"So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother.'" And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth." Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."Mark 10:18-21

Yesterday, I shared from this same passage. But today, something even more powerful touched my heart about it -- and it was so humbling, I had to share it with you too. Yes, it's true that we as humans tend to compare ourselves with one another and think highly of our good works. And it is true that not one of us is good by God's standards and that our good works are like filthy rags according to Isaiah. However, seeing all this -- Jesus beheld this man…. and loved him. "Jesus loved him," it says. And then, only then did he tell him the hard-to-swallow truth. The Gospel is not just truth -- it is much more than that. It is the truth told in love. When we share this Good News, must behold, and truly love the person with whom we're sharing it! Brothers & Sisters, even to those who hated Jesus, He told it in love. How much more should we be sharing that way with our friends and family?? Jesus told the truth in love and that's the way we should strive do it too. Lord, help us! We want to love one another as You have commanded! Give us hearts of flesh for our hearts of stone and help us to truly love one another, that your Name may be glorified when we speak your truth! We want to do great things for You! ONE MORE IMPORTANT THING!

"So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother.'" And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth." Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."Mark 10:18-21

I can't begin to tell you. So many people I've shared the Gospel with have answered, "Well -- I don't need that, I'm a good person." No, we're not. We have a tendency to compare ourselves with our neighbor, thinking how nice or how giving we are compared to him or her. But none of us are good by God's standards. Our good works are like filthy rags, according to Isaiah. This guy thought he was a great guy. "Jesus, really, I've done all this stuff you say, even from my youth!" One thing he lacked, though. He needed to take up his cross and follow Him. Brothers & Sisters, we can do lots of good things. But have we truly taken up our taken up our cross today and followed Him today? It's time. Today is the day to take up our cross! Today is the day to give our lives for God's purposes and follow Him! ARE YOU A GOOD PERSON?

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."1 John 2:15

Have you ever noticed that when people are in love, they tend to forget everything else? Everything becomes secondary -- cars, houses, money -- nothing matters -- it is all secondary to love. Then, when they fall out of love, as in a divorce, all of a sudden those things mean everything! They argue about all the little meaningless things they ever owned together. Each wants it all for himself. The same is true with the Lord. Before we know Him, all we really have are possessions. But when we come to know God -- truly know Him -- those things mean very little -- we're in love! We're willing to give up everything. Those people who are most in love with God and filled with His love are the least possessive and the least materialistic. Brothers & Sisters, if we have been wrapped up in our possessions, we've lost sight of our greatest treasure! All that stuff means nothing. Let go of it. Return to your first love. Lighten your heart and fall in love again with the love of God! ARE YOU IN LOVE?

“The gods of the earth; and all the coastlands of the nations will bow down to Him, everyone from his own place.”Zephaniah 2:11

God knows what we think and do in secret. He also knows the actions of governments and kings…armies and businesses…atheists and terrorists. Nothing escapes His attention. And He promises to respond appropriately, in His time, and in His way. Those who know the Lord become sensitive to His Spirit and His Word, and they seek to conform to His will. But non-Believers don’t have this sensitivity. They tend to be governed by their personal interests and standards, seldom conscious of the eternal consequences of their actions. In his time, Zephaniah prophesied about the actions of many nations that surrounded Judah. God assured them that He knew those who had taunted His people. He promised action “in return for their pride.” In fact, “the gods of the earth; and all the coastlands of the nations will bow down to Him, everyone from his own place.” Zephaniah prophesied about “the earth” and “all the coastlands of the nations.” He cast a net over not only the world that he knew, but the world that was yet to be discovered. Wherever there were people, they eventually would bow down to Him. Wherever they were—“everyone from his own place”—they would know that He alone is God. Today, we are witnesses of the continuing fulfillment of this prophesy. Our perspective has expanded, and we see a world of many languages and cultures, many beliefs and traditions. Yet the Bible assures us that the day is coming when “the gods of the earth; and all the coastlands of the nations will bow down to Him, everyone from his own place.” We are called to serve Him so “all the coastlands of the nations” will know Him. Brothers & Sisters in your life, seek to do your part in bringing the Gospel to the whole world.

