Love for Money

“When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.” Acts 16:19.
The power of falsehood among humans is ever so clear in this passage. The owners of the slave girl are obviously wrapped up in money and their own selfishness so they try to get rid of Paul and Silas, which is really them trying to get rid of the Spirit. Then Paul and Silas are thrown in jail, but I’m sure the outcome of this story is not what the owners were imagining. Verse 33 says the jailer and all of his family were baptized. How Glorious! God does work in incredible ways, but I must recognize the huge faith Paul and Silas had. Without worry or stress, Paul and Silas were able to be calm and lead others to the Lord even when tied down in shackles. Man cannot hold the Lord back. And to think, man’s love for money was the start of this whole scene. I know God used man’s love for money to help make this story, but I definitely see how we must abstain from loving money. I pray my heart will not lust after the greatest riches of the world. For I know a man can gain the whole world, but he is worthless when he loses his soul. Our devotion in Christ is so much greater than any fiscal being such as money.
I pray money will be well controlled and respected in our hands and ultimately used for God’s Kingdom.

Through Him

My God My God! I love thee. Today I pour out my heart in scripture. “From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.” (Acts 14:26-27) This passage speaks volumes to me this morning. First of all, they gathered the whole church together to hear the good news and report from their journey. Let’s rejoice together in hearing the good news of the Kingdom! Next, they reported all the GOD had done through them. NO, this is not a life of finishing task of our own, for we are not worthy, but God is the one who we must finish task and duties for. He is the great Messiah and Great deliverer of all things that are good. We must work, flow, and deliver the gospel through Him. For we are weak and wounded in our transgression but he is our Hero of deliverance from the evil one. The last part of verse 27 backs this up in “how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.” How great is God? So great that he controls all things. I can’t fathom all of the knowledge about Him but I have complete faith that he will deliver all of us as we commit our lives to Him. He is the great ambassador of the epic battle to proclaim Truth. He sent his son to Earth to “testify to the Truth.” God is great! This morning I praise his name! He uses us to spread His name. How great a gift is this? We humans, who are stuck in our own problems and sin, have been chosen by the great creator to work in his army and passionately deliver the good news to those who don’t believe.

I pray this is our heartbeat. I pray we can all see this. I pray to God the Father to come rescue us from our evil thoughts and dark deeds. For I know only through him can light shine bright. Only through Him can my light even begin to shine, and because Him does my light shine today.

I pray God will lead us to opportunities. I pray God will use us. I weep to think you have already given me opportunities that I missed because I was too busy wrapping my eyes around the work of darkness. God’s light must be my only point of focus.

Christ is not known

I see it clear! I have always understood why my friends desire to go to the 10/40 window to spread the gospel, but I have never quite come across a verse so clear in doing this. "It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation" Romans 15:20. What a huge calling? Here I imagine God saying, "This is where I want Wes, Wade, and Martin, now this is where I want Tanner. Go over here Tanner and spread the gospel of my name." Wow! what a calling? Does this make me want to stay in the states or go overseas to East Asia? Well currently my heart definitely is still attached to those people here on USM's campus that have never heard "The Gospel." I want to spread the systematic and biblically founded store of the gospel to those who have not heard the right gospel. My heart is here today, but could I quickly be sent overseas to a new mission field? Is God molding me for a future in missions? These questions I can not answer right now, but I know God has his master plan.

Blood

Today is considered one of the bloodiest days for Palestinians. At least 227 people dead after Israeli warplanes pounded the Gaza Strip. Why do I live in America? I feel as though I have spent so much time thinking about teaching, re-teaching, christians, but I haven't sought a calling to go overseas to non-christian sectors of the world. I am currently reading "Back to Jerusalem", which is a long standing movement of Chinese Christians aiming to spread the gospel from China all the way back to Jerusalem. But how can they make it to Jerusalem when blood is rampant across the country of Israel over largely religious issues? Of course God is the only one who could get them there, but what would happen if God sent me to the front lines to meet with the Palestinians? These men who see death coming soon so they start saying all sorts of verses from the Koran. They don't know Christ.

Transition back to my up-most concern, I weep in church for the lost. I cry when I haven't shared my faith. I can barely focus on singing praises when I know millions across the country haven't heard the gospel. Where does God have me now? I'm tired of "Six Flags Over Jesus" stereotypes. Yes I understand light-hearted humor between religious groups, but don't we understand the problem? We go back and forth about our own church differences when we hardly talk about the 3 billion people in the world who think joy comes from a man-made structure or other man-made thoughts and philosophy. The devil has latched himself to billions across the world, but are we praying for the front lines of this Spiritual Battle? It's real. Don't become lazy. Please always stay focused on the front lines of advancing our gospel. Love the Gospel. Hate sin.

disciples

I just listened to a Question and Answer session with David Platt at Brook Hills Church. One kid asked this...

7th grade boy: How does a 4'9" person speak at his school about Christ when he is much shorter than the 5'11" guys around him?

David Platt: The spirit of Christ and you is taller than any 5'11" 7th grader. I would encourage you..the good thing is the authority and strength is not based on you, but Christ. This temptation of "i don't have what it takes to make disciples" permeates us all. The spirit of Christ is in you, and you have everything it takes to spread the gospel and make disciples of Christ. Continue to press on, and maybe the Lord will use you to lead some 5'11" guys to Christ.

This one question from a 7th grader really breaks my heart. This question breaks my heart because I wonder what my knowledge and ability from Christ is being put to work for Christ and his kingdom. Even though I have always lacked the athleticism and knowledge/understand of others around me, I know a lone-man's life for Christ can make a difference in today's society. As I am usually referred to as the abnormal or crazy guy, I know my life can make a difference.

I want to be the duck that steps his foot out in front of others. I'm tired of following the slow movement of "naval lookers" and I want to penetrate the path not scene. Christ has led me here today for a reason. My abilities have all come from Him whom I follow with all of my heart.

I believe my overall interest and knowledge of sports has decreased in the past few years because I further understand the value of following Christ rather than the value of sports. God is eternal. Sporting Championships come and go.