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Personal peace is all too rare in today’s world. The news cycles seem to contain only bad news, a pandemic keeps us from our treasured relationships, and there is plenty to cause us anxiety and concern. It seems that the world is more divided than ever. There are racial divides, political divides, family divides, relational divides and even church divides. All of these can be thieves of our personal peace which we long to have in our souls. No amount of money or success can purchase peace. Think for a moment on what is robbing you of peace today.  The prophet Isaiah recognized the lack of peace in his own day where the social issues were about as complicated as in our day. But he also recognized that our source of peace - our Lord - is the only one who can grant us the peace of heart and soul that we yearn for. Here is what he says: “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.” Isaiah 26:3-4. There is a source of peace. But it is not us. It is not our monetary security. It is not that we are somehow immune from the issues we deal with. It is a gift from God that is given to us under certain conditions. That peace is ours when our mind is steadfast because we trust in Him. A steadfast mind is one that is absolutely committed to following Him in our lives. A steadfast mind is one that is single minded, unflinching, faithful, and resolute toward God. There is no wavering or compromise. A steadfast mind is one that trusts in God completely, which not only leads to peace but to “perfect peace.” To emphasize the point of trust, Isaiah says, “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.” The key to life is trust in God. He is secure, immovable, and unchanging which is why He is called the Rock eternal. He is the Rock that we can count on always, today, tomorrow and forever. We often lack peace because our mind is on the wrong things. We are trying to fix things that we cannot fix and deal with situations that we cannot resolve. Perfect peace comes from fixing our eyes and minds on God, not on ourselves or others. That peace does not mean the situation has been fixed. It means that we have reminded ourselves that if we walk in His ways and trust the Eternal Rock, we can trust him to resolve what He wants to resolve in His way and His time. I can give the issues to Him and leave it with Him. Once I give my anxiety to Him, I am left with His perfect peace. Father, I want perfect peace in the midst of a messed up world and all the things that I am prone to worry about and fix. Help me to be steadfast in my obedience to you and trust you as the Rock eternal of my life. Today, I give you those things that rob me of peace and ask that as I transfer those things to you that you will replace them with perfect peace. Amen.

Nothing worthwhile happens without opposition. Someone will tell you 're crazy, the idea won’t work, you should not put energy into that, or there are  those who just want to shut you down. They may not understand what God has put in your heart and called you to, may simply be jealous or it could be the evil one who doesn’t like that you are pushing into darkness with God’s light. Most of us have experienced that. This happened to Nehemiah when he was doing an impossible task from most people’s perspective, rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem after a remnant of the Jews came back from captivity. There were enemies of the Jews and especially Nehemiah - Sanballat, Tobia and Geshem - who conspired against him and tried to shut down the rebuilding process. Four times they had sent Nehemiah a message to come and meet with them. The meeting was a diversion where they could do Nehemiah harm or convince his leaders to shut down the building of the wall which would protect the city. Four times they invited Nehemiah to their consultation and four times he said no. The fifth time, they did what so many do today, sent an open letter to Nehemiah which of course was public and spread gossip and untruths. We do it by copying people on emails or using social media in our day. I love how they started their letter. “It is reported among the nations - and Geshem says it is true - that the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall” so come let us confer before the king hears about it. In other words he is spreading rumors and disinformation, fake news as it were, to stir up dust, intimidate and threaten Nehemiah with the King hearing their rumors. This was serious stuff but Nehemiah had faith and grit and was not deterred.  First, he simply sent a short reply “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.” No explaining, no defensiveness, no fear. He just called a spade a spade. Second he prayed to God saying, “Now strengthen my hands.” They then sent a gentleman to prophecy against him - what I call “God talk” to force his hand. He saw through it and ignored it. When God calls us to do something, opposition will often come. Don’t cave. If God asks you to do something He will provide a way through the difficulties. Don’t let anything deter you. Be unapologetic, ignore the criticism and move forward with faith and prayer and grit. Father, give me the courage to hear your voice and the courage to keep going when things get tough. Help me trust you, rely on you and keep going, knowing that you are more powerful than any who would detract from your call. Thank you for using me. Amen.

