THE PURIFYING BLOOD OF JESUS!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 29, 2019.

SUBJECT : THE PURIFYING BLOOD OF JESUS!

Memory verse: 

“Whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,

" 

(Romans 3 vs 25.)

READ: Revelation 7 vs 9 - 17:

7:9: After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, people, and tongues, standing before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands,

7:10: and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and unto the Lamb!
7:11: All the angels stood round the throne, and the elders and the four creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God,
7:12: saying: “Amen! Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be to our God for ever and ever. Amen.”
7:13: Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”
7:14: And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
7:15: Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them.
7:16: They shall hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat;

7:17: for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

INTIMATION:

Sin is a moral evil, a transgression of God’s will, or rebellion against God’s laws. It is a perversion of heart culminating into wrongdoing and committing of offense, thereby missing the expected mark of an upright moral life. And sin alienates us from God; our relationship with God is severed. And if allowed to continue or stay, will completely lead to our permanent separation from God, our eventual destruction.

God, in His infinite mercy, benevolence, and love, made a provision for our reconciliation to Himself through the sacrifice of His Son’s life for the sin of the whole world: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3 vs 16.) Christ died in our place, for our sins. God is justifiably angry at sinners. They have rebelled against Him and cut themselves off from His life-giving power. But God declares Christ’s death, the shedding of His blood, to be the appropriate, designated sacrifice for our sin. Christ then stands in our place, having paid the penalty of death for our sin, and He completely satisfies God’s demands. His sacrifice brings pardon, deliverance, and freedom.

The passage we read today gives us the glimpse of the believers cleansing by the purifying blood of Jesus, and their final rest with God in His place. The blood of Jesus washes us clean from sin’s stubborn stain, and it is the only remedy available to mankind. It is difficult to imagine how blood could make any cloth white, but the blood of Jesus Christ is the world’s greatest purifier because it removes the stain of sin, no matter how deep the stain. White symbolizes sinless perfection or holiness, which can be given to people only by the death of the sinless Lamb of God on our behalf. This is a picture of how we are saved through faith in what Christ has wrought for us in redemption. 

All who have been faithful through the ages are singing before God’s throne. Their tribulations and sorrows are over: no more tears for sin, for all sins are forgiven; no more tears for death, for all believers have been resurrected to die no more. The multitude in heaven is composed of all those who remained faithful to God throughout the generations. God includes and protects each of all the believers, and they are all guaranteed a place in His presence. 

God will provide for His children’s needs in their eternal home where there will be no hunger, thirst, or pain, and He will wipe away all tears. When you are suffering or torn apart by sorrow, take comfort in this promise of complete perfection and relief. The believers come through their times of suffering by remaining loyal to God. Because they remain faithful, God will give them eternal life with Him.

God says, “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow, though they are red like crimson they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1 vs 18.) Crimson was the color of a deep-red permanent dye, and its deep stain was virtually impossible to remove from clothing. The stain of sin seems equally permanent, but God can remove sin’s stain from our lives, if we are willing and obedient. Christ will forgive and remove our most indelible stains through His purifying blood.

Christianity is unique in that no good deed that we do will make us right with God. No amount of human achievement or personal goodness will close the gap between God’s moral perfection and our imperfect daily performance. People try many methods to remove the guilt of sin—good deeds, intellectual pursuits, and even casting blame on others. Good deeds are important, but they will not earn us eternal life. But we are saved only by trusting in what Jesus Christ has done for us; purifying us from the stain of sin through His blood. Have you had the guilt of sin removed in the only way possible? 

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You most precious Redeemer for the gift of Your Son to the World as a propitiation for our sins. With His blood He has purified all who put their trust in Him as Lord and Savior. Endue me with the spirit of raw obedience to Him, in Jesus’ most precious Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE BANE OF COMPROMISED FAITH!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2019.

SUBJECT : THE BANE OF COMPROMISED FAITH!

Memory verse: 

“But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

" 

(Revelation 2 vs 14.)

READ: Second Peter 2 vs 15 - 16:

2:15: They have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

2:16: but he was rebuked for his iniquity; a dumb donkey speaking with man's voice restrained the madness of the prophet.

INTIMATION:

Compromised faith gives up part of something it believes in. Obedience to rules of engagement is incomplete. A right relationship with God is based on our faith—the heartfelt inner confidence that God is who He says He is and does what He says He will do. This occasions sincere and complete obedience to His laws. Unfortunately, the cares of this world—possessions, pleasures, power etc—have continued to be a bane of many having a right relationship with God, compromising our faith in Him. Lack of faith in God leads to many problems. This invariably, happens when we take over for God, trying to make His promise come true through efforts that are not in line with His specific directions. 