“When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.”Genesis 3:6

Satan’s ideas made perfect sense to Eve. While appealing to her senses, his arguments also seemed to be filled with logic. These ideas seemed desirable, and she wanted them to be true. Taking the form of the serpent, the devil promised tangible benefits from eating the fruit God had forbidden. In the process, Satan convinced her that there would be no penalty for disregarding God, and that God did not really mean what He said. Instead of being punished, her eyes would be opened. Eve willingly believed Satan’s interpretation. In her weaknesses and vulnerability, she was convinced that he was right. She never stopped to think about God or consider that she should ask Him about Satan’s claims. Instead, she became willing to ignore the Lord’s commands. Perhaps she simply knew that God would not confirm Satan’s interpretation. Reinforced by Satan’s encouragement, “she took from its fruit and ate.” Satan tempts each of us in similar ways. He presents us with ideas that seem to make sense, because they are consistent with our personal desires and we want them to be true. In these moments, we become vulnerable. Like Eve, we face the choice of staying true to God’s promises or listening to Satan’s crafty logic. As Believers, we are given these examples as warnings. We must be alert and realize that we will face the same kinds of temptations as Eve did. Brothers & Sisters in your life, remember that you will be tempted in many ways. These temptations may sound inviting and attractive. Make sure that you don’t just follow your feelings or do what seems to make sense. Always stay focused on God. If you have doubts, check His Word. Commit your questions to Him, and stay on guard.

If you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”Luke 16:12-13

It is natural for us to want our own possessions. It’s understandable that we would seek to be independent and live in our own homes. But Jesus said the way we demonstrate our readiness to be given our own things is through the way we handle things that belong to others. What does this mean? We remember that God looks at our hearts. He wants to see our attitude, not just toward Him but toward other people. He is watching us interact with a boss or a secretary…a neighbor or a store clerk. And He also looks at how we handle things that don’t belong to us. Are we responsible about things that belong to an employer? A friend? A relative? Yes, we must display responsibility toward material things that belong to others, but there is also another side to this. Jesus reminded us that we cannot serve two masters. It is possible to focus so intently on material things that we forget to seek first His Kingdom. We must not allow possessions, or the desire for wealth, to gain control over us. And in everything, we must remember that we are His servants. In your life, make sure that you keep the things of this world in proper perspective. Seek to have the attitude of a servant when you handle the possessions of others. Remember: You are demonstrating that you are responsible and faithful, proving that you are ready for God to give you the riches of His Kingdom. Brothers & Sisters show God that you have placed Him and His Kingdom first in your life. Be faithful with things that belong to others, and with everything you do.

“Therefore if you have not been faithful in the [case of] unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), who will entrust to you the true riches?”Luke 16:11

Jesus said it was very simple. We demonstrate our readiness to receive God’s true riches by the way we approach the small, practical things of our lives. In fact, if we want “true riches,” He said we can demonstrate that we’re ready by being faithful with “unrighteous mammon.” The Greek word here suggests wealth and property. Clearly, Jesus was describing material things. This means God is watching to see if we are responsible in the treatment of our possessions and the tangible, practical things of our daily lives. This includes our cars and clothes, homes and hobbies, jobs and finances. God cares about our appearance…the way we pay taxes and bills…how we handle our investments and bank accounts…and even the way we organize our desks, offices, and files. This kind of evaluation might seem like an unspiritual approach, and even the opposite of a life committed to following Jesus. But, in fact, Jesus was teaching that God looks at our hearts partly through the lens of our faithfulness in small matters. Indeed, who would entrust us with “true riches” if we are irresponsible in the little things? If we are not trustworthy with “unrighteous mammon,” we probably won’t be trustworthy with “true riches” either. Do you want spiritual riches? Then seek to be faithful in the practical things of your life. God looks to see what you do with your time, talent, and treasure. What are your priorities? Through these practical things, you demonstrate that you are worthy of trust and that the Lord can depend upon you. You show that you are ready to receive the blessings He has prepared for you. Brothers & Sisters Today, commit everything in your life to God. Seek first His Kingdom. Demonstrate your readiness for true riches by being a good steward of the things you have been given. And remain faithful in Sowing Seeds into His Kingdom.

“Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won’t be faithful in large ones. If you cheat even a little, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”Luke 16:10

How do we grow spiritually? How can we become more mature as Believers? How can we receive more of God’s blessings? It can be easy to think we just need to concentrate on spiritual things, assuming that the practical things of our daily lives are not important. Yet Jesus made it clear that practical things are critical for our spiritual lives. Why is this? Because our faithfulness in little things demonstrates the true condition of our heart. Jesus taught that God looks for people who are honest and responsible, not only with the projects that get attention but also ones that seem insignificant. He said we need to be “faithful in small matters.” If we are faithful in things which seem small, we demonstrate our true character. We display habits we also will apply to projects with greater visibility and importance. If we seek excellence and do our best in small matters, we demonstrate that we are committed to excellence in everything we do, not just the things that people notice. Do you want greater spiritual riches? Do you want to be fruitful in God’s Kingdom? Seek to foster a spirit of responsibility and excellence, starting with projects that seem small and interaction with people who seem to have little influence. Cultivate these attitudes in every project, big or small. Pursue excellence with every person and in every situation. Remember: God is interested in your heart. Before He will give you the true riches and abundance of His Kingdom, He wants to see if you are trustworthy. Brothers & Sisters make it your prayer to be faithful and honest in everything you do today, even in small, practical situations. Strive for excellence even when no one seems to be looking. God sees and will reward your faithfulness.

