The Daily Dose

Fellow workers

“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:9

I really appreciate this verse because it reminds me once again that I am not alone in my labor for the Lord.  God has a plan and has a place for me in His kingdom work.  This passage is wonderful because it shows that we work right alongside with God.  He hasn’t left us here to figure it all out on our own.  He is working in and through us!  The phrase “fellow worker” actually means co- worker or colleague.  It means we are working on the same project together, the Kingdom of Heaven.  We are called by God to work right beside Him building and increasing His Kingdom.  What a privilege and honor it is to be a fellow worker with God our Father. 

When we were born again, we receive Jesus as Savior, yes, and we became part of God’s family, but we also became a fellow worker with Him.  He began right away training us up by working right beside us, empowering us to get in the place of growth and surrounding us with others that help keep us close to Him.  Amazingly, because we have always done things our own way, we often start out in our walk with God thinking we can continue down that same path and bring God with us.  The truth is, once Jesus is the Lord of our lives, He is the one that is leading now, and we follow His path.  We don’t have to get His blessing on our plan because His plan is already blessed.  We just need to be a doer of His word to begin walking with Him day by day.  As we do, He leads us in His perfect path of righteousness.

Today’s reading talks about the grace God has given us to build His kingdom and step into the place as a brick in the house of the Lord.  Jesus laid the foundation along with the Holy Spirit.  Now we are building on that foundation and our works are the evidence of our labor.  What we are building will be put through the fire and tests of life.  All that is pure and done according to His way of love will remain.  Any selfish ambition will be burned off and fade away forever.  Work with your Heavenly Father in such a way that your labor lasts for all eternity.

Today I want to encourage you to examine your heart’s motive.  Are you in your called position?  Are you walking on God’s blessed path, or trying to get Him to bless your plans?  We are fellow workers with God when we focus on continuing the building He started long ago.  We have a firm foundation built by Jesus the chief cornerstone. Now we are working with God to complete this project!  Discover your place today by asking God where you fit into His plan.

Today’s scripture reading:  1 Corinthians 3:9-17

9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.

10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.

11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Of the flesh

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.  1 Corinthians 3:1

In the past you may have likely heard the word “carnal” defined by words like sensual, erotic lustful and lascivious. However, looking at this word in today’s scripture it simply means of this physical world.  Paul is telling the Corinthian church that instead of seeing life from a spiritual perspective, they are still living by what they see and feel in the natural physical world.  That is why they still have things like envy, strife and divisions in their lives and in the church.  He emphasizes to them that they are living like baby believers instead of growing in their faith as he had expected and been praying for them to do.

This speaks to me because I totally get it. It is so easy to go through life focused on what is going on around me.  If I didn’t purposefully set time aside each day to talk to God and consider His ways and His plans, I would so be caught up in my own thoughts and feelings.  As it is now, I often find myself hurt or offended because of what someone else has said or done.  It can be so easy to be knocked off course when I am moved by the circumstances around me.

Yet the church in Corinth was fighting over things such as who was more spiritual based on who they were learning from.  After hearing what Paul has to say about it, your spiritual strength has nothing to do with who you are listening to, it has to do with who gives the increase.  All the pastors and teachers we read and listen to are only watering the seed of God’s word that is planted in our heart.  It is the Holy Spirit that gives the increase of strength and grows our faith.  These feelings of envy, strife and divisions are really signs in our lives that this is an area that we need to grow through these feelings into a mature child of God.  To stay stagnant holding on to hurts and offenses simply means you are not growing but are still behaving as a baby.

The solution is in cultivating your relationship with your Heavenly Father through His Spirit that lives inside you.  There are many ways you can do this.  Prayer is probably the most effective way to press into God.  Just by spending time talking to Him and asking Him to show you things.  Ask Him what scripture you will need for today.  Open up the Word of God and spend some time getting to know Him better by what He has already promised.  Praying in the Sprit and meditating His Word will also bring you much insight and grow your walk of faith.  Mostly, making a concentrated effort to connect with Him each day will impact your walk with Him in a positive way that will lead you to love more like He loves.

Today I want to encourage you to examine your spiritual walk.  Are you looking at life from an eternal perspective, or do you see things as if this world is the only factor to consider?  Set some time aside today to talk this over with the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and guidance.  Make a plan to grow your relationship with your Father in heaven and gain an eternal perspective in every area of your life.  Put away the childish hurt feelings from offenses and grow up in the love of God.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 3:1-4

1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.

2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;

3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?

4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?