The passage we read today, is about Balaam, one of those noteworthy Old Testament characters who, though not one of God’s chosen people, was willing to acknowledge that the Lord was indeed a powerful God. But he did not believe in the Lord as the only true God. He faith in God was compromised. His story exposes the deception of maintaining an outward facade of spirituality over a corrupt inward life. Balaam was a man ready to obey God’s command as long as he could profit from doing so. The mixture of motives—obedience and profit—eventually led to Balaam’s death. Although he realized the awesome power of Israel’s God, His heart was occupied with the wealth he could gain in Moab. 

Balaam entered his prophetic role seriously, but his heart was mixed. He had some knowledge of God, but not enough to forsake his magic and turn wholeheartedly to God. Although the earlier stories recorded in Numbers 22 vs 1 - 24 vs 25 portrayed Balaam as obedient to God, but eventually his evil motives and desire for money won out (Numbers 25 vs 1 - 3; 31 vs 16). He couldn’t resist the tempting pull of money and idolatry. Haven compromised his faith, he used religion for personal advancement, a sin that God does not take lightly. And he caused the children of Israel great harm. 

The consequences of Balaam’s compromised faith to the Israelites was recorded In Numbers 31 vs 16, the Scripture says, “Look, these women caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the Lord in the incident of Poer, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.” And in the Book of Jude, the Scripture says, “Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.” (Jude 11.) 

Jude gives three examples of men of compromised faith who did whatever they wanted: Cain, who murdered his brother out of vengeful jealousy (Genesis 4 vs 1 - 16); Balaam, who prophesied out of greed, not out of obedience to God’s command (Numbers 22 - 24); Korah, who rebelled against God’s divinely appointed leaders, wanting the power for himself (Numbers 16 vs 1 - 35). These stories illustrate attitudes that are typical of those who compromise their faith in God—pride, selflessness, jealousy, greed, lust for power, and disregard of God’s will. Their outward appearance and actions—pious, church attendance, prayer, good deeds—do not reflect their inner conviction and commitment to God. 

Our society is adorned with the likes of Balaam; people who have compromised their faith: pastors, prophets, apostles, teachers, and laity. The cares of this world have a great pull on such persons, that they pick and choose what, and what not to believe or obey in God’s laws. Many believers live through the same process. Who and what we are will somehow come to the surface, destroying any masks we may have used in order to cover up our real selves. Outwardly we appear pious, but inwardly harboring sinful desires. Efforts spent in keeping up appearances would be much better spent on finding the answer to sin in our lives. We can avoid Balaam’s mistake by facing ourselves and realizing that God is willing to accept us, forgive us, and literally make us over from within.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of un-compromised faith in You, that I will have an unfettered right relationship with You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

RAISING YOUR CHILDREN. OPEN. HEAVEN

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL

DATE: FRIDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER 2019

THEME: RAISING YOUR CHILDREN


MEMORISE:
And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children. Isaiah  54:13


READ: 1 Samuel  2:27-33

2:27 And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?  2:28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?  2:29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?  2:30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.  2:31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.  2:32 And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.  2:33 And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.


MESSAGE

Parents are stewards to whom God has entrusted children for proper care, and He expects to get a good report of their performance in this assignment. In essence, every parent is a caretaker of his or her children. As a parent, how are you carrying out this delicate assignment? Are you handling it with levity of putting in all the effort it requires? Modernisation is fast eroding good culture in our children. Many parents in the name of modernisation put tight and revealing clothes on their little children when they are going out. How do you expect little girls like that to dress when they become adults? Many parents complain about their teenage children's choice of clothes and level of sexual exposure, without realising that they are the ones who caused it all. These days, some parents claim they don't want to "force a religion" on their children, saying they want them to choose for themselves; so, they go to church and leave their children at home sleeping. However, when it comes to education, they force their children to wake up early to go to school. Can't you see that the devil is already deceiving you into placing your child in his hands? How can you say your life is better because you met Jesus Christ, yet you want to leave your child to possibly choose something else? Ensure your children go to church and that they read their Bibles. Introduce them to the One who died to save their souls, doing the best you can to ensure that they are saved, and trust God to keep them in the light when they are old enough to be on their own.


