12:15 MSG “Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.”
12:22-23 MSG "Don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body."
12:29-32 MSG "What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself."
12:33-34 MSG "Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can’t go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being."
Dear Jesus,
Your words exhorting me to keep life simple-sized are resonating in my heart.
A friend was recently in my office. He had a large sprawling home which he and his wife have just sold. In turn, they have purchased a much smaller house in an attempt to simple-size their lives. He is reducing his earthly treasure to tune his heart more clearly toward his heavenly one.
The more I possess, the more I tend to fret about protecting, preserving, and promoting my possessions. You warned me against that! You understood human nature. You understand me.
Doug Carter writes that Christians with a positive attitude in ministry are people who "avoid enslavement to things. They know that a collection of possessions on earth does not produce an abundant life. They know that gadgets and toys don't lead to peace and joy" (In Big Picture People, 2000, p. 58).
Lord, help me to live a simple-sized life.
You told the parable about the rich fool whose greed and self-centeredness sentenced him to smallness and insignificance in light of eternity. Someone said: "There is too much ego in his cosmos" (in William Barclay's The Gospel of Luke, 1953, p. 168).
Lord, help me to live a simple-sized and surrendered life. Greed infects not only the wealthy but also the impoverished. Is there a greedier person than the impoverished one who possesses a spirit of entitlement?
Your command is to "Bend all your life to obeying God's will and rest content with that" (ibid. p. 169).
I hear Your call. I bend Your way. Media fills my eyes with daily commercialism and advertising. The message is that my life is inadequate and unfulfilled, and can only be satisfying if I purchase their product! Expose this shallow sham! May the cacophonous cry of these carnival barkers expose their own bluster, and may my vision be transformed so that the temporal bling loses all luster. My heart is filled with a longing for You and Your promised treasure of Your Presence and Your eternal kingdom.
In the Name of my Lord Jesus who calls me to simple-sized living on earth, that I may enjoy eternal gain in Your Presence,
Amen.
12:22-23 MSG "Don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body."
12:29-32 MSG "What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself."
12:33-34 MSG "Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can’t go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being."
Dear Jesus,
Your words exhorting me to keep life simple-sized are resonating in my heart.
- "Protect yourself against the least bit of greed."
- "Don't fuss about food and clothes."
- "Relax! God is taking care of you!"
- "Give!"
- "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
A friend was recently in my office. He had a large sprawling home which he and his wife have just sold. In turn, they have purchased a much smaller house in an attempt to simple-size their lives. He is reducing his earthly treasure to tune his heart more clearly toward his heavenly one.
The more I possess, the more I tend to fret about protecting, preserving, and promoting my possessions. You warned me against that! You understood human nature. You understand me.
Doug Carter writes that Christians with a positive attitude in ministry are people who "avoid enslavement to things. They know that a collection of possessions on earth does not produce an abundant life. They know that gadgets and toys don't lead to peace and joy" (In Big Picture People, 2000, p. 58).
Lord, help me to live a simple-sized life.
You told the parable about the rich fool whose greed and self-centeredness sentenced him to smallness and insignificance in light of eternity. Someone said: "There is too much ego in his cosmos" (in William Barclay's The Gospel of Luke, 1953, p. 168).
Lord, help me to live a simple-sized and surrendered life. Greed infects not only the wealthy but also the impoverished. Is there a greedier person than the impoverished one who possesses a spirit of entitlement?
Your command is to "Bend all your life to obeying God's will and rest content with that" (ibid. p. 169).
I hear Your call. I bend Your way. Media fills my eyes with daily commercialism and advertising. The message is that my life is inadequate and unfulfilled, and can only be satisfying if I purchase their product! Expose this shallow sham! May the cacophonous cry of these carnival barkers expose their own bluster, and may my vision be transformed so that the temporal bling loses all luster. My heart is filled with a longing for You and Your promised treasure of Your Presence and Your eternal kingdom.
In the Name of my Lord Jesus who calls me to simple-sized living on earth, that I may enjoy eternal gain in Your Presence,
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment