Infectious

 

Infectious

Romans 9: ²⁷ And Isaiah exclaims about Israel: “Even if the people of Israel are as many as the grains of sand by the sea, yet only a few of them will be saved; ²⁸ for the Lord will quickly settle his full account with the world.” ²⁹ It is as Isaiah had said before, “If the Lord Almighty had not left us some descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.”

 

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Raining and gloomy, it was a day where everyone on the bus felt despair. As I sat, dreading my work destination, I could see a person smiling. Actually he was laughing. I brushed it off as another person who was going through some weird stuff. But I could not stop looking at him. I felt better. He got up and said, “GOD bless all of you” as he departed the bus. My day wasn’t as bad.

 

• There have been some people who have changed my attitude with a simple smile.
• There have been some people who made me laugh because they were laughing.
• There have been some people who had a positive effect on me simply because they were there.

 

Paul quotes the prophet Isaiah to get his point across. It doesn’t matter how large the number, many people would choose to walk away from GOD. BUT GOD left a few descendants so this would not happen.

 

• GOD wants me to be infectious to my family and neighbors.
• GOD wants me to speak about HIS SON, no matter the circumstance.
• GOD wants me to point to HIS strength, not my own.

 

Being infectious means rising above the current situation. I mean, the winds and storms of life look very scary at times. BUT GOD places me in the middle of the storm to be a beacon of light pointing to HIM.

 

Only a few descendants kept following HIS word and JESUS was born as a human. If it weren’t for those few, salvation would not have come about. JESUS then lived out a perfect life and was murdered by HIS creation. HE rose from the dead and infected those who believe in HIM with the HOLY SPIRIT. I am glad to be infectious to the world.

 

• Does the situation around you seem dismal?
• Are you looking at the storm versus seeing the Savior?
• Will you ask GOD for the strength to be the one who is calm in the middle of the storm so others can see JESUS through you today?

You are Covered

 

You are Covered

Romans 4: ⁶ David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

⁷ “Blessed are those
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.
⁸ Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”

 

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As I ordered my burger, I could not wait to eat. It was lunchtime and this was a departure from the normal bologna sandwich I would carry around in a paper bag. When the burger was cooked, he asked for payment. To my dismay, I left the money at home I was supposed to put in my wallet. “That’s okay, you are covered.” He graciously said to me. Bring it in tomorrow. I was relieved.

 

• Many people have been gracious to me.
• Many people have done thing for me who I am indebted to.
• Many people have not counted my debt against me.

 

Paul reflects on David’s words in one of the Psalms. David mentions that GOD credits righteousness apart from works. Paul mentions that GOD knows the sins of the one who believes in HIS grace, but does not hold that sin against that person.

 

• GOD wants me to believe that my sins have been forgiven by JESUS.
• GOD wants me to be excited that there is nothing more that needs to be done for my salvation.
• GOD wants me to be secure in my relationship with HIM.

 

Knowing I am “covered” means I do not owe GOD anything. I do not owe GOD money, time or treasure. With this realization, I owe HIM everything. I mean, it is really exciting to have a relationship with some as generous as GOD. HE looked at my debt and died for it. What more could HE do?

 

HE wiped away all my debt and nothing more is owed. I am so thankful, that I feel I have to give HIM something. What do I give to the being who owns everything? I give myself, thankfully.

 

• Are you so distracted with the world’s debts that you overlook the debt you owe to GOD?
• Do you think your efforts to stop doing some sins, earns you some righteous points?
• Will you simply believe that JESUS paid it all and all to HIM you owe today?

Eyes on the Prize

Zechariah 2: ¹⁰ “Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord. ¹¹ “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. ¹² The Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. ¹³ Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.”

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Desperate for a little cash, I entered the tournament hoping to have one of those movie like endings. I was doing great that day and just knew I would win the cash prize. Unfortunately, the guy next to me was performing with perfection. He not only won the cash prize, but the car that went along with it!

• Many times I have missed out on the prize.
• Many times I put my hopes in a prize and lost.
• Many times I did not get what I sought out for.

Disillusioned was the feeling as I used my last few dollars in a longshot. I went home dejected. “How am I going to make it now?” I cried out. I had my eyes on that prize and I did not get it.

• GOD said to me “Shout and be glad for I AM coming to live with you.”
• GOD said to me “You will become MY people.”
• GOD said to me “Be still before ME because I have roused MYSELF from MY holy dwelling.”

My heart was not at peace. I was looking at the current bill of the day and not looking at the true prize, namely JESUS. It is easier said than done to not worry about finances and only focus on GOD, but it had to happen in order for me to gain peace. I got on my knees in a very rare moment of prayer and said “Help!”