It is unfortunate that the devil has also started deceiving people into thinking that using the rod on a child is wrong. You may not agree with me, but I know that God's word is never wrong. Proverbs  23:13-14 says:

"Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell."

In fact, the word of God says if you don't use the rod on your child, then it means you hate that child (Proverbs 13:24). There is a difference between child abuse and chastising a child. You can withhold the cane and still abuse that child, whereas you can use a cane and correct in love. Let us get it clear: our attention should be on correcting with love and not on whether you use the rod or not. The word of God is ever true: if you love your child, you will always instruct that child and will not spare the rod when it is necessary to discipline him or her. Put in your best efforts to ensure that you raise your children in God's way.


KEY POINT:
Are you training your children in God's way or the way society dictates?


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Kings 19-20, Daniel 8:15-9:2

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE


HYMN 16: GOD, GIVE US CHRISTIAN HOMES

1. God give us Christian homes
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught
Homes where the Master's will is sought
Homes crowned with beauty Thy love hath wrought
God give us Christian homes
God give us Christian homes

2. God give us Christian homes
Homes where the father is true and strong
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong
Homes that are joyous with love and song
God give us Christian homes
God give us Christian homes

3. God give us Christian homes
Homes where the mother, in caring quest
Strives to show others Your way is best
Homes where the Lord is an honoured guest
God give us Christian homes
God give us Christian homes

4. God give us Christian homes
Homes where the children are led to know
Christ in His beauty who loves them so
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow
God give us Christian homes
God give us Christian homes.

A SHORT STORY

A SHORT STORY
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There was an aged artist who lived in a small village. The man used to design beautiful artistic works to be sold at an attractive price.

One day, a poor man among the villagers challenged the old man saying: "You earn a lot of money from your handiwork but why don't you assist poor people in the village?

Can’t you see that the butcher is not as rich as you are, but he still shares free meat to the poor people in the village?

Also, look at the village baker. He is a poor man with a large family. Yet he gives the poor people free loaves of bread".

The artist did not respond angrily to the accusations. He only smiled.

The poor man was confused about the reaction of the artist so he left him and went out spreading rumors that the artist was so rich, but he was a selfish person who only accumulated wealth and refused to help the poor.

The villagers hated the old artist and they all forsook him.

The old artist became sick and could not do anything for himself but nobody among the villagers cared to visit him or helped him so he died a lonely old man.

The days passed by and the villagers observed that the butcher stopped free distribution of meat and the baker could not give the poor people free loaves of bread any more.

When the butcher and the baker were asked why they stopped helping the villagers, they said that: "the old artist used to donate money every month to pay for the free meat and bread to the poor people in the village. Now that he was dead, there was nobody to pay for the free food anymore"

Actually, many people may have wrong impressions and different opinions about you.

But do not allow any of them to influence or destroy who you are.

Do not pass judgment on anyone based on his physical appearance or what people say about him.

There are things about his personal life you do not know.
If you were privileged to know about them, your judgment would surely be different.

 A man died in a drinking- spot / dance hall.
 Another person died in the Church.
 If we are to judge them, we would say that the 1st man died a sinner and the 2nd man died a righteous man.

But the 1st man entered the drinking spot to preach against sin and the 2nd man entered the Church to steal from the church.

For this reason, you and I cannot decide who goes to heaven or who goes to hell.

Fear God in your privacy and fear God in the open.

Human physical appearance is just a deception therefore forgive people and ignore their short - comings.

Pray for one another.
Be good to everybody. And don't cut off your relationship with a person just because he does not please you.

Establish unity and harmony with all.

For the LORD Who created all souls, knows what each soul conceals.

May GOD Bless You all Amen from evangelist OLATUNBOSUN BOSEDE ISAAC  Good morning

WHAT WOULD JESUS JESUS SAY OF YOU

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2019.

SUBJECT : WHAT WOULD JESUS SAY OF YOU?

Memory verse: “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name out of the Book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels." (Revelation 3 vs 5.)

READ: Luke 12 vs 8 - 9:
12:8: Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God:
9 But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

INTIMATION:
Our true value is God’s estimate of our worth. How would Christ confess your name before His Father, and the angels of God? Jesus said, “Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God.” Anyone who confesses Jesus Christ (that is, publicly acknowledges faith in or declares allegiance to Him) will be acknowledged by Christ before His Father in heaven, and before the angels of God. We acknowledge Him when we (1) live moral, upright, Christ-honoring lives, (2) look for opportunities to share our faith with others, (3) help others in need, (4) take a stand for justice, (5) love others, (6) acknowledge our loyalty to Christ, and (7) use our lives and resources to carry out His desires rather than our own.

