TALENT/S AND TREASURE/S WISELY ON CHRISTIAN’s ABC’s

11- 05- 10 MI DAILY DEVOTION (I Corinthians 4:1- 2) “M”- MANAGE YOUR TIME, TALENT/S AND TREASURE/S WISELY ON CHRISTIAN’s ABC’s

1- “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2- Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

Have you ever wondered how much time, talents and treasure/s are being wasted every day? If the Philippines have 91, 983,000 in population and according to July 2009 census; the Philippines has 7.6% unemployment rate. It means you are talking of about more or less 6,990,708 of jobless people of which most of them could be bystanders and they’re not doing anything. If each of them would loss 60 minutes each day; it would be 1,440 minutes in 24 hours for doing nothing, just imagine how much time are being lost and were spent for nothing. It would approximately be about 419, 442,480 for all of them. I can’t just imagine the wasted times and wasted opportunities that these young people have missed. There people on some parts of the world who are idle for hours or days. Wasted times and days!

There are those who have all the talents in the world, but they just don’t know how to get to their destination. They don’t know how to reach that goal/s. No one motivates them to pursue their dream/s and ambition/s. No one gave them the opportunity or at least gave them a try. There was no challenge for them. They don’t have the guts to step up into the next level. They wasted their talents because no one opens the door for them or at least show an interest. They have talents, but they have no clue and may be they don’t know how to manage their talents and their time. Some young people and church members, their talents got confined in a box, their own box. Some are just afraid to step up or step out of their box. One of the ministries of the Music Prescription is to develop some talents, because we know what it means to be alone out there.

How about your treasures? What is your treasure/s? The question could be who is your treasure/s? Do you manage your treasure/s according to God’s perspective and according to God’s will; God’s way and God’s Word? (Matthew 6:19- 21) 19- “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20- But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21- For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

“L”- LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF ON CHRISTIAN’s ABC’s

11- 04-10 MI DAILY DEVOTION (Deuteronomy 6:4-6)

“L”- LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF ON CHRISTIAN’s ABC’s

4- “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5- And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6- And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:”

The intellectuals during the time of Jesus asked Him a very catchy question concerning His passion, which is LOVE. The Lord who set an example for us to follow being a Bible and God centered man answered them with grace which was actually from the Old Testament- (Mark 12:30- 31) 30- “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31- And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” And these verses were actually taken from the Old Testament. (Deuteronomy 6:4-6)

How would it be like to have a shaky husband and wife relationship? You are sleeping in the same bed, eat from the same table and sit on the same car and your heart is actually grieving, because you hate your spouse so much. It’s sleeping with the enemy. What would you feel if you don’t see your husband or your wife expressed their feelings? It’s natural to an average and normal person to express their love to their love ones or love life. If you love your spouse, it’s not a big deal for you express that love in many ways, even in public. Your spouse and other family members are your closest neighbors and not your next door neighbors. (John 14:15) “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Do you keep His Word and Obedient to Him?

According to Henry Drummond, “To love abundantly is to live abundantly, and to love forever is to live forever.” “On the last analysis, then, love is life. Love never faileth and life never faileth so long as there is love.” “You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments that stand out, the moments when you have really lived, are the moments when you have done things in a spirit of love.”
“Treasure the love you receive above all. It will survive long after your gold and good health have vanished.” Og Mandino
The best example of a good neighbor and the best example of “loving your neighbor” is in (Luke 10:26- 37) as shared by Jesus to His listeners. The question would be; “…And who is my neighbour?” in verse 29- “But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?” The answer is in verse 37- “And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.”             

“K”- KNOWLEDGE IS IMPORTANT; OBTAIN IT! IN CHRISTIAN’s ABC’s

11- 03- 10 MI DAILY DEVOTION (Proverbs 1:4- 7)

“K”- KNOWLEDGE IS IMPORTANT; OBTAIN IT! IN CHRISTIAN’s ABC’s

4- “To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. 5- A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: 6- To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. 7- The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Knowledge can be obtained anytime, anywhere by anyone. Knowledge is just a click away. Back then, to obtain knowledge will cost you so much money considering the prices of the books, encyclopedia and education. Today, we have so much information on the Internet, at school and even by just watching the informative programs on TV such as Discovery channel. Obtaining knowledge is such a wide range or scope because of the tons of information out there. But one of the questions would be, “Do we have the full knowledge of God and His Word?” One of the best ways to know God and to have the full knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ is to know His written Words of wisdom and knowledge which is the Holy Bible. (II Peter 3:18) “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” We have so many ways and sources in obtaining knowledge. We listen to instruction, we read and understand as to obtain it. According to Solomon in the Book of (Proverbs 1:7) “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” So what he really wanted to say as I paraphrased King Solomon’s words were; our reverence or our desire to highly honor God is the starting point of true knowledge. All other knowledge will only be preceded after we have the fear of God; our hearts and minds are in holy reverence and in awe of Him. It’s nothing more, nothing less principles. The world has to know Him first to obtain true wisdom and knowledge. (Philippians 3:8- 9; 2:5) 8- “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9- And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”

“J”- JESUS FIRST BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE ON “THE CHRISTIAN’s ABC’s”

11- 02- 10 MI DAILY DEVOTION (Matthew 6:33)

“J”- JESUS FIRST BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE ON “THE CHRISTIAN’s ABC’s”

33- “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

It is true that our daily cares is very distracting to our daily service to God. The Lord Jesus Christ warned His disciples of the worries of life, which can cause an opposite shift to their focus from faith to fear and from trusting to worrying. The wealth of this world which are temporal are destroying the faith and the homes of many Christians and the non- believers as well into decay and self-sufficiency. Matthew Henry said, “Take no thought for the morrow, for the time to come. Be not anxious for the future, how you shall live next year, or when you are old, or what you shall leave behind you. As we must not boast of tomorrow, so we must not care for to-morrow, or the events of it. God has given us life, and has given us the body.”