“This mystery has not been revealed to me for any wisdom residing in me more than in any other living man, but for the purpose of making the interpretation known to the king and that you may understand the thoughts of your own mind.”Daniel 2:30

Nebuchadnezzar was “anxious” (v. 3). The Hebrew word here suggests that he was agitated and could get no rest. This was no ordinary problem but something monumental. What had caused him such anxiety? It stemmed from a particularly troubling dream. The king could not shake the images, and he urgently needed the right interpretation of what the dream meant. But Nebuchadnezzar experienced another form of agitation when he asked the kingdom’s magicians, conjurers, sorcerers and Chaldeans to explain the dream’s meaning. He rejected their request that he tell them the dream. If they truly had special powers, they should be able to tell him both the dream and its interpretation. They argued that his demands were “difficult” and complained that only the “gods” could fulfill his requirements. Yet the king would not budge, and he became even more agitated. Confronted by the same challenge, Daniel sought God, who revealed both the dream and its interpretation. Daniel then shared these truths with the king so he could “understand the thoughts of your own mind.” Yes, Nebuchadnezzar did not even know his own thoughts! But God did. As the Bible makes clear, we may think we understand ourselves, but, in fact, our understanding is limited and often wrong. The Bible says “Man’s steps are ordained by the LORD, how then can man understand his way?” (Proverbs 20:24) Brothers & Sisters Today, remember that God knows you better than you know yourself. And He knows everything about you, including your true thoughts and motives. You cannot hide from Him. So humble yourself, and let Him teach you about yourself. Allow Him to mold you and shape your life according to His plan. He knows best.

“Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and laid siege to it. The Lord handed Jehoiakim king of Judah over to him…Nebuchadnezzar carried them to the land of Babylon, to the house of his god, and put the vessels in the treasury of his god.” Daniel 1:1-2

From the opening sentences of the book of Daniel, it is clear that he was involved in a fierce spiritual struggle. The people and vessels of God had been carried away to a foreign land. There they would face a series of conflicts with the people of the land, who served the gods of the Babylonians. The truths that emerge from Daniel flow from this profound confrontation between worldviews. We see insights about health and diet…how to be the best managers and professionals…how to achieve success and advance in a career…how to react to pressure situations…and how to resist the temptation to compromise. The book also includes keys for developing the right priorities…obtaining wisdom and making decisions…achieving personal fulfillment….having the right perspective on current events…and planning for the future. The people of Babylon had attitudes that flowed from their worldview and religion. In the same way, Daniel and his friends demonstrated why faith in God is superior in every way. In our time, we are involved in similar challenges. As the book of Daniel illustrates, the central issue of our lives is our relationship with God. We, too, encounter conflicts with people who serve other gods and who have different belief structures. Like the Babylonians, the enemies of God today seek to capture His holy vessels by intimidating us into abandoning God’s standards. Like Daniel, we are called to be uncompromising, yet have a Christ-like attitude. We are called to be witnesses for God in everything we do. And through our lives, we’re called to show how obeying God’s instructions will lead to success. Brothers & Sisters Today, remember that you are in a battle. Stay strong and focused. Be committed to serving God, unwavering in your faith.

“Then on October 17 of that same year, the LORD sent another message through the prophet Haggai.”Haggai 2:1

God delivered an important message to His people on this day in 520 BC. We can be sure about the timing because of events in the Bible as well as other historical activities. The focus of the message seemed to be on the temple, but this merely was a vehicle to allow God to provide a powerful teaching. While many people might have been blessed by this new temple, those who had seen Solomon’s temple were disappointed. Yet God wanted all of them to see beyond the temple. He wanted them to “take courage.” Instead of dwelling on the past, He wanted them to focus on Him and His plans for the future. God wanted His people to believe Him for favor. They needed to be willing to move forward boldly in faith, putting everything else aside. He wanted them to stop worrying or speculating. God also confirmed that He was with them. In spite of their sins and mistakes, He had not abandoned them. He wanted them to know that His Spirit was “abiding in your midst; do not fear!” However, judgment was coming. God said He would “shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land. I will shake all the nations.” The Lord also wanted His people to remember that He was the rightful owner of all the resources: “The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine.” And He promised that He would accomplish His purposes: “The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former…and in this place I will give peace.’” Brothers & Sisters these are important lessons for us to remember. If we have committed sins, we, too, can be forgiven. If we have wasted our opportunities and resources, we can be given a second chance, just like the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-24). He is with us!