You have been uniquely gifted by God to make a contribution to the common good of your church. Think about that. God has gifted you in a specific way and that gifting should contribute to the common good and to the unity of those with whom you find a church home.  This is what the Apostle of Paul says. “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.”  1 Corinthians 12:4-11 Unity in the church is not as frequent as we would desire. Many of us have left churches that were in conflict and where there seemed to be more ill will than good will. Where this is the case, it is often because we are not operating out of our God-given giftedness but in the flesh. Seven times in these verses, Paul emphasizes the fact that these gifts are given to us by the same Lord, the same God and the same Spirit. God, in his infinite wisdom, distributes His gifts to His people by His Spirit for His work in the church. As Paul says, each of our gifts contribute to the common good of the congregation. Now it is interesting that Paul was writing to the church in Corinth here which was a very divided church. Church divisions are not a new thing. They exist because we often live out of our lower nature rather than God’s nature. So Paul is making the point to the Corinthians that if each of them were living out God’s call on their life with His gifting, that the church would be unified rather than divided. After all, each of our spiritual gifts are given by the same Lord. A divided church is a sign that its people are not contributing to the common good through the use of their gifts. In fact, many churches have more spectators than they do participants and spectators find it easy to express their opinions without getting involved.  So here are the questions today. What gift has God given to you? Are you actively using it for the common good in your church? And do you have a commitment to the unity of the church, knowing that the same Lord gives each of us different gifts for the common good? Are you a spectator or participant?  Father, I thank you today that you have gifted me uniquely to contribute to your work in the local church and in your kingdom. Forgive me when I have been a spectator rather than a participant. I pray that through the use of my gifts that I would contribute to the common good of my church. May we be unified in you as you are the Lord of each one of us. Amen.

The churches that I grew up in had a lot of rules about what choices one should make in life in regards to lifestyle. As did my parents which, I guess, was their prerogative. In the current day, many of those rules seem quaint and out of date. Being a Christian can bring with it a great deal of baggage as to what it means to follow Jesus. In fact, it could be argued that many churches do a better job of training new believers to follow their rules and they do to follow Jesus Himself. There are many Christians and churches who love to legislate how you deal with many issues of life, as if the only way to follow Jesus is to be in agreement with those rules. This is an old problem. In Jesus’ day, the Pharisees had turned a relationship with God into a bunch of rules, most of which you could not find in Scripture. Practices would become rules and rules would become like theology. And soon, to follow God meant that you were following man-made rules. This was the problem in the church of Galatia to whom Paul wrote the letter of Galatians. They were teaching that one had to keep the law to follow Jesus, when in fact, Jesus had abolished the law through His death and resurrection. The problem is that laws and rules and man-made requirements do not help us know Jesus and follow Him more closely. Jesus came to set us free, not to enslave us. He came to set us free from the law and from our own sin. In John 8:31, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” God’s truth and his commands are the only way to true freedom. Man made rules cannot do that. He continued, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36. It is against this backdrop that Paul chastises the Galatians for going from the freedom Jesus brought back to rules and regulations. He says in Galatians 5:1: “It is for freedom that Christ set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”  At the same time He further says, we should not allow our newfound freedom be an excuse to sin. We are free to love God and serve one another: “You my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Galatians 5:13-14. We live free from man-made rules and regulations. In fact, never allow anyone to tell you how you should live your life if it is not explicitly found in Scripture. The Christ life is not rule driven but relationship driven. If God gives us convictions on certain matters, great, but don’t insist that others treat those convictions as God ordained for them. We are free in Christ. But remember that our freedom should not be misused to indulge our sinful nature. Rather our freedom should unleash us to serve one another in love as we love our neighbor as ourselves. Father, forgive me for those times when I have substituted man- made rules and regulations for a personal relationship with you. Remind me often that I am free. You have set me free. Don’t let me go back to the rulebook but release me to serve others in love. Amen. 

