolute loyalty and exclusive devotion.” TLB.

Dear Lord, Help us see when we are putting other “gods” before you, so we can correct ourselves. Help us remember that putting you above all else, and trusting you will give us peace and joy for a better life here on earth, and life eternally. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Click Here – to Receive These Messages Every Morning In Your Email Box

When my two younger brothers were small, we often heard the younger say to to older, “Don’t tell me.” when he was feeling pushed around by his older brother.

This expression has become the humorous response around our home when one of us feels a bit “over told.”

Some people may not have trouble being “told” or corrected, but I, like my brother when he was little, often find it difficult to accept.

Proverbs, the book of Solomon’s wisdom, tells us that we should be open to instruction and direction.

Proverbs 10:8 says, “The wise are glad to be instructed,” and Proverbs 10:17, “People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life.”

Though it may not be our favorite, we need to be open to hearing when we need some correction. The correction may come from someone observing and highlighting our shortcomings or misbehavior, reading and meditating on scripture, or comments made during a sermon. Let’s look for the instruction God is providing.

Dear Lord, Help us stay open to your correction and discipline from where ever it may come. in Jesus’ name. Amen.me. Amen.

Click Here – to Receive These Messages Every Morning In Your Email Box

The Bible uses the word “grumble” to describe complaining by a group of people. Shortly after God brought the Israelites out from slavery in Egypt, and miraculously parted the Red Sea, the people grumbled to Moses, about not having water; God provided it, they complained about not having food and God miraculously gave them manna and quail. God heard their complaining and gave them what they needed.

You would think that they would get the message and realize God was there to support them if they only asked. However, as a result of their lack of faith and obedience, God turned what would have been a short journey to the Promised Land into a 40 year struggle, and none of the adults were ultimately allowed to enter the Promised Land.

Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 10:10, “And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.”

We “grumble” too. When we are complaining, “grumbling,” and feeling sorry for ourselves, we are showing a lack of faith. We are indicating that we don’t believe that God cares about us and has a plan for us.

When we are tempted to “grumble,” instead we should remember to ask God to help us. This is following God’s direction, trusting in him and praying, then wait in peace for the answer to our prayer.

Psalm 84:11 says, “For Jehovah God is our Light and our Protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will he withhold from those who walk along his paths.” TLB

Dear Lord, sometimes you let us struggle, maybe to strengthen us or maybe to discipline us. Rather than complaining and feeling sorry for ourselves, help us ask for your help to get through our struggle, and have faith that you will answer our prayer. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Click Here – to Receive These Messages Every Morning In Your Email Box

Have you experienced, or heard of someone who experienced a situation in which something bad happens, but something good comes out of it? Something that might never have happened if the bad event did not first happened. For example, college is not going well so you switch majors, and find your true calling. Or, someone loses his or her job, and then ends up starting a business out of necessity that becomes a great success. We can never know how God is working things in our lives, to put us in the right situation.

Isaiah writes God’s words in Isaiah 55:9, “For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts” NLT

God has a plan for each of us. Our job is to commit our plans and activities to following God’s plan, and listen for his direction.

Dear Lord, help us remember that part of having faith in you, is keeping our peace and joy even when things do not go the way we wished, knowing and trusting that you are working a higher plan for our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Click Here – to Receive These Messages Every Morning In Your Email Box