"Rich Into God"

"So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:21)

It could be, "not rich into God."  The NAS Exhaustive Concordance says that the word translated, "toward," means "indicating the point reached or entered, of place, time, purpose, or result."  Do we not want, "the point reached," in our lives to be our Living Triune God?!?

This does not mean that we ignore our work, or make no attempt to earn money, any more than the Mary/Martha issue justifies laziness and condemns work.  Richness, "into God," or, "the purpose of God," means that everything we are and have is under the Lordship of Jesus, that we are the people of, "Seek first the Kingdom of God...."  The Greek word for, "first," is, "proton."  It not only means, "first," but also, "before."  Before I "seek" anything or anyone, I seek Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.  What a difference in a day, if this is our purpose in that day.  The key in our text is that each day begins, "toward God," rather than toward, "treasure."  What/Whom are you, "toward," today?  Or we could ask, "What/Whom are you 'into'"?

The vast majority of us spend relatively little of our time in "church meetings," prayer meetings, worship gatherings, missions, etc.  Our lives our lived out in our places of business, shops, homes.  It is precisely in these settings that the depth of our, "rich into God," is most revealed.  Religious activity, no matter how deeply spiritual and genuine, is the "easy" place to manifest what can just seem to be, "rich toward God."  In the businesses, the shops, the schools, the homes, now this is a different matter, no pretense allowed here, no religious talk or posturing or pretense will work here---- and thank our Lord Jesus Christ for that.

Our text rings throughout the ages of the Church.  Our text is a further revelation that, "out of the heart," is Life in Jesus, not out of the mouth or out of my activity.  "My son, give Me your heart," is the cry of Jesus Christ, not only in the Book of Proverbs, but from the day of our birth.  Would we want Him to say anything else to us?

Father, in Jesus' Name, while my life may at times seem feeble in walking out our text, I thank You that You created me to be, "rich into [You]."

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion, we were like those who dream.  Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing."  (Psalm 126:1-2a)

Do you remember that day you surrendered your life to Jesus?  I pray you can.  Jesus, in His Most Precious Blood, brought you and me out of the captivity of sin and bondage to the "prince of darkness."  Jesus, "put a new song in my mouth."  After perhaps many years have gone by, is your, "mouth [still] filled with laughter, and [your] tongue with singing"?

If you received Jesus many years ago, or just in recent years, if makes no difference.  There is still a, "like those who dream," about the encounter, and for me, His daily faithfulness is a continual marvel.  If heartache, pain, or just getting older has diminished that song, dust it off.  Sing again.  Let Jesus again fill you, "with laughter...and singing."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess that there is never a reason to lose the, "laughter...and singing."  You are my Song.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Do," And, "Abide[] Forever"

"Lord, I hope for Your salvation, and I do Your commandments (Words)....Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever." (Psalm 119:166; 125:1)

Summation: "Do [Jesus'] commandments (Words), and you, "cannot be moved...."

The word for, "do," means, "accomplish," which Webster's' defines as, "to succeed in doing something."  I define it as, The person who sees His Words through (Those who trust") to the end of this sojourn, "cannot be moved, but abides forever."  Notice it is not, "I talk about, preach about, 'Your commandments.'"  Rather, it is, "I do Your commandments."  Preaching about and talking about are always easier than "doing about."

It can be a scary thought to those who have it all figured out, but what about those who, "do Your commandments," and don't talk Christianeze?  Whether the "spirituals" among us like it or not, those who follow Biblical Principles get Biblical Principle results.  I'm not necessarily talking about "saved," or "born again," or such.  I am talking about those who model, for instance, the principles in the Book of Proverbs.  You may know some of these people.  They are not following Jesus, but they are "examples" of "doing His Words."  On the other hand, I have known far too many claimers to, "born again," status who do not, "do Your commandments," live according to the Biblical Teachings, and then wonder why those who, "do Your commandments," or "do" Biblical Principles, yet don't look, talk, and act like they do, are "doing" better than they. 

The great news of our texts today, however, is that you and I have in Jesus Christ a "doing" which keeps us in the, "cannot be moved," category.  Yesterday Sarah and I "decorated" the grave sites of our Son, Stephen, my parents, grandparents Barnette, and two uncles.  If Jesus were not my, "trust in the Lord," I would have been, "moved," long ago.  The saying, "the rug was pulled out from under me," is mild compared to what I would be.  But doing the, "trust in the Lord," factor, clinging to Jesus, relying on Jesus, has kept me, "like Mount Zion."  Sometimes I may not feel like that great declaration/promise, but the very fact that I do the basics of, "do Your commandments," viz., fill my mind and heart with them daily, and rely on Jesus to empower me in the, "do," His Words in me, well, I cannot say it any better, "Those who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever."

Father, in Jesus' Name, only You can make me as, "Mount Zion," which, "abides forever."  Amen.
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We are still in the process of obtaining housing for the Berlin Mission.  Also, we are praying with some who are praying "alternatives."

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"A Dead Man Was Being Carried Out"--Then Jesus Came

"And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother and she was a widow.  And a large crowd from the city was with her."  (Luke 7:12, from Saturday's Gospel Reading)

She had lost her husband, now her son.  Jesus, however, set a precedent, life-in-Him-Reality here.  When people die, Jesus has the power to raise them to life.

I received news today of a man who died at the age of 62.  He was in a group I worked with back in 1972-73.  Yes, he was an early "member" of those young people who came to Jesus at the "height" of the Renewal.  He had so many physical ailments, but perhaps the worse was that he had a wife of 25 years who had turned her back on Jesus and him.  It is difficult to know how much suffering he endured in his life time.  

Suffering is so much a part of this life.  I could engage in theological attempts to rationalize all of this, but what good do they really do, I mean, really?  Just read the Book of Job for starters. The person who told me the news was very saddened at this, but said that she was so happy for him now because he is so happy now.  Do you, my friend, believe this?  Is your sustenance in this age Jesus Christ, His Promises, e.g., "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you."  Or, "....if it were not so, would I have told you...?  Of course He would have told us, "if it were not so," or as I can paraphrase it, "If it were not so, do you think for one moment I would have uttered it, allowed you to base your life and hope on a known lie?"

People who doubt the truthfulness of the Bible which we have are people who believe we have a lie.  I had to endure this in grad school, an endless casting of doubt on not only the Authority of Scripture, but the accuracy of Scripture, which was code for, "You really can't believe all of this, nor should you attempt to build your life on this, nor should you attempt to persuade others to do so."  If that is the case, I am a very big perpetrator of a lie.  

Sarah and I go to the grave sites of the Barnette Family at least once a year.  We usually plant flowers and clean up things.  Now some may think this to be "pagan."  Okay.  If I thought, however, for very long that what we were doing was decorating the graves of bodies which are decaying, bodies which are gone for eternity, I would be of all men, "most miserable."  I don't believe that.  I believe, I accept, "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus."  No one, nor no thing can comfort as Jesus speaking these words to us, and the same words He spoke to the grieving widow, "Do not weep."  How could Jesus say that?  Because, "I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."

Father, in Jesus' name, there have been tears, but in my heart are You and Your Words, keeping me, sustaining me.  Thank You so much.  Amen.
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* We appreciate any prayers for our October Berlin Mission
* News, Commentary:  jhs58.blogspot.com
* Devotional at:             apfdevotionals.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2