What are you proud of? All of us have accomplishments and have achieved goals that we can look back on with pride - especially when we had to work for them, exert ourselves and go beyond what we thought we could do. My wife, Cleo, is proud, for instance, that she has a college degree, being the first generation of her family from a rural province in the Philippines to get a degree. The distance from that fishing village to a University education is a long one but she and her siblings all went to the university, the one who went before helping the one behind, financially. It is a big deal and one to be proud of. Pride is not always a bad thing. But for us who follow Jesus there is a source of pride that ought to go before all others. Listen to what the Lord says through the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 9:23-24. This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom     or the strong boast of their strength     or the rich boast of their riches,     but let the one who boasts boast about this:     that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,     justice and righteousness on earth,     for in these I delight,” declares the Lord. When you think of what people are often proud of, they often fall into three areas. We are proud of how wise we are and, therefore, what we have accomplished in business or some other arena. Others are proud of what they can do through their connections, ability to get things done or negotiate. Or, we are proud of our riches, the stuff we own and therefore the stuff we can do based on our money. I know people in all three of these categories who are not only proud of their accomplishments, ability or possessions but who want others to know what they have done and become.  God raises our sights to a much higher level when he says this: “But let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me.” Above all other things, the most important is that we know Him. Now let's qualify that because there are many who know a lot about God: they can quote scripture, debate theology, argue doctrine and even tell you what you should do on the basis of their knowledge. But that is not what God says here. He says to boast that they have the understanding to know him, not simply to know about Him. To know Him is to have a personal relationship with Him, to be personally connected with Him. And what does He want us to know about Him? “‘That I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the Lord.” He wants us to personally experience his kindness, justice and righteousness and in knowing this about Him, practice them in our own lives. Knowing Him and His character should be the thing of highest value in our lives and as such the thing that we pursue above all other things. And in the end, if we are going to boast, this is what we should boast about: We know God and His character and we have become more like Him in the process. Father, like many I have things that I am proud of. But teach me that above all these things it is knowing you that matters. It is your character in me that matters. Because only these things cross the line from time to eternity. Amen.

My major in college was Ancient History. I studied this discipline because I was fascinated with the Old Testament and wanted to understand the context in which the Old Testament books were written. Because I spent many years traveling the world, leading a mission agency, I had the opportunity to see the sites of much of that history: Roman, Phonecian, Jewish, Arab, Asian, and many more. There is nothing more moving to me than to walk the paths that have been traveled for thousands of years. Somehow it links the past to the now and many of the lessons learned then are being learned today once again. The Old Testament also talks about ancient roads. For instance, in Jeremiah 6:16, the Lord says through Jeremiah, “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” All of us experience crossroads in our lives. Junctures where we must make choices as to which road we will take. It can happen daily in small or large ways. It is those times when we have a choice whether we will choose to follow God or go our own way. And candidly, the modern thing to do is to follow modern mores and practices, and often our own desires. I am sure you can think of any number of examples of where you have stood at such a crossroad. What is the Lord’s counsel when we stand at those crossroads? First, He says look. Consider, think about the options that are available to you, and each of us do have options. But then He says, here is what you should do: Ask for the ancient paths - the paths that I told you to walk in. They are not modern in terms of the values of our society but they are true and good paths because they are the paths and ways of God.  These, says the Lord, are the good ways and if you will walk in them you will find rest for your souls. Here is the irony. When we choose paths that are modern but not in line with God’s teaching we never find peace. In fact, we find complications, sadness, lack of satisfaction and trouble. But the ancient ways, the ancient path, the path of the Lord gives us rest for our souls. That is peace, satisfaction, goodness and a sense of well being. Those ancient paths connect us back to the teachings of God which come from a place of holiness, righteousness, peace and love. Given for our well being. Remember this week when you stand at a crossroads and have choices to make. Look and ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it and you will find rest for your soul. Father, teach me the joy of your ancient ways. The roads that connect me and my generation to your timeless truths for my life. Help me to choose the old way, not the new way. The good way, not the compromised way. You are the Ancient of Days, the beginning and the end and the author of the good and ancient paths.

The apostle Paul was a mentor to Timothy who became a pastor in the New Testament. I love to read Paul’s advice to Timothy because it is so practical and relevant in our day. In fact, we find the same challenges in our churches today that Paul counsels Timothy on in his personal letters to him.  Timothy was a young man when Paul wrote his second letter. In 2 Timothy 2:22 - 26, Paul gives Timothy four words that are practical for each of us today: They are flee, pursue, avoid and practice - two negative and two positive admonitions. Here is the passage: “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” First, flee or run from “the evil desires of youth.” These are the sinful temptations that come to us all and which young people who are exploring their oats are especially prone to. For each of us those evil desires may be different depending on our temperament but they are those things that we know are not right. Don’t just walk away, says Paul, but run from them. They will hurt you. Second, pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace. I love those words. They are the very things that make us look like Jesus. Think about relationships and character that is infused with righteousness, faith, love and peace. Think of the difference these character traits would make in our divided and conflict- filled world. Third, avoid quarrels and resentfulness. Both of these disrupt relationships and poison our own hearts. They hurt others and us. Quarrels create resentfulness and resentfulness can create quarrels. Both contribute to conflict rather than peace. Paul puts these in perspective when he says “Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments.” How many relationships among Christians are fractured because of these issues that, in the end, make no difference. Finally, practice kindness and teach or counsel others with gentleness and truth. I have noticed a trend in our day to use truth as a weapon. There is often a harshness to it that is at odds with the gracious manner of Jesus who shared truth in truth and grace. It is why people actually listened to His truth. He did not use truth as a cudgel but communicated it with gentle grace.   Like John Lennon who wrote the song Imagine, I imagine a community where relationships look like this. Where people are truly pursuing the character of Jesus and running from the crass and ungodly practices of our world. The result is a kind of relationship that is uniquely like Jesus. Father, teach me to avoid the evil and pursue the character of Jesus. Remind me often that my relationships should be characterized by righteousness, faith, love and peace. When people are around me, I pray that they will see you in me! Amen.

