Matthew 6:33. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
And is it ever wonderful to be alive on another new day on God’s glorious earth; one filled with all His new mercies and compassions! Wow! You can’t ever beat that feeling friends, especially when it’s a bright and sunshiny Wednesday in the middle of the work week, where we get our second wind to keep on fighting the good fight of faith! Glory to God!
And by the way, your Wednesday Bit will be somewhat late now, since we’ve started back having a small prayer group meeting on Wednesday mornings. It’s nothing big or spectacular, just discussing a few topics of personal interest, reading some scripture, praying for people in need of divine aid, and having communion. And, to me, sometimes you get more out of the small, personal groups than in the large non-personal gatherings. But that’s neither here nor there, the important thing is that we gather to worship God and celebrate our faith.
However, having said all of that, here’s an interesting poem from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin, that many of us will find amazingly appropriate to our personal situations. It’s simply titled ‘The Challenge.’ And by the way, I don’t know if I’ve ever shared this one before, but if I have, too bad, because they all are worth sharing again and again! (smile)
So please read with me: ‘It may be true, dear God That my husband and I had more to live on A year ago than we have today But it is equally true That we have just as much to live for. The real values of our lives remain Solid, stable, unshifting. Our financial loss has in no way Diminished the value of a single friendship. We have lost nothing of human dignity
And we are discovering spiritual realities Full of wonder and sheer delight. Our faith in Your LOVING-kindness Adds growing serenity to our guided lives. You are making us increasingly aware That what we are is vastly more vital Than our fondest possessions. Above all, you are teaching us That a limited salary is our shining challenge To trust and exalt our limitless God.’
Oh my people, isn’t that the gospel truth! It certainly is! When we lose some of our purchasing power or earthly possessions, that’s the time the Lord usually steps in and tries to teach us the overwhelmingly important lesson that money and material possessions don’t dictate who we are, but instead it’s who we are in Christ Jesus that dictates our importance. And believe me, that’s a difficult lesson to learn, especially when you are short on finances, for then you are worried about how you’re going to pay the rent or the mortgage, buy food, pay the numerous bills we have in this modern society and keep your children properly dressed to go to school.
It is indeed a challenge to handle both that and the need for God at the same time. I can tell you that from personal experience. But it’s all a matter of faith; of making up your mind to trust God come what may. And ofttimes that’s God’s challenge to us, to see if we truly believe, and for us to grow in spiritual maturity, because it’s only in adversity that we really grow. When life’s good, there’s nothing to worry about, and therefore no need to grow. But if we intend to be true believers in Christ, then we do have to grow, we just can’t stay like Bruh Paul told the Corinthians, only drinking milk, because then our faith stays small and weak.
As he writes: ‘And I brethren, could not speak unto you as spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat (solid food): for hitherto (until now) ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions (dissensions), are ye not carnal (fleshly), and walk as men (according to man).’ (1 Cor. 3:1-3)
And that’s exactly what’s happening to many supposed believers today; we’re not growing in our faith because we have the things of the world, the fleshly and carnal things too deeply engrained in our consciousness. Yes friends, while on our Christian journey, like babies grow and eat solid food, we too need to reach the stage where we eat solid food, meat and spuds; get deeper into the word, understand it more fully and them live it more explicitly.
It’s like the author of Hebrews also writes on the subject. ‘For when for the time (though by this time) ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles (sayings) of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat (solid food). For every one that useth (partakes of) milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat (solid food) belongeth to them that are of full age (mature), even those by reason of use (practice) have their senses exercised (trained) to discern both good and evil. (Heb. 5:12-14)
That says it all my fellow believers, too many of us are still babies drinking milk, not knowing the word and living it out in practice, that’s why our world is in such an ungodly, evil and disastrous state! But to grow in spiritual awareness means taking risks, and trusting God, especially in the tough times. That’s why our Bible Promise for today’s poem are these encouraging words of faith from Jesus.
‘Therefore take no thought (do not worry), saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ (Matt. 6:31-33)
Now that’s the crux of the matter right there my brethren! Are we willing to trust God to deliver our needs as He promises, or are we going to continue killing ourselves to acquire the corruptible and stealable wealth of the world. It doesn’t mean not working diligently and excellently, but not letting the things of the world be our priority. As a true believer God must be our top priority, and that’s what He is usually trying to teach us when we undergo challenges. Let’s hope we learn before it’s too late.
Now let’s go home declaring (steups!!!) our Wednesday Wail, letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Christ Jesus! As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’
And, if we endure with Jesus right to the end, then that future will be even more glorious than we can ask or imagine. So, hoping to see you there, so that we can enjoy it together! Much LOVE!
…hurting people overcome tough times…when they turn to God…make Him their Number One Priority…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
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