STICK WITH THE FORMULA

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

Hebrews 13:16 (TLB)

16 Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are very pleasing to him.

I touched a little yesterday on the importance of “taking interest” in others; to seeing opportunities to serve and then seizing them. 

That can be a “tough” assignment some days.  I mean it is true that we will have days when we feel we are the ones to be served rather than do the serving.  Sometimes our needs do surface and cause us to feel like putting GOD and others to the back burner.

But GOD makes it clear that if we “stay with HIS formula”; of seeking HIM first and placing the needs of others ahead of our own, to doing GOOD and sharing, that “our needs and our interests” will be covered.

Matthew 6:33 (NCV)

33 Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well.

Joyce Meyer puts it this way:

“Is there any real purpose in being alive if all we are going to do is get up every day and live only for ourselves?

Live your life to help others. Give & live selflessly.”

I believe we all intellectually grasp this instruction of serving GOD and serving others.  I believe we fully grasp that those are Christ’s fundamental instructions for all of us. 

Mark 12:33

One must love God with all his heart, all his mind, and all his strength. And one must love his neighbor…

Yet living them out, doing the good as encouraged by the writer of Hebrews, those simple instructions are quickly lost on our “me first”, “I am number one” culture.  Yet I am confident that when we just listen to the Lord and obey these simple commands, the blessings we so deeply desire for our lives will quickly and abundantly come to us.

1 Peter 3:9 (MSG)

…bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.

When we serve GOD and the interests of others GOD pours into our lives all that we could ever desire or dream.  He promised.

Deuteronomy 15:10-11 (MSG)

Give freely and spontaneously. Don’t have a stingy heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers God, your God’s, blessing in everything you do, all your work and ventures...

So the message today is just about the same as yesterday.  Embrace this spirit of “blessing”, this spirit of investing in others, this spirit of doing good and making sacrifices for those around you.  Give of yourself. Give of your talent. Give of your time.

Jesus will be pleased!

Mark 4:24-25

“Listen carefully to what I am saying—and be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.

 

I love you all!

HAVE A BLESSED Day!

Freedom Church

 

Pastor GDelaney