World events have many asking if the second coming of Christ is near. It is a natural question as many of the signs that Jesus and the prophets gave seem to have been fulfilled or are being fulfilled in our lifetime. In my youth there was a greater emphasis on prophecy in Scripture than there is today. Books like “The Late Great Planet Earth” were widely read, as was the film, “A Thief in the Night.” Larry Norman’s song, “I wish we’d all been ready” and more recently the Left Behind series have both intrigued many and caused fear that somehow, we would miss the moment.  Even in the early church there was speculation about when Jesus would return. Here is what Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11. “Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” We don’t talk about it much but Jesus is going to return and it will be a surprise to many who are preoccupied with their own affairs, living life in the moment and asleep to the spiritual realities of life. His return will be a great day for those who know Him but a dreadful day for those who don’t. That last statement ought to be an encouragement to us to share the Good News of Jesus with those who don’t know Him because their eternal destiny is at stake.  How then should we live in light of His return to this earth? Paul uses the analogy of light and darkness, night and day. He calls us children of the light and children of the day. In other words, we are to live wide awake spiritually, paying attention to those things that Jesus wants us to focus on rather than sleepwalking through life.  In fact, we are to live in light of His return whether it takes place in our lifetime or not. Our words, actions, attitudes, and priorities have eternal meaning. Those whose focus is on joining God in His work in this world will see the results of that focus in eternity when we are with Him. This is why Paul says to be “self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” We are metaphorically dressed for battle, taking the offense for God and the defense against the Evil One. We live awake, engaged and ready. Father, it is easy to forget the eternal perspective in all the activities of life. Remind me often to be awake and engaged in Your work. I want my life to reverberate through eternity because of the opportunity I have to serve you today. Amen.

Our world is increasingly polarized and it is easy for us to judge others who don’t believe what we do politically, theologically or in how they choose to live their lives. I remember a time when my kids were teenagers and they announced to us that their friends' parents believed that we were bad parents because of how we raised the boys and what we allowed them to do. In fact, we can find many reasons to judge one another within the body of Christ. Even what a speaker wears on the platform can become a subject of judgment and public comment. The tendency to judge others for their convictions or lifestyle choices is nothing new. It was happening in the church in Rome and Paul devoted considerable attention to this topic in Romans 14 and 15. The controversy was over whether people could eat food offered to idols as the pagans regularly did, how one practiced the sabbath, and other issues where people’s convictions differed.  Paul counseled the believers in Rome to extend to one another space and grace. Space to make decisions based on their conscience in areas of life where there is no obvious right or wrong, and grace to resist the temptation to judge or look down on others for choices they make. Paul reminded the Romans of three things in this regard. First, that we all make choices that we believe honor God, so why would we judge one another? “For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” Romans 14:7-8 Second, we will give an account for the choices we make to God one day. It is not our place to judge others but to ensure we are living in a way that pleases God. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. “You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me;  every tongue will acknowledge God.’ So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.” Romans 14:9-13 Third, Paul uses the example of Christ, who accepts us, to encourage us to accept one another. “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Romans 15:7. There is a wonderful beauty in the church when we are able to encourage one another, accept one another, and give the space and grace that Jesus gives to us. The world has enough divisiveness and we are called to unity, peace, grace and patience with one another. That is a congregation that is inviting and loving. Father, forgive me for my tendency to judge my brothers and sisters when they don’t agree with me or live like me. My judgment of them is a sign of my own sinful nature. As you have given me space and grace, help me to extend that to others. Amen.