Now, considering the seven points above, how would you score or rate yourself? The points are not multiple choice or a pick and drop option, but rather an all-inclusive demand of any follower of Christ. In our memory verse, Jesus was admonishing the church in Sardis, He said to them, “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name out of the Book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels." To be “clothed in white” means to be set apart for God and made pure. Christ promises future honor and eternal life to those who stand firm in their faith. For such believers, their names are registered in the Book of Life. This book symbolizes God’s knowledge of who belongs to Him. All such people are guaranteed a listing in the Book of Life and are introduced to the hosts of heaven as belonging to Christ.

For those who reject Jesus, they will be sentenced to eternal condemnation, and they will also be denied by Him before the Father in heaven, and the angels of God. What a tragedy! Rejecting Christ will guarantee an eternity of shame later. We deny Jesus when we (1) hope no one will find out we are Christians, (2) decide not to speak up for what is right, (3) are silent about our relationship with God, (4) blend into society, and (5) accept our culture’s non-Christian values. We can reject Jesus now and be rejected by Him at His second coming, or we can accept Him now and be accepted by Him then.

Have you ever thought of such idea or bothered about who Jesus would say you are? Interestingly, this should be the most important question in everyone’s life, and requires a sincere answer. This is because of the Day—the judgement Day—when every one will appear before Christ; ”For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what He has done, whether good or bad.” (Second Corinthians 5 vs 10.) “As it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9 vs 27).

Christ will judge each and everyone of us at His second coming, both the living and the dead, and He will reward us for how we have lived. Although judgment is already working in our lives, there will be a future, final judgment when Christ returns (Matthew 25 vs 31 - 46), and everyone’s life will be reviewed and evaluated. For the believers, their eternal destiny is secure, but Jesus will look at how they handled gifts, opportunities, and responsibilities in order to determine their heavenly rewards. God’s gracious gift of salvation does not free us from the requirement of faithful obedience. Everybody, Christians and non-Christians,  must give account of how they lived before Christ.

All believers in Christ should strive and endure to the end, that Jesus could say of you, “I know your works. See I have set before You an open door, and no one can shut it, for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” (Revelation 3 vs 8.) Enduring to the end is not a way to be saved but the evidence that a person is really committed to Jesus. Persistence is not a means to earn salvation; it is the by-product of a truly devoted life.

Prayer: Abba Father, Give me the grace to lead a life pleasing You at all times, that the Son of Man will confess my name before You, and Your angels, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.
PRAISE THE LORD!

WISDOM AND DEATH. OPEN HEAVEN

OPEN HEAVENS BY PST. ENOCH. A. ADEBOYE

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 26

WISDOM & DEATH

MEMORISE:
For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
Proverbs  1:32

READ:
Proverbs  8:32-36
8:32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.  8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.  8:34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.  8:35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.  8:36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Kings 18, Daniel 8:1-14

MESSAGE
Rejecting wisdom is a pathway that leads to death. Any human endeavour that is not founded on wisdom will sooner or later die a natural death. This is the reason why the Bible says in Proverbs  4:7:

"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."

Why does the absence of wisdom result in death? I believe the story of the fox, a cunning animal known for its wisdom, should suffice in illustrating this. The lion was feared as the king of all animals in the jungle. However, he had become terribly old and sick and could no longer chase down his prey, so he devised a scheme to help him get his bfood with ease. He caught a small rabbit and assured the rabbit that he would nhot kill it, if the rabbit would go and inform all the other animals in the jungle that he had changed from being wicked and was now very friendly. The rabbit delivered this message and soon enough, all the animals udecided to visit the lion one after the other to convey ntheir "get-well-soon" greetings to him. However, every animal that went did not return. When it was the fox's turn to visit, he did not jgo inside the lion's den; u rather, he stayed outside and greeted the lion from a distance. The lion said to the fox, "Oh my friend, Mr. Fox, you also came? That's very thoughtful of you; please come in! Why are you greeting me from so far away?" The fox replied, "O king of the jungle, live forever! I am okay outside here, thank you!" Startled, the lion asked, "How do you mean you are comfortable in the sun?" The fox answered, "To be frank with you, O king, I really doubt your sudden change of attitude, and I fear that you are not genuinely sick!" While the fox was saying all this, he kept retreating further and further away from the lion's den. "When I got here, I saw the footprint of those who came in to greet you, but I cannot see any footprints coming out!" said the fox, and he fled for his dear life. This was how wisdom preserved the fox from ending up in the belly of the lion.

