Grace isn’t fair… Does that make you uncomfortable? It’s probably something you haven’t thought too much about, but I think it’s true. Because grace essentially gives something to someone that they don’t deserve. Which isn’t fair because it almost always costs the giver.
But that’s exactly what Jesus has done for us. He gave us life at the expense of His own. You see, there was a cosmic dilemma that existed before Christ came. God, by his very nature is just, which means that wrong doing and sin had to be punished. At the same time, he has an incredible love for his creation and desires that all humanity would follow him (2 Peter 3:9)… So what do you do? On the one hand, justice must be served. On the other, we are his children whom He loves dearly. Enter the genius of the cross… On the cross, justice was served. Somebody was paying for the sin and moral failure of humanity. Jesus, the perfect man who was fully God, took upon himself that which we deserved. He took the penalty that should have been served to us. He paid with his life so that we didn’t have to. Yet, at the very same time, grace was on display. Because as Jesus gives up his life, we gain life. We become new creations. We are saved and we are pronounced as sons and daughters of God. And because of Jesus’s sacrificial love (His grace), we can be pronounced good when we stand before God someday. But understand, this is anything but fair. Sure, we benefit, but Jesus had to literally give up Heaven (Philippians 2:6-11) to save us. Jesus took upon himself the sin of the world, so that we could live. He endured the suffering, the cross, the ridicule, the embarrassment, and the grave for you and me. How could we ever say that grace is fair when we see what Jesus went through? Which leads me to the application of grace in our own lives. As we lean more and more into God’s grace, it should change us. It should propel us to be more like him. To love and serve in the ways that he did. And if you ever want to have any success in helping people find and follow Jesus, you have to accept that grace is unfair… Because your new role as a follower of Christ is to love others the way Christ has loved you. Your role is to give grace. But you need to know ahead of time, grace isn’t fair, because somebody always pays. If a friend breaks your lamp, you’ll pay when you replace it. When someone robs you of an opportunity, of happiness, of reputation, or takes something away that you’ll never get back, there is a sense of debt that is created between you and the other person… Because justice has been violated and this person owes you (adapted from King’s Cross by Tim Keller). So, when someone wrongs you, you have two options. Get even. Or give grace. And herein lies the practical answer to a lot of our problems today… We’ve forgotten how to give grace to those we do life with. We love to talk about God’s grace for us and how much we need it, but we become greedy with our grace for the world around us. When someone says a harsh word on social media, do we fight back or give grace? When we have an opportunity ripped out from underneath us, do we slander or give grace? When your spouse lets you down, do you get even or give grace? When there’s a misunderstanding between you and a friend, do you ridicule or give grace? Giving grace is a requirement when following Jesus. And it is rarely fair. But, when we keep Jesus in view and what He’s done for us, it gives us the basis for why we give grace. Always remember that God’s grace toward us is the reason for our grace toward others. I love how Dallas Willard says it in his book Renovation of the Heart: The greatest saints are not those who need less grace, but those who consume the most grace, who indeed are most in need of grace—those who are saturated by grace in every dimension of their being. Grace to them is like breath. If you want to be more like Jesus, then consume more grace so that you can give more grace. Breathe grace in. Exhale grace out. Mark Twain is quoted as saying,
Most people are bothered by those passages of scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand. Despite what you may think about Mark Twain, he’s on to something. Followers of Jesus spend lots of time looking at Revelation, creation, or spiritual gifts. We love debating and arguing about ideas and passages that are larger in scope but ultimately don’t have as much to do with our daily life. We spend so much time talking about Scripture, but very little time living Scripture. As I recall many of my conversations about the Bible, I often ask questions like “How do you think the world will end? Do you think Creation was completed in 7 days, or was that just a poem?” Rarely do I find myself saying, “The book of James tells us to care for orphans and widows… How can we do that better?” You see the problem here? The intricacies of the beginning of the world and the schedule of the end of the world is not nearly as important as the question of “How