In The Center of God's Will

To be in the center of God's will is the happiest place on earth. This may include a single life, illness, persecution, a missionary position far from home, physical handicaps, an unhappy marriage, the death of a loved one, a challenging child, or any number of other negative circumstances, which occur in life. Yet, God's love is with us and in us through each moment of every day.

God has good plans for us, even through the negative atmosphere or issues we experience in our life (Jeremiah 29:11). He always works out even the most horrendous concerns for our good (Romans 8:28). The good news is that unless we fail to walk in God's will for our life, nothing will occur, which is not already part of His plan for us (1 Thessalonians 5:16-19).

God encourages us to submit to His sanctifying work in our life (1 Thessalonians 4:3). This is how He endows us with what we need to perform His will as part of His family (Hebrews 13:21; Mark 3:34-35). He forms us into the image of Christ and gives us His Word to light up our path throughout our lifetime. He even gives His angels charge over us, so that we do not stumble or fall (Psalm 119:105; Psalm 91:11).

If we struggle to hear God's Holy Spirit, or to find His exact will in any situation, we can pause, give Him our focused attention and listen. If we ask, He promises to generously give us wisdom in every area of our life (James 1:5). By walking in God's Spirit we will silence Satan's lies and the foolish talk of ignorant people who disparage God and His people (Galatians 5:15-25; 1 Peter 2:15).

Prayer:

Father God, we put our entire trust in You with our whole heart. We refuse to listen to the vain imaginations of our mind or to rely on our human understanding in making decisions. We seek Your will for each moment of our day and we will stop, be still and wait on You for your direction for each activity, which You prompt us to do (Psalm 27:14; Psalm 46:10). We know that by seeking Your will instead of our own, we will walk on the right path throughout our life and we will please You with all of our thoughts, words and deeds (Psalm 27:11). 

Thought for the Day:

As the Holy Spirit transforms us by renewing our mind, we will be living proof of the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.

- Romans 12:2

Used Teabags

Read: Nehemiah 10:35-39

“And we made ordinances to bring the first fruits … to the house of the LORD;”

My girlfriend grew up with her missionary parents in Brazil. She dwelt most of the year safely ensconced in boarding school. But summers brought carefree days in the remote, native village where her parents toiled to share the Gospel of Christ. Supporters often sent them gift boxes from the USA, and the missionary family eagerly anticipated the arrival of these coveted items. Sugar, coffee, American ethnic goodies, candy for the children, popcorn and staples and other treats often peered at them from the brimming gift boxes.

The family always put the unopened box on the coffee table in the center of the room. They made a ceremony out of opening the container, giving thanks to God before they ever removed the tape, which sealed the box. The children knelt around the table, leaning up in order to view the desirable objects at the soonest possible second. Their parents, grown up - but still children within, held the same enthusiastic expectancy. The whole family always smiled with delight as they examined the carefully chosen gifts from their loyal supporters.

One day, however, instead of the fulfillment of their joy, disappointment resulted when they opened the box. Inside was a large, heavy glass jar, full to the brim with USED tea bags. The donors inscribed and enclosed a note, which explained their gift, obviously proud of their sacrifice. “Since several cups of tea come from one bag, we just used these bags once and then dried them out, saving them in this jar until it was full. We impatiently predicted sharing each of these bags with our beloved missionary family. Enjoy the second use from them and pray for us each time you use one.”

Since my missionary friend shared this story, I often wondered about the mentality behind such a crass and selfish gesture. Why didn’t they purchase them a box of new bags instead? The money saved in postage alone could have sent the missionaries a dozen boxes of new tea bags. Then, I realized that Christians all over the world exhibit this same attitude. They take the first fruits of their earnings and the blessings God provides for them, and they consume it upon their own lusts. Then they give God their used leftovers or simply put a tip in the offering basket as it comes by their seat in the pew.

How many of us are also guilty of giving God our used teabags, trying to pass them off as our reasonable service? Do we give Him the leftovers of our time, our talents and our money; using them first for our own benefit and glory, and then giving Him our scraps? God gives us a mandate to give ten percent of our first fruits to Him. The Word of God declares that giving anything less than ten percent is actually robbing from God. Do we really want to steal from the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent Ruler of the Universe?

I vowed on that day to give God the first fruits of all of my increase, including my gross salary and also all of the financial gifts that others share with us for birthdays and other celebrations. I also determined to give sacrificially, above and beyond the tithe, when the need arises.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, do not allow me to be satisfied in selfishly giving You my leftovers. Help me to put You first in my life. Multiply to me the fruit of my labors, so that I have even more to give to You and Your Saints.

Thought for the Day:

On which would you rather be blessed by God, on your net income or on your gross?