Somehow, everything worked out just fine. GOD gave me just enough to keep going and push through that bleak time. HE wanted me to put my trust in HIM and not my abilities. HE tells me to “shout and be glad” even when I don’t feel like it. This enables me to keep my eyes on HIM rather than focusing on bleak situations. HE has never let me down when I look at HIM!

• Are you focused on a bleak situation?
• Do you think you will never get out of this hole?
• Can you stop focusing in on the situation long enough to look at GOD?
• Will you take a moment to shout, be glad and “be still” before the LORD?

Give Careful Thought

Haggai 1: ⁵ Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. ⁶ You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

⁷ This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. ⁸ Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord.

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Swimming in deep water, uphill, in a blizzard was how I felt. Drowning in debt and low on wages, I could see the needs pile higher and higher. My car was broken down, rent was due, tuition was unpaid and creditors were calling. Who has time for serving when I am in this much trouble?

• There were times when I thought life was spiraling downward.
• There were times when I thought life would never bring satisfaction.
• There were times when I thought all of my efforts were for naught because I did not seem to be reaping any great harvest.

Focusing in on money would excite some and depress others. I was in the latter because no matter how much I tried I just did not have enough. What was I doing wrong?

• GOD said to me “Focus on ME and I will bless you.”
• GOD said to me “Pay attention to ME and I will make your paths straight.”
• GOD said to me “Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find.”

Lost and bewildered, I gave my life back to GOD. This time something seemed different. I did not care if GOD took everything away from me, as long as my relationship with HIM was fine. It took a while, several years but I noticed a huge change. I was not worried, stressed or lying awake. I was out of debt and living quite comfortably. GOD did come through with HIS promise.

• Are you lying awake over something?
• Do you feel tired of working hard and getting nowhere?
• Will you take time today and focus on what really matters, namely GOD?

Bank Account Replenished - Credit Fixed

Joel 2: ²⁵ “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—
    the great locust and the young locust,
    the other locusts and the locust swarm—
my great army that I sent among you.
²⁶ You will have plenty to eat, until you are full,
    and you will praise the name of the Lord your God,
    who has worked wonders for you;
never again will my people be shamed.
²⁷ Then you will know that I am in Israel,
    that I am the Lord your God,
    and that there is no other;
never again will my people be shamed.

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³² And everyone who calls
    on the name of the Lord will be saved;
for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
    there will be deliverance,
    as the Lord has said,
even among the survivors
    whom the Lord calls.

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“Where are my tools?” I said to myself as I look in the garage. Then it dawned on me to ask myself “Why is the garage door open?” It finally hit me that some items were missing. We had been robbed! Thieves stole years of tool collection, miter saw and all!

Months later one of the admin, who by the way did not know the incident, asked me “Do you want these left over tools? We are moving our office and have no need for them.” I wound up with double of what I had lost.

• GOD sees every loss.
• GOD sees everything that was stolen from me.
• GOD sees every item that I clung tightly to and sometimes allowed them to be stolen.

It is not the loss of the item, but the reaction GOD wants me to have. “GOD gives and takes as HE pleases” is the attitude I had to learn. I mean, it’s all HIS anyway. I breathed a deep breath and let my tools go. GOD restored them when I wasn’t looking for them.

GOD did the same for my life. When I wasn’t looking for HIM, HE restored me. HE allowed HIS SON to die for my sins so I would not have to live apart from HIM. HE only asks that I call on JESUS name and HE will fulfill a promise that I will be saved. GOD fixed my bank account with HIM and erased my bad credit, replacing it with a new life!

• Are you in debt?
• Do you constantly worry about money?
• Will you call on GOD today?
• Will you allow GOD to handle financial affairs while you continue to praise HIM?
• Can you tell someone about how great GOD is for providing for you daily?

A Prayer for Those with Financial Woes

Psalm 4: ⁶ Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
    Let the light of your face shine on us.
⁷ Fill my heart with joy
    when their grain and new wine abound.

⁸ In peace I will lie down and sleep,
    for you alone, Lord,
    make me dwell in safety.

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Dear LORD,

            I know many who are hurting and are in dire straits.

I know many who are struggling and desire to turn their hearts to YOU.

            I know many who used their last dime a long time ago.

I know many who cry out to YOU daily.

            LORD please fill their coffers with YOUR wealth.

Let their hearts abound with YOUR grace.

            “Let the light of YOUR face shine on us.”

Fill our hearts with joy when their grain and new wine abound.

amen