should I live?” If God is creator, how do I live to fulfill His purposes? If Jesus wins in the end, how then do I live to make sure everyone is following Him? Rarely, have I heard someone say, “They convinced me that the world was created in 7 days, so now I believe in Jesus.” I usually hear: “This person loved me.” “They were there for me when I was in a dark time.” “They walked with me through cancer.” “They forgave me.” “They lived out everything they believed." You see the difference? One approach focuses on being right… The other focuses on loving well. When we love well, we take the truth of Scripture (that we want everyone to believe!) from being an idea and put it on display as a reality. It’s no longer, “The world was created in 7 days, believe it!” But instead, “God created you with His image… So you deserve dignity, justice, and love from me… No matter our differences.” And I get it… We want to defend Scripture, we want to prove it’s truthfulness, and we want people to know that it is reliable and tested. But no matter how smart we are or how well we prove the Bible (and there are some great thinkers and writers who have done so incredibly well!), people will reject it. That’s why C.S Lewis said, Whatever claims reverence, risks ridicule. No matter how well we defend Scripture, people will always ridicule. Because it makes big, life-changing claims. And please hear me, I believe the Bible to be without error. I believe it to be infallible and inspired by the God of Universe. And since I have such strong convictions about Scripture, it’s all the more important that I make its truth a reality by living it out in everyday life. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus says, “Your will be done on Earth as it is Heaven.” When we live out the Bible, we bring a little bit of Heaven to Earth. And we give the world glimpses of the life-changing love of Jesus. Don’t just read or use Scripture to prove a point. Use it as a guide on how to live and how to love. Open your heart to Scripture before using it to judge someone else’s. Let it change you so that you can love, serve, and live Scripture out on a daily basis. After all, it was Jesus who said, Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. We may not realize it, but everyone desires to be known. Why do you think personality tests are so popular? The Enneagram, Meyers Briggs, and DiSC are all tools and tests used to help us better understand ourselves and each other. Because when we know each other, and ourselves, we can work together better.
But I think there is an even more important reason than simply creating a healthy team dynamic. Only when you are known can you truly be loved. Think about it, real love is not simply physical attraction, having fun together, or sharing things in common. Real love is sacrificial. Jesus once said that the greatest love is to lay down’s one life for his friend. Real love is sacrificial. And the reason I believe being known is fundamental to love, is because when someone sacrifices something for me, they do so knowing all of my flaws and shortcomings. When my wife says, “I love you,” those are not three little words that we just throw around. Those words mean that she deeply cares for me despite my harsh words and selfish actions. When you are known, scars and all, but loved anyway, you’re getting to that deep kind of sacrificial love that Jesus was talking about. I’m not ashamed to admit that I love country music, specifically Eric Church. Several years ago he released a song called “Like Jesus Does.” It’s a song about how much his lady loves him. Here’s an excerpt from one of the verses: I'm a left foot leaning on a supped up Chevy I'm a good ol' boy drinkin' whiskey and rye on the levee But she carries me when my sins make me heavy And loves me like Jesus does In other words, the girl knows everything about me, but loves me anyway. She loves me like Jesus does. Because Jesus’ love is sacrificial. Jesus sees everything. He knows everything. Yet, He forgives all things. He gave His life for you so that you could live. He loved you despite your flaws. He knows you, yet loves you anyway. When it comes to Jesus, love is not blind. His loves sees all, yet chooses you anyway. It reminds of the famous Psalm 139 when David writes, You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. God knows you better than you know yourself. David couldn’t comprehend how much God knew and loved him. And despite God’s great knowledge of us, He chose to send Jesus. And Jesus loved us. So much so, that He gave His own life so that we could live. Take heart, Christian, you are known… But more importantly, you are loved. Have you ever wondered what the point of relationships are? I mean, if you think about it relationships can be messy. People backstab us. They let us down. They disappoint us. And some relationships cause jealousy and strife. With all the negative possibilities that could come out of relationships, why bother?