Jesus said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God…” It means that we must make His Kingdom our focus and priority. We have to be Kingdom focus. As one preacher said, “Make it be (God’s Kingdom) your business…” If we make God’s Kingdom our priority, then we will have His provision and if we make God’s righteousness our passion, then we will have His providence. Our topic is Jesus first before anything else and let me add to that; Jesus first before anybody else. Christ must be first in everything and everyone. When the poor widow put God and His Word first in her needs and in her life; the Lord honored her faithfulness. (I Kings 17:8- 16) When the women in (II Kings 4:1- 37) honored the Lord and His Word; God blessed them more than their expectations. Faithfully Offer Christ your Unconditional Service. (FOCUS)

Faithfully serve God and He will take care of your needs. (Matthew 6:31- 32) 31- “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32- (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 34- Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

“I”- INTRODUCE CHRIST TO SOMEONE IN “CHRISTIAN’s ABC’s”

11- 01- 10 MI DAILY DEVOTION (John 1: 40- 49)

“I”- INTRODUCE CHRIST TO SOMEONE IN “CHRISTIAN’s ABC’s”

40- “One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41- He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42- And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. 43- The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. 44- Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45- Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 46- And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. 47- Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48- Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.”

Have you ever had a friend who is in business and you excitedly introduced him/her to another friend for networking or because he/she is an expert in his/her field.  You may know a friend who could really be of help to your friends or family who are in needs and you were really eager to introduce him/her to them, because you know that they can get help from him/her. By now, I assumed you got my point already. If you are thinking of you as a Christian should excitedly and intentionally introduce Christ to your friends and love ones who need Jesus and salvation; then you’re absolutely right! If we’re proud to introduce someone who is highly intellectual, someone who has a good position in the Government or company; why can’t we be proud of introducing the King of kings and Lord of lords to someone or to a friend? Our text talks about the Lord and his disciples’ networking for salvation. Meditate on Paul’s writing from the Book of (Romans 1:16) “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

H- “HAVE A QUIET TIME WITH GOD” IN CHRISTIAN’s ABC’s

10- 31- 10 MI DAILY DEVOTION (Psalm 46:8- 11)

H- “HAVE A QUIET TIME WITH GOD” IN CHRISTIAN’s ABC’s

8- “Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. 9- He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. 10- Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 11- The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”

What do we mean of “having a quiet time with God”? People won’t understand it when you talk about “having a quiet time with the Lord”. People know Yoga, Meditation and other transcendental meditations, but not with Quiet time. Quiet time is a common word in the Christian circle, but it’s sad to say that it’s not really a common practice. Bible reading, prayer and daily devotion is more common, but not a common practice either. Why is quiet time with God is needful, important and a must to a daily Christian living? First, when Joseph was in the process of God’s molding and preparations; God put him in the pit so Joseph could be alone with God. God was preparing Joseph for a greater responsibilities and blessings. It was from being a delivery boy for his brethren to a greater deliverance of a fallen Nation. (Genesis 37: 23-24). Secondly, when Elijah was being prepared by the Lord to a greater ministry and miracles; God took him to a secluded place to be alone with God. (I Kings 17: 1- 9). Thirdly, when God took Jeremiah to a Potter’s house so he could be alone with God while he was being prepared of the Lord like a clay and caused him to go through the breaking for a great revival and repentance of the Nation (Jeremiah 18). The Lord Jesus Christ when He went into a desert place to be alone with the Father and when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane as the Father ushered Him to Calvary to be Crucified. (Mark 6:31- 32; Matthew 26:36) “31- And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. 32- And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.” 36- “Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.”

“THAT ONE THING IS THE RIGHT THING…”

10- 30- 10 MI DAILY DEVOTION (Luke 10: 38- 42)

“THAT ONE THING IS THE RIGHT THING…”

38- “Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39- And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40- But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41- And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42- But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Christianity is full of choices and decisions. There are choices and decisions that we have to take that will either make us or break us. To sit at the feet of the King of kings and the Lord of lords is absolutely necessary and an opportunity. We ought to live a balanced Christian life. It is good to be like Martha at some days and in some point, but don’t forget to be a Mary on another point or at all times. Why is it that this one thing is the right thing? First- It sets our priority right. Our Salvation, Security in Jesus and Service.  (John 10:9- 10) 9- “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10- The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Secondly- You will sit with Jesus and learn from Him. (Matthew 11: 29) “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Our third point which could be the next thing that we can accomplish, as we do that one thing which is the right thing is; you will have the opportunity to serve Him through our church, family, work place or ministry. The Lord will also give us success in our Dreams and Desires for Him and for His glory. Let us learn from the Psalmists in (Psalm 37:4) “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. And notice the encouragement of the prophet Joel to us from the Book of (Joel 2: 28) “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:”