How we see our lives in relation to God’s work in this world has a lot to do with how we finish our race for Jesus. It is a race toward a finish line and if you are a Jesus follower you are running that race. However, it is possible for us to forget that we are in that race and instead simply focus on our concerns and what Jesus calls the cares and concerns of the world. As Christ followers, we don’t live for ourselves but for Jesus. Toward the end of his life, Paul knew that God wanted him to go to Jerusalem. He also had the sense from Jesus that he would suffer for his faith there. In Acts 20 we have a poignant scene as Paul said farewell to the Ephesian elders who had come to see him on his journey at Miletus. This was part of his farewell message to the elders. “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” One of the marks of Paul’s life was his commitment to follow Jesus wherever He led him. He is on his way to Jerusalem and he has been warned that prison and hardships are facing him. That did not deter him. Rather, he makes this amazing statement: “I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” Paul understood that his life did not belong to him. He had been bought by Jesus through His death and resurrection. He had been bought with the price of the blood of Jesus. He also knew that he was running a race for Jesus and his goal was to complete the work God had given him.  Have you considered the fact that your life does not belong to you and that you are running a race for Jesus? Do you know what it is that God wants you to accomplish in your life? If not, why not ask Him. He will show you if you ask. Remember what Paul said in Ephesians 2:10. “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Each of us has a task He wants us to complete. These are called good works which God prepared for us as we serve Him.  How are you doing in your race? Are you focused on your own concerns or God’s? Are you asking Him to direct your steps as Paul did or are you directing your own steps? Can you trust Him in times of trouble and hardship or do you want a life of ease? You are running a race. The thing we need to consider is whether it is our race or God’s.  Father, thank you for the reminder that I am running a race for you. Help me to understand the work you have for me and empower me by your Spirit to finish the race well. I want to be able to say like Paul that “my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me.” Amen.

Have you ever faced a challenge or situation that you knew you could not manage by yourself. A situation where you said to yourself that only God could get you through this one. That if Jesus doesn’t show up you don’t know what you would do. There are times in life that you just know you cannot make it through - without God. Moses had one of those moments when he came down the mountain with the ten commandments to find that the Israelites had fashioned a calf of gold in his absence and were worshiping this idol. To say he was angry would be an understatement. But he was also deeply concerned about leading these people who were so quick to complain and go rogue on him. He knew he could not do this alone. Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” Exodus 33:7-23 It is interesting that Moses asked the Lord two things. First that He would go with them. And second he said, “If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.” Not only did he want the presence of God in his situation, but he had a deep desire to grow spiritually and so that his life would find favor with God.  We often ask God for His intervention in our lives but how often do we ask Him to teach us His ways and transform our lives? It is clear that God was pleased with the heart of Moses both to experience the Lord’s presence in his leadership and to allow God to transform his life. The response of God was Yes, I will go with you. More than that, “I will give you rest.” I will give you peace of mind. I will calm your nerves with my presence and help. That is exactly what we need when faced with situations that are beyond us. It reminds me of the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” The Lord adds one other amazing statement to Moses. “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” We have a God who hears us, who goes with us and most importantly, out of the billions of people on this planet who knows us by name. That ought to encourage us today. Father, I want to echo Moses' request today. Be with me as I face the situations in front of me. More than that, change me in the process by your Holy Spirit. And thank you that out of all the people on this planet that you know me by name. Amen.

Discipleship to Jesus is a process of giving more and more of ourselves to God. It is a lifelong process and everytime we think we have given it all, the Holy Spirit gently points out another area of our lives that needs transformation. One of the areas that we often struggle with is that of being generous to God with our financial resources. Studies show that only 2 percent of those who call themselves Christians tithe.  There is a remarkable passage in the last book of the Old Testament - Malachi - where God challenges the people to come back to Him and not to rob Him. Those are strong words, but you remember what Jesus said when He spoke of how we invest our money: Where your treasure is that is where your heart is. So ultimately, for God, our generosity to Him is about our hearts. This is a topic that we often don’t want to talk about but it is one of those areas of Christian discipleship that matters to God. Here are Malachi’s words. “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 3:6-12 This is the only passage in the Bible where we are encouraged to test God. He is asking us to test Him and see if he does not “throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” That is an amazing statement. How would you like to be the recipient of so much blessing in your life that there isn’t room for it all. It may or may not be material blessing but God’s blessings are the best one can have.  What is so amazing here is that God truly wants to bless us. He wants to provide for us. He wants to drown us in His blessings but there is a correlation between our discipleship to Him and His blessing. In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul says this about giving. “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”  God’s goodness to His followers who are generous with Him is ironic in that the reason we withhold from Him is that we are afraid that we will not have enough. In fact the opposite is true. Test God in this and see if He does not respond as He promised. Father it is hard for me to wrap my head around your generosity and blessing but I am very thankful. Would you help me to develop a generous heart toward you? Calm me fears of not having enough and help my heart to be with you - and my treasures as well. Amen