“A Generous Church: What has been Accomplished and what will be Required” Devo

October 28th, 2018

Devotional

“A Generous Church: What has been Accomplished and what will be Required”

Matthew 19: 16 and   Matthew 6: 19-21

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Monday: “What is Good” - Matthew  16: 16-17

What does it look like, everyday, to be transformed by Christ? What does it look like, in word and action to mirror the love of Christ? In other words what does it look like to be an everyday Christian disciple?

  Even those who lived during the time of Jesus and saw him in the flesh struggled with these questions. In today’s scripture lesson we find an unnamed ruler asking Jesus what he has to do to inherit eternal life. It is as if the ruler is living into the struggle that all of us feel in our own walk with Christ. On one hand we realize that eternity in heaven is a gift - it is a gift we inherit because of the goodness and mercy of God. It cannot be earned. But on the other hand we have been given such a wonderful treasure in this gift that our lives should reflect it.

Jesus enters into the struggle of the ruler’s question and starts off by not quite answering the expected way. He doesn’t even address the question at first, instead he focuses with laser precision on the words that proceeded the question, “what is good?” Jesus wants the man to know that only God is good. I have to wonder if he is testing the ruler - seeing if he truly recognizes that Jesus carries the heart of God inside of him because he is God in the flesh, coming to proclaim the Kingdom of God. 

What do you describe as good?

What would God describe as good?

Prayer: Most Holy, Lord. Give us eyes and hearts to see as you see. Help us to get past the outer layer of this world, to proclaim with you, what is truly good. Root us in your love that we may share it for the sake of the Kingdom. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Keep the Commandments” - Matthew 16: 17-20

Jesus then goes on to answer the question by saying that the ruler is to follow the law that he is already aware of - the commandments, which the ruler replies that he has followed.

 The ruler must have been feeling pretty good at that moment. His changes of inheriting eternal life are in his favor. Jesus just told him that he had to follow the commandments, which he says that he has kept. Giant check mark. Now he can breathe easy and not worry about eternity. But then…then Jesus rocked his world by telling him that he lacked one thing - he was to sell all that he had and give everything, yes everything away to the poor. The ruler must have started to run through all of the scripture he memorized in head. Where was that located? What had he done? He asked Jesus this question and now the answer was something he was unable, unwilling to do!

It was as if Jesus saw deep into the man’s heart and noticed the one thing that was blocking him from being able to fully follow God, fully be a disciple. Yes, the ruler followed the commandments, but just following the rules doesn’t transform people. Leaving baggage behind and following Jesus as a disciple changes people. 

Why do we have the commandments? 

What lead you to follow Jesus?

Prayer:  Lord, today we lay before you our tendency to focus on your commandments without examining the spirit behind them. We confess that too often we may it about the do’s and don’ts in life instead of actually being obedient to your Spirit’s leading. Helps us to be transformed anew, we pray. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Went Away Grieving” - Matthew 19: 21-22

The man was unable to do what Jesus asked of him. Unable to journey with Jesus. We too are on a journey, yet how many of us have unsurrendered pieces of our lives as well. 

Maybe today on of the biggest barriers in our hearts isn’t material possessions, per say, but the commodity of time and the commitments we make. We don’t have time to pray. Or we don’t want to give up anything during a fast by rearranging our schedules to pay more attention to God. We don’t have time to come to another service during the week. We don’t have time to just sit in the presence of God and ask God to revel to us any unconfessed sin so we can have clean hearts. We live in a culture of hurry, and since spiritual growth cannot be rushed, we all too often push it to the side. 

What is Christ asking you to give up today that grieves your heart?

Prayer: Lord, when we confess that while we want to follow you it is hard to think of giving up that which we long for in our heart. So today, Precious Lord, we ask that you replace our longings with your longings, that we could focus on your desires. Speak to our hearts. Amen. 

Thursday: “Where’s Your Treasure” - Matthew 6: 19-21

  Pastor Andy Stanley tells the story of Milton Scott in his book Fields of Gold. In all appearances, Mr. Scott was an average man, who died at the age of 106. He worked from the time he was 25 until he was 102 in a textile mill. He lived his entire working life in the same house, driving a simple car. He owned only four suits and four pairs of shoes. By all appearances, Mr. Scott was living a less than middle class ideal life. But what people didn’t know was that he was a fearless giver. As his income grew over the years, he kept his life style the same. Appearances or being noticeable were not among his priorities. Funding the work of ministry was his priority. He helped widows and orphans. He smuggled thousands of Bibles into Russia before the iron curtain fell. He didn’t save money for a rainy day or worry about tomorrow. He didn’t ask the “what if” questions about money we talked about last week. He was simply wrapped up in the joy of giving for the Kingdom of God. By the end of his life it was conservatively estimated that he gave away 70-80 percent of what he earned for the work of God.

Where would you say that Milton Scott’s treasure was? In the gospel of Matthew today Jesus is teaching his followers about money and possessions - asking them where their treasure is stored - on earth or in heaven. Telling them that where their treasure is, that’s where their heart is. 

  My guess is that the Milton Scott story made some of us uncomfortable. We cannot even fathom parting with that much money for the work of God. For others of us we simply dismiss the story by citing how this man had more money to give so of course he gave more away. But the story of Milton Scott isn’t about the specific details. Or how much money he made. The story of Milton Scott challenges us past where we may be comfortable with questions like: how much am I willing to give to the work of the Kingdom of God? Is advancing the Kingdom of God my priority no matter what the cost? 

How would you describe your treasure?

What does this story make you think and feel?

Prayer: Lord, we crave freedom. Break the chains that hold us back from follow you, wherever you may lead. In Christ’s name. Amen,

Friday: “Treasure and Heart” - Matthew 6: 19-21

The truth is, what we treasure the most in this world may not be money. That may not be what would be holding us back from following Jesus. But if we examine our hearts, asking God to reveal to us what our treasure truly is, we may be just as surprised and grieved as the Rich Young Ruler. 

There is a string that connects our treasure and our heart. Sometimes we know what that is, other times we do not. Something that we forget is truly God’s in the first place. May we take time today to be in silent prayer, asking for God to examine our hearts anew. 

What does “enough” look like for you in terms of your treasure?

What fears do you have around that which you treasure most?

Prayer: God, you are the source of all love and truth. Yet, we confess that sometimes we keep areas of our lives from you. This day, O Lord, we state that we no longer want to do that. Instead, we present our hearts to you for examination. Trusting that you will lead us in the way of truth and grace. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Love God and Rejoice in God” - Matthew 22: 36-38 and Nehemiah 8: 10

Family Activity: Go on a treasure hunt. Ask each member of your family, if they were going to hunt for something they treasure most, what would it be? How is that thing a gift from God?