If we’ve read our Bibles, one thing ought to be clear: sacrificial giving will never impoverish us. Those who loosen their grip on the things of this life and give unselfishly of their means will find themselves being enriched in more important ways.
When we’re choosing between our priorities, there ought not to be anything that takes precedence over being with the Lord’s people when they meet. In this matter of choice, let’s work on making better choices, those that most greatly honor the Lord.
There’s no greater motivation for evangelism than gratitude for God’s grace. If we’re grateful for the blessings that we enjoy in Christ, the first thing we’ll want to do is share those blessings with other people. Let’s be grateful evangelists!
The choice whether to obey the gospel and faithfully accept God’s gift is a choice of great consequence. When we choose to obey God, we choose life over death. In passages like Romans 2:5-11, these two alternatives are made very clear.
Just as the devil does his work by deception, God does His by truth. Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Are we willing to search for and hold on to truth? The wise man said, “Buy the truth, and do not sell it.”
Neither the individual nor the collective part of our service to God can be neglected without serious consequences. But in the end, we will not be saved just because we have been members of a sound church. We ourselves must be sound in the faith.
Do you wish to wear the name “Christian” (Acts 11:26)? If so, Christ must be the standard by which you make your decisions. His purpose is to reign in love and wisdom over every aspect of your life, not only on Sunday but Monday through Saturday too.
We may find ourselves setting aside parts of God’s instructions that we find objectionable. But surely this approach will not work. If God is our Creator, than all of His will must be taken seriously. We are not free to disregard some parts of it.
The invitation of Christ is to receive the forgiveness of our sins. That is a truly wonderful invitation. Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” The gospel is God’s invitation to find rest in Him.
Rich family relationships thrive in the natural soil of contentment and gratitude, not in the hothouse of financial or material prosperity. And if we’ve not yet learned this lesson, our families are probably suffering as a result of our ignorance.