We were never meant to do life alone. If you’re a follower of Jesus, you believe in the often-confusing, hard to understand Trinity (God the Father, Jesus the Son, and The Holy Spirit). Belief in the Trinity asserts that the God we worship, though one, is also three. I know… It’s confusing. How can one God be three? And before we go too far down the rabbit hole, will you just pause and be in awe of God’s three-in-one nature (for real though… Stop reading and ponder this)? When we think about how incredible God is, doesn’t it make sense that we might not understand everything about Him? Isn’t there something beautiful to just being in awe of something so beautiful and so complex? There is a humility in this mindset because when it comes to the Trinity, we kind of have to say “Here’s my best shot of understanding it, but God you’re far bigger and better than anything I could think of… So I’ll just delight in who You say You are. I’ll delight in the wonder of it all. So God is three-in-one. There are three personhoods that have existed since the beginning of time. Three personhoods that have the purest relationship since before the Earth was spoken into existence (See John 1). And then, in the creation narrative something incredible happens. Our three-in-one, existing in pure relationship, God is creating the universe. And He says, “Let us make man in our image… “(Gen 1:26). All mankind is made in the image of God. And if we are made in the image of God, then we share characteristics with God. In other words, if the pure relationship of the Trinity is part of who God is, then, as humans we too will value relationships as we try to be more like Jesus. And relationships will be a part of who we are. In fact, when God finishes creating he sees that it is better for man to have companionship (and Eve was created). We were never meant to do life alone. So here’s a simple step in being more like Jesus… Just be a friend. Seek out people you can connect with. Find people who share common interests. Look for people who are different than you and get to know them. But also, look for the more vulnerable among us and reach out to them. Serve them. Love them. Befriend them. Because it’s not always about being in relationships with people just like us. In fact, Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is to love God and love people. Not just people like us or who have the same hobby or share the same interests. But all people. People who annoy us. People who make us mad. People who don’t deserve love. God calls us to be a friend because it’s part of His nature to exist in relationship. And we when seek out relationships, we not only show the love of God, but we become more like Him in the process. So, what is the point of relationships? To be more like Jesus. I ran track in high school. I wasn’t the fastest kid in the school, but I did receive a varsity letter as a Freshman… I was the only one to try out. And the varsity team needed a hurdler, and since I was the only option I got the spot. As a freshman hurdler I knew I needed a lot of help. So I turned to God.
I’d be in the blocks getting ready for the gun. The starter would raise his hand, “READY…” (pause) “Set…” Whenever he said “set,” that’s when I’d recite it. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength,” I’d say to myself. “BANG!” The gun went off and we were off and running. I quoted Philippians 4:13, so I knew that I’d win. But then I didn’t. I put up a lot of 4th & 5th places in track. I was too short to be a good hurdler. I had to really fling my leg up to clear the bar and on top of that, I wasn’t the fastest kid in the world. Occasionally, I’d get lucky and get a blue ribbon… But not often. Why didn’t God come through for me? Why didn’t he give me the strength to do the impossible and actually win a track meet? Maybe because that verse is was taken straight outta context? We often do a disservice to Scripture when we take verses and isolate them from the verses surrounding them. We need to look at the context directly surrounding the verse in question. Beyond that, we look to the context of the letter or book in which it is written, and then we look at how it fits into Scripture as a whole. When we fail to read in context, we end up thinking that reciting a verse before a track meet will make us really really fast. So what does “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength,” really mean in context? Let’s look at just the two preceding verses: Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. (Philippians 4:11-12 NLT). Already you can begin to see the context. As Paul writes this letter, he has in mind his physical circumstances. He’s sitting in prison. Life is difficult. But throughout the entirety of the letter, we see that Paul maintains joy and contentment because of everything he has in Christ (see 1:14, 1:25, 2:14, 3:7-10, 3:21, 4:4-5). So when Paul says “I can do all things through Christ,” the “all things” refers to persevering and remaining content no matter the circumstances by the power of