I encourage you to embrace wisdom in all you do. God's word is the source of all wisdom, instilling godly fear in our hearts. A lover of wisdom is a lover of life, and to be wise is to embrace the principles of God's word and the type of lifestyle it teaches. Doing so means death will be far away from you. Is wisdom your friend?

PRAYER POINT:
Father, I believe in the effectiveness of Your wisdom to guarantee life, please fill me with the wisdom that distinguishes a person in all areas of endeavour.

HYMN 3
1. When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His word
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey

Chorus:
Trust and obey,
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.

2. Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt nor a fear
Not a sigh nor a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

3. Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief nor a loss,
Not a frown nor a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.

4. But we never can prove
The delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favour He shows,
And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

5. Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we'll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do
Where He sends we will go
Never fear, only trust and obey.

TRUE RICHES IN CHRIST

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 2019.

SUBJECT : TRUE RICHES ARE IN CHRIST!

Memory verse: “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked." (Revelation 3 vs 17.)

READ: Luke 12 vs 15 - 21:
12:15: And He said to them, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
12:16: Then He spoke a parable to them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.
12:17: And he thought within himself, saying, “What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?”
12:18: So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.
12:19: And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have much goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.”
12:20: But God said unto him, “Fool! this night your soul will be required of you: then whose will those things be, which you have provided?”
12:21: “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

INTIMATION:
God’s measure of success is different from ours. Most people think that wealth is a sign of God’s approval, but true riches and good success is a function of our relationship and fellowship with Him. God calls us to faith, not to affluence. Character is more important to Him than our purses. Knowing this truth, we should be concerned about how we get our wealth. Some believers assume that numerous material possessions are a sign of God’s spiritual blessing.

In our contemporary society, people think that true riches connote having money, possessions, wealth, power and so on, hence their relentless desire to get ahead in pursuance of these things. But true riches are inherent in observing God's laws and being strong and courageous to obey, and follow His leading. You may not be rich by world's standards, but you will be rich in God's eyes, and His opinion is final and lasts forever. If you accumulate wealth only to enrich yourself, with no concern for helping others, you will enter eternity empty-handed. Jesus challenges us to think beyond earthbound goals and to use what we have been given for God’s kingdom. Faith, service, and obedience are the way to become rich toward God.

We find true wealth by developing our spiritual life, not by developing our financial assets. God is interested in what is lasting (our souls), not in what is temporary (our money and possessions). What you have in your heart, not your bank account, matters to God and endures for eternity.

The Scripture in Revelation 3 vs 17 - 18, Jesus said to the Laodiceans church, “Because you say, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” Wealth, luxury, and ease can make people feel confident, satisfied, and complacent. But no matter how much you possess or how much money you make, you have nothing if you don’t have a vital relationship with Christ.

Laodicea was known for its great wealth. What the Laodiceans could see and buy had become more valuable to them than what is unseen and eternal. Christ told the Laodiceans to buy their gold from Him (real spiritual treasures). The city was proud of its cloth and dyeing industries; Christ told them to buy white garments from Him (His righteousness). Laodicea prided itself on its precious eye salve that healed many eye problems; Christ told them to buy salve for their eyes so they could see the truth (John 9 vs 39). Christ was showing the Laodiceans that true value was not in material possessions but in a right relationship with God. Their possessions and achievements were valueless compared with the everlasting future of Christ’s kingdom.

Jesus said, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possess.” (Luke 12 vs 15.) Jesus says that the good life has nothing to do with being wealthy, the exact opposite of what society usually says. A truly fulfilled life is living in a relationship with God and doing His work. If you are trying to find fulfillment only through riches, wealth may be the only reward you will ever get—and it does not last. We should not seek comfort now at the expense of eternal life. Our heavenly rewards will be the most accurate reflection of what we have done on earth, and they will be far greater than we can imagine. How does your current level of wealth affect your spiritual desire? Instead of centering your life primarily on comfort and luxury, find your true riches in Christ.

Prayer: Abba Father, You have put eternity in our hearts. Engrace me to be eternity conscious that I may serve and obey You to obtain Your crown of life, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.
PRAISE THE LORD!