In Jesus’ parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), the ruler over the servants expected increase, so he took the money from the non-producer and gave it to the producer. This might change your thinking about staying in a welfare system. Apparently God, who is love, does not expect His people to live a lifestyle that is content to rely on free handouts!
The ungodly are those who have no moral code or fear of God. Their only guidance is what pleases them and gives them advantage. They offer you shortcuts that will look good but leave a bitter taste in your mouth, like biting into a shiny apple only to spit out a rotten core. You may prosper but it will be short lived and at the expense of others. It will cost your reputation; and in the long run all you really have is your reputation, so guard it with all your heart!
What do you have that makes you rich? You have been given righteousness, which gives you a new self-image. You have been given eternal life, which gives you perspective and purpose. You also have been given authority, which is the right to exercise power over all sicknesses, all bondages and all demons!
I am praying for our friends and partners, that you may know the plan that the Lord has set forth for your life. This knowledge will generate an inner strength, enabling you to face life each day with an “all things are possible” attitude. We pray that you may have His wisdom and His understanding for all of life’s decisions!
Thoughts can be deadly. Even in the natural process of healing our thought life plays a direct role in the chemicals released into the rest of the body. Wrong thinking can be a toxic killer if allowed to make deep ruts in our thinking. This means if you allow lust, anger, hatred, envy and jealousy to dominate your thought life, the poison they contain has the power to destroy your life.
The most dangerous time is to deal with a beehive is when the bees have stopped producing honey and the hive is full. Bees with no work to do become agitated and begin to look at the beekeeper and each other as enemies, so they begin to sting. The same thing happens in the church when it loses the larger purpose of reaching out to others. They begin an inward-spiraling cycle of backbiting, scorn, and criticism that can cause destruction to the church and the very people they are called to work with!
Scripture tells us in Luke 9:1-2 that “he called his twelve disciples together and he gave them power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” That power and authority was never withdrawn! What an opportunity each one of us has been given!
God gave each of us an important job, regardless of whether you are a janitor or a Fortune 500 executive. He gave the stay-at-home mom and the preacher the same honor of using His name to go to the world!
You decide the source of life that is put in you. It is not your government, family, culture, color or age that decides what you say and believe and see in your life. Let that which comes from you be life to others!
No one can put down a son or daughter of God unless that child of God chooses to think lowly of him or herself. Jesus said that if He is lifted up, He will draw all people unto Him. There is only one way to go when you are connected to Him, and that is up! Up in attitude, up in perspective, up in ability, and up in self-dignity!