Jesus. He knows that when his focus is on Christ he can endure prison, beatings, and shipwrecks. No matter what happens, he has all he needs in Christ. Through the promise and power of Christ working in Paul, he chooses contentment in all situations. Whether he has plenty or little, he can thrive in all circumstances through Christ who gives him strength. So what’s that mean for us? Well, hopefully this is an encouragement for you. This is a reminder that no matter what you’re going through, even in your weakness, Christ is strengthening you. If you’re in the middle of financial crisis, focus on what you have in Christ. If you hate your career and are looking for a way out, remember what you have in Christ. If you’ve lost a loved one recently or have a horrible diagnosis, you can persevere through Christ. Does it mean it’s easy? Absolutely not. But it’s a reminder that you can push through. You can endure. And you can still have a joyful life in Christ who gives you strength. Nothing can steal your joy when you’re in Christ. I was reminded of this in a big way last week. Maybe you’re familiar with the name Ravi Zacharias. His ministry has been instrumental in bringing people to Jesus through logic and reason. I owe a lot to Ravi, because his teachings and writings helped build the foundation of my own faith. Sadly, he passed away last week. He’d been sick for a while and knew that physical death was imminent. So how does a man of great faith face death? A few months before his death he recited this poem by Robert Baxter: “Lord, it belongs not to my care Whether I die or live; To love and serve Thee is my share, And this Thy grace must give. If life be long, I will be glad, That I may long obey; If short, yet why should I be sad To welcome endless day? Christ leads me through no darker rooms Than He went through before; He that unto God’s kingdom comes Must enter by this door. Come Lord, when grace hath made me meet Thy blessed face to see; For if Thy work on earth be sweet What will thy glory be! Then I shall end my sad complaints And weary sinful days, And join with the triumphant saints That sing my Savior’s praise. My knowledge of that life is small, The eye of faith is dim; But ‘tis enough that Christ knows all, And I shall be with Him.” His focus was on Jesus. His prize was Jesus. His joy was Jesus. When Jesus is your source of life, you can persevere and endure anything. True, lasting joy is found only in Christ. And the truth of this verse is worth repeating; no matter what happens, you have all you need in Christ. A few years back I read If You Can Keep It by Eric Metaxas and he tells this story: In 1787 after the last Constitutional Convention met, Benjamin Franklin walked out of the meeting house and was approached by a woman who said “Well Doctor, what have we got? A republic or a monarchy?” And Franklin responded “A republic ma’am… If you can keep it.”
Benjamin Franklin was obviously talking about maintaining our freedom. In other words, freedom doesn’t just happen and it isn’t some magical thing that occurs on its own. Our founding fathers knew that freedom required responsibility to maintain. And taking responsibility to maintain a goal or a desired way of life is prevalent throughout daily life. For example, if you want to be fit and stay fit, you have to take the responsibility to eat healthy and exercise. To capitalize on and maintain a goal, we have to take responsibility. And when COVID-19 stepped onto the scene, the church was given a great opportunity that must be maintained. In a matter of days, church as we knew it was turned upside down. We went from drinking our coffee, eating our donuts, and gathering in our buildings to drinking our coffee (notice coffee is always present!), wearing our PJs, and watching a live stream. And over the last several weeks the Good News of Jesus’ love displayed on the cross has been streamed and sent out all over the world. On Sunday mornings Facebook and Youtube is flooded with the Gospel! Churches are now doing daily bible studies and live prayer times. And people are loving their neighbors by delivering groceries and checking in on each other. While it may not feel like it, the Church has grown up at an exponential rate. But that’s not the only digital message that grew. As more and more information about COVID-19 continues to come out, I see more and more experts on my Facebook and Twitter feeds (SEE CERTAIN TIMES VIDEO). According to many of my friends, Bill Gates and 5G networks are responsible. To others, the republicans and the democrats are in bed together to screw us all over. Not only that, but many have become scientific experts on viral diseases and seem to know exactly what to do to make sure we beat this pandemic. Wear a mask. Don’t wear a mask. Social distance. Who cares? Quarantine the oldies. Build your immune system. Sanitize your groceries.