The Apostle Paul was trying to show all of us that giving to the poor and down-trodden is what our Savior desires. But unfortunately, this goes against all our self-absorbed, self-centered emotions… We’d much rather be on the receiving end of gifts than handing them out. Jesus however wanted us to look at giving from a completely different standpoint…not from what we might be losing, but from what we’d be gaining. To be blessed, is to have God present and involved in every area of our life…it’s being a person who lives “Coram Deo” – Before the face of God.
Tag: God
Micah 7: 18 ” Who is a God like You, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.”
Who else is like our Lord? Who else but God can not only forgive us of all our sins, but cast them far away from us? Who else but God can lavish us with His grace and mercy, even when we really don’t deserve it? Who else is like our Lord? Simply put, there is no one else.
I Corinthians 3:16 ” Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? “
Within that place we call our body dwells the Holy Spirit. What a wonderful realization that God actually resides inside us…that still small voice offering direction, comfort, and at times conviction. It is God in us…the indwelling Holy Spirit ever at work in our lives.
II Samuel 22:47 ” The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior! “
There is no firmer a foundation than our Lord. To stand in the center of His Will, is to stand on solid, unshakeable ground. He is the Rock we can run to for deliverance and protection from the storms of life. ” Sing for joy to the Lord, let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.” (Psalm 95:1)
Revelation 5:8 ” Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”
Sometimes, we all feel like our prayers go up as far as the ceiling and then stop there…stuck…never to reach God. But this verse shows quite the opposite. All prayers of the saints are gathered in golden bowls, and burned as a sweet-smelling fragrance before God. And as the perfumed smoke fills His nostrils, God breathes in deeply and recognizes each prayer, utterance, and plea, from every saint who has reached out to Him.
II Timothy 4:2 ” Be prepared in season and out of season.”
This verse has nothing to do about time…it has all to do about us. When the power of the Anointing falls, and we’re being used of God in mighty ways, we want that feeling to last forever…but it doesn’t work that way. The Anointing comes in waves, lest we become so big-headed to start believing its us doing these wonderful things…not God through us. But regardless, we still need to be ready whether we feel like it or not…whether it’s convenient or not. For if God says go – He will meet us there.
Hebrews 13:15 ” Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess His name.”
When was the last time you confessed Jesus as Lord? When was the last time you celebrated with public praise -(which is what confess means)- for what He’s done in your life? Not only does it build up your faith, but it builds up the faith of those around you.
Today, practice public praise!
II Samuel 7:20 ” … For You know Your servant, O Sovereign Lord.”
You say, that people don’t understand you…but God does. You say, that they can’t comprehend what you’ve gone through…but God can. You say, that no one can imagine your pain…but God does. Only the Lord understands intimately what’s happened in your life…only He knows all things about you. Only the Lord has seen every sorrow and counted every tear.
Galatians 3:13 ” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’ “
The passage that Paul is quoting is from Deuteronomy 21:23…which deals with the punishment for those guilty of a capital offense. But Jesus was never guilty of anything other than loving us, and in doing so, He suffered the penalty and paid the price for our sinfulness. Jesus took the punishment we rightly deserved… so that we might be free.
Exodus 16:15 “Moses said to them, ‘ It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat.’ “
God provided food for the Children of Israel out in the wilderness…and their first response was, “What is it?” The Hebrew word- manna- is quite literally…what is it? But God had a much bigger agenda than just feeding them. He was building their faith… trusting and depending on Him to provide, not only their daily bread, but so much more. Jesus even used this same illustration when tempted by the Devil…quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every Word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”
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