"For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."Galatians 6:8-9

A friend sent me this amazing story. A young man who had been raised as an atheist was training to be an Olympic diver. The only religious influence in his life came from his outspoken Christian friend. The young diver never really paid much attention to his friend's sermons, but he heard them often. One night the diver went to the indoor pool at the college he attended. The lights were all off, but as the pool had big skylights and the moon was bright, there was plenty of light to practice by. The young man climbed up to the highest diving board. As he turned his back to the pool, on the edge of the board and extended his arms out, he saw his shadow on the wall. The shadow of his body was in the shape of a cross. Suddenly, he felt a strange feeling, like someone was speaking to him. Instead of diving, he knelt down and finally asked God to come into his life. As the young man stood in deep reverence before the Lord, a maintenance man walked in and turned on the lights. The pool had been drained for repairs. Mm. Sometimes we get frustrated. It seems like our words are falling on deaf ears and that our loved ones will never see the truth. But we never know how God is working in those for whom we've been praying. He often has a plan we know nothing about! Brothers & Sisters, let's not be discouraged when we don't see the fruit right away. God knows the day and the hour and He will be faithful to follow through. Keep praying. Keep sharing. Keep sowing the seed! There's so much work to be done! KEEP ON SEWING!

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it."Matthew 13:45-46

In Matthew 13, we see that a merchant sold all that he had to purchase a single pearl. But why, of all things, a pearl? I would question the choice the Lord made -- choosing to leave the Father's side for a pearl instead of what I would think has much greater significance, the much coveted diamond. You may know that the diamond is graded in value according to the 4 C's, Cut, Color, Clarity & Carat-weight. The answer to my pondering was right there! The diamond receives a substantial portion of its value from the way a person cuts it -- the work of man's hand! Interestingly, the only natural gemstone that has more value when it is found than when men finish with it is the PEARL! In the same way, we can add nothing to the work of Salvation! God has paid the price for us in full -- and a tremendous price it was. The God of glory, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords left all the splendor of Heaven to claim this pearl. And He gained it by paying a price that was far more precious than any of us could pay. Brothers & Sisters, sometimes we get so busy and we don't take time out consider this incredible work of God in our lives. He has bought us with a price. We are fully paid, fully ransomed, fully redeemed! We are the pearls of great desire! Let's walk in that victory today! WHY A PEARL?

"This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men."Titus 3:8

Does it ever happen to you - that something terribly simplistic just suddenly becomes clear? I realized something about us the other day. We humans are such addictive creatures. We always hear stories of addictions such as gambling, drinking and using illegal drugs -- most of which, many of us have either never allowed ourselves to touch or been able to conquer at some point in our lives. But it occurred to me that these are just a few of many things to which we can become addicted. I mean, think about it. The more we work and the more money and material things we acquire as a result -- the more we want to work in order to purchase more of those things. The more television we watch -- the more we don’t want to miss that next episode. The more we win at the leisurely games we enjoy, the more we want to play and win more at those games. The more we sleep -- the more we want to sleep! The more we complain -- the more we want to complain! The more we eat -- the more we want to eat! We have even created nightly support group meetings for our addictions to which, if we’re not careful, we can also become addicted! And there are countless other earthly examples we can probably add! It seems that mankind is hopelessly given to the substances and circumstances around us. So wouldn’t it be great if we could just switch our focus from majoring on our daily grind, to majoring on the things of the Lord? And then, I'm sure we would find that the more we pray and see God answer our prayers -- the more we’ll want to pray and see those victories! The more we share our faith and see people come to know the Lord through us -- the more we’ll want to share and see others come! The more we read the Word and gain wisdom for our lives and others' lives -- the more we’ll want to read the Word and gain that kind of wisdom! The more we serve God and those around us-- the more we’ll want to serve them! And there are countless other heavenly examples we can probably add! Brothers & Sisters, how about it? Let’s begin doing more of the things of the Lord and watch how they multiply! I have feeling that we just might experience more joy, peace and contentment than we ever have! ADDICTION CAN BE A GOOD THING!

"Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."Matthew 5:11-12

An ancient story is told of the Queen of Sheba. She sent two wreaths of roses to Solomon, one real and one artificial, to test his reputed wisdom. She defied him to detect the genuine from the artificial. Solomon at once directed that some bees be brought into the room and of course, they immediately flew to the real flowers and thought nothing of the counterfeit. So it is with us as believers. When we find ourselves overwhelmed, surrounded, being attacked from every side with the bees of revile and persecution, it simply means they recognize that we are the real deal! Our beautiful aroma attracts those scary bees but the Lord, in the end, "Where,[oh bees], is your sting?" Brothers & Sisters, rejoice when the bees come around! Don't lose heart! God has the victory! WAKE UP & SMELL THE ROSE!