… And the list goes on. And as we have continued to live through this pandemic, it seems that our hate, shaming, and judgment of others has also grown at an exponential rate. So, what do we have here? Well, we have an opportunity, if we can keep it. The irony is incredible to me. The Gospel has gone out over the interwebs at increasing speeds… Yet, the same people sharing those links to the livestream are often the same people spewing hatred and more through their keyboard. We have somehow gotten to the point where we think we are so special that everyone wants to hear our opinion. And it needs to stop. As horrible as this pandemic is, God has given us, the Church, an opportunity… If we can keep it. And here’s how I’d suggest we keep it. First, decrease your time online. The more time we spend online, the more we get sucked into the vortex that is social media. Stop scrolling. Go outside. Open your Bible. Second, filter what you do post. Before you post maybe ask some of these questions: Is this a positive message? Is this true? How does this portray Christ living in me? Is this kind? What is it about this post that makes me so mad? Have I considered what the other person might be going through? Can I have this conversation via a more loving platform (phone call, video call, etc.)? Even if I’m right, is it worth risking the relationship over? In times of crisis the church has a great opportunity to step up and be the Church… But we can’t keep this opportunity if we’re praising on Sunday and shaming on Monday. We have an opportunity to share the Gospel in ways we never have… if we can keep it. I love spy movies. Mission Impossible, James Bond, and Jason Bourne are all classic spy movies. And not that you care, but my all time favorite spy movie is a tie between The Man who Knew too Little with Bill Murray and Get Smart with Steve Carrell. My least favorite, ironically given the title, is Spy with Jason Statham. What a horrible movie…
Now that you know that I’m an expert on spy movies, let me give you a piece of advice. Whenever you find yourself watching a spy movie, always remember that not everyone is who they say they are. There is often a code word or a memory shared between two people that lets the other party involved know that who they are talking to is in fact someone they can trust. But at the end of the day, code word or no code word, the identity of the other party is always brought to light by their actions. And this is exactly what we see happening in one of the most famous stories in the Bible. In Matthew 14:22-36 Jesus sends His disciples out ahead of Him so that He can be alone and pray. In the middle of the night a storm comes upon the lake and the boat begins to be tossed by the wind. Jesus does what any of us might do and takes a stroll ON THE WATER to go help them out. The disciples are freaked out when they see Him walking on water and understandably so. But Jesus reassures them by saying “Take Courage. I am here.” And here comes the codeword… In Matthew 14:28 Peter says, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” Hold up… That’s not a very good code word, Peter. There’s no question like “How many people can 2 fish and 5 loaves feed?” Or “If it’s you, what kind of music do I like (ROCK and roll, obviously). Or “Which side of the boat is best for fishing.” Peter and Jesus have had multiple encounters and memories that would have given Peter more assurance that it was in fact Jesus… But Peter simply says “If it’s you, tell me to come walk on the water.” Kind of a dumb question. If it was a ghost, like they originally thought, all the ghost would have had to say (assuming ghosts can talk) was “Yep… It’s me.” And boom, Peter drowns. But remember, the identity of the other party is always brought to light by their actions… And when Jesus tells Peter to come, there is really only one way to know for sure that it is Jesus. He had to get out of the boat. He had to take the leap of faith. He had to take a step trusting that it was in fact Jesus. And these moments of faith happen all the time… We get nudges all the time and wonder, “Is this you, God?” Nudges like: Start the Business. Reconcile the relationship. Give them some money. Quit the job. Start the program. Say “No.” Say “Yes.” Take the mission trip. Move overseas. The calls to faith are numerous. And while there is some criteria on knowing if a nudge is from God (Conversations with mentors, is the action loving?, what does Scripture say?, and prayer), really the only way to know if it’s from God is to take that first step out of the boat. We have to take the risk trusting that it is Jesus speaking and that He will hold us up and keep us from drowning. So, Peter, maybe you’re not so dumb. Maybe you were asking the question for a little security. But deep down, perhaps you knew that Jesus’ identity would be made clear by his actions. And sure enough, he held you up and gave you the power to walk on water. And you and everyone around recognized who He was because of your faith… Matthew 14:32-33 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed. Some of the most convicting words in all of the Bible read: What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead (James 2:14-17 NLT).
Gulp. Every time I read these words I get an emptiness in the pit of my stomach. Because I realize how apathetic I often get in my faith. Sure, I might talk a big game but I often fail to put my money where my mouth is. It’s easy to believe that once we are in Christ, everything is hunky-dory. I’m in Christ so nothing bad can happen to me. I’m in Christ so He will take care of me no matter what. I’m in Christ so I can just offer a prayer up and everything will get better. I’m in Christ so I don’t have to worry. But I’ve found that our “In-Christ-ness” is often used as an excuse to not actually live in Christ. God will take care of me, so I don’t need to get a job. God will heal me, so I don’t need to work the program. God is watching over me, so I don’t need to eat right and be healthy. God loves her, so I don’t need to share my faith. God provides for people, so I don’t need to be generous. See what I mean? And we could keep going. It’s easy to lead an apathetic life when we disconnect our faith from our actions. And before all the naysayers step in with “But what about…” Let me go ahead and answer your rebuttal… Yes, we are saved by faith alone. Yes, salvation is a free gift of God. No, you can’t earn your way to God. Paul was right in Ephesians 2, we are saved only by faith in Jesus. But our dear friend James, whose words we read up top, carries the same Scriptural authority as our beloved Paul. And James tells us that faith without works is dead. And I daily need this reminder. We need to be reminded that we exist as a people who love. A people who work out our faith. A people who take action. A people who believe that our tiny little action of giving a sandwich to the hungry, a dollar to the beggar, or a coat to the freezing is an outworking of our faith in Christ. Faith does not only mean belief… Faith means action. Faith means we do whatever we can to love. To share. To be generous. And to point people to Jesus. Reflecting on the paralyzed man who was lowered through the roof in Luke 5, Shan Wood noted that apathy says, “My friends will find their way to Jesus.” But actions says, “I’ll get my friends to Jesus.” You see the difference? If the man’s friends weren’t living out their faith, the poor fella would have still been laying on his mat unable to walk. But because they were living out and acting upon their faith, this man not only received the ability to walk, but also had his sins forgiven. I heard one speaker say once, “Small acts done with great love can change the world.” And that’s exactly what it means to act on your faith. Our actions may be small. But our God is big. And He asks each of us to act on what we believe, trusting that He will do more than we could imagine. So what’s it look like for you to live out your faith? To choose action faith over apathetic faith? Well, maybe it means… You start volunteering on a weekly basis. You start giving to God first. You start a conversation with the neighbor. You welcome in foster children to your home. You tell your family that Jesus has changed your life. You ask for forgiveness. You start the non-profit. You give up some of your stock piled food and toilet paper. You care for refugees. You forgive those who hurt you. There’s a wide variety of ways to take action in our faith and we’d love to hear how you’re taking action. Drop a comment below to let us know ways to live out our faith! In a conversation with my dad the other day he was telling me about his Blue Chip stock portfolio. Blue Chip stocks are highly rated companies that are known to be valuable, established, and stable. One writer says, “A blue chip stock is a stock you’d bring home to meet your parents: It makes a good impression and has the substance to back it up” (O’Shea, 2020). In other words, Blue Chip Stocks are a good investment (think Apple, Google, Disney or Amazon).
As my dad told me more about Blue Chip stocks, often a costly investment, I was surprised to hear that he had invested. But as the conversation progressed he informed me that his portfolio did not include stocks from Apple, Google, or Disney. Instead, his portfolio was a record of generosity investments in the Kingdom of God. His “Blue Chip” portfolio details and outlines the money he’s given to support the cause of Christ. It serves as a reminder that giving to God is the ultimate investment. And if we are honest, generosity is a tough discipline. It’s easy to get bogged down on our wants and needs. It’s easy to make sure that we have enough money for the vacation home, the hobby, the fancy dinners, or the concerts. Often times, we sacrifice generosity for the sake of things we want. At church on Sunday, we talked about the Widow who gave 2 small coins in front of Jesus. And instead of belittling this widow for such a small offering, Jesus honors her. He uses her generosity to teach a valuable lesson. He teaches us that generosity is not so much about what comes out of the wallet… But it’s about what stays in the wallet. In other words, what are we holding back from God? Why don’t we give him full access and full authority to our finances? This is a total elevation of what it means to be generous. It’s not just giving from your surplus but it’s diving into that surplus to the point where you feel it. When the widow dropped in her two coins, she was abandoning everything for God. Nothing stayed in her wallet. She was making an eternal investment because she knew that the SUM of her heart was GREATER than SOME of her possessions. She was investing in the ultimate blue chip stock. She was investing in a Kingdom that is reliable. A kingdom that is stable. A kingdom that is eternal and of the greatest value. So here’s my encouragement to you… Give till it hurts. Invest in the ultimate Blue Chip stock. Serve with your finances. Ask God for the power and the heart to let go of those things that stay in your wallet and keep you from being generous. And as a way to hold yourself accountable, maybe consider starting a Blue Chip Portfolio. Keep track of your generosity. Not as a way to boast or become prideful, but as a way to remind yourself of the eternal investments you are making when you decide to be generous. In Matthew 6:21 Jesus says, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Where’s your heart? Does Jesus have it? Or is it in your wallet? |
AuthorThe majority of blog posts are written by CrossPointe Staff... Occasionally we have a guest author that we will indicate! Archives
April 2021
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