Don’t Wander in Darkness

I have come as a light to shine in this dark world so that all who trust in me will no longer wander in darkness.  John 12:46

Have you ever felt like you were wandering around in the dark? Like somehow there was no purpose to this life except to get through another day?  Maybe you look around in the world and see so much pain, suffering and corruption that there doesn’t seem to be any hope of things ever changing for the better.  The world just seems to be getting darker and darker.  It is hard to watch people you love wandering around in the darkness with no end in sight.

In the remaining verses of John 12, Jesus begins talking very loudly so that everyone that is close to Him can hear His words.  Many times in scripture I see this phrase when I am reading: Then Jesus cried out and said.  When I read that, I stop to imagine exactly what that could have looked like?  It doesn’t mean that He started crying.  Other translations say: Jesus shouted to the crowds, Jesus shouted out passionately or Jesus loudly declared. The point is, Jesus publicly spoke up and told the multitudes that if anyone believed in Him, they also believe in God the Father in heaven.  He also said anyone who saw Him, has seen the Father in heaven.  Then He went on to tell the people that day that He came to be the light in the darkness.  This was very good news, because it was a very dark time in history, especially for the Jewish people.  Jesus came into the world to show people the way to no long wander in darkness and to have hope for a better future.

This message is still good news today because His light is still shining in the dark world that we live in.  You no longer have to wander around in the darkness, you can carry the light with you and in you.  When you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you receive the light inside.  As you begin to grow in your relationship with Him, the light inside you gets brighter and brighter.  The closer you are to Jesus, the clearer His light shines through you.  Soon you will be shiny enough to go into the darkness to help others that are wandering around.  You can point them to the truth of God love and kindness and the provision He made for all to walk out of the dark into His glorious light.

Today I want to encourage you to increase your shine by getting closer to Him.  Set aside quiet time with Him each morning so that you can get His direction and carry His peace and light with you through the day.  Spend time worshipping and filling up with His goodness so that it flows out of you onto others where ever you go.  If you have never received the light of His salvation in your life personally, do that today by praying the prayer below from your heart.  Jesus will come into your heart and into your life and walk closely with you until your light shines bright for all to see.

Pray: _{God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior.  I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me.  Please forgive my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new today.  I know Your Son, Jesus died for me.  I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead.  At this very moment, I accept, confess, and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward.  I now have a right relationship with God my Father through this salvation in the blood of Jesus. I thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to guide me and to empower me to accomplish the things You have planned for my life in Jesus’ name, Amen}

Today’s scripture reading: John 12:44-50

44 Then Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. 

45 And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. 

46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. 

47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 

48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. 

49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. 

50 And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”

Love the praise of God

For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.  John 12:43

Whose praise are you living for?  Who are you thinking about when you do the things you do.  Who is it that you are trying to please when you make decisions each day.  Is it people that have authority over you like your boss or some influential person you know?  Or maybe it is your spouse or even your children? For many people it is self that is most important.  Looking out for #1 is the motto that many people live by.

There were many people who followed and believed in Jesus when He lived in this world.  Some were disciples, some just wanted to see what was going to happen next.  Then there were the leaders of the synagogue, and the scripture says that many of those believed, but they did not want anyone to know because they would lose their position and their job.

It takes a very serious follower to regard pleasing God over what man will say and do.  To hold God’s over any earthly power even to the point of being let go from a place of security.  To turn away from the old way of living and the motive of personal gain is rarely the first consideration for most people.  The passage in Isaiah is quoted in today’s reading that the people of Jesus time would have their eyes blinded, and their hearts hardened so they could not see or understand and repent.

This is still going on today.  Many still are spiritually blind with hard hearts, but it doesn’t have to be that way.  You can decide today that the most important thing is how you finish your race.  The course set before you can be run in such a way that you receive God’s honor and God’s praise.  You can shift your priority from being recognized and glorified by people to the point that your heavenly Father will say to you “well done.”  The key is in your focus.  If you set your sights on things above, the plan and call for your life here in this world, you will not even notice who is watching around you.  Instead, you will have a heart that is running after God’s grace and goodness to share with others. Your eyes and focus will be fixed on pleasing Him. Turning your attention to God’s will and laying down your own agenda will give you a supernatural love for those around you.  When that happens, you will no longer be concerned with the praise of people, you will only care about getting that hurting soul to Jesus and bringing all the praise, honor and glory to Him.

Today I want to encourage you to soften your heart to the things and people He is calling you to.  Decide that the most important thing in this short life is to complete you mission in this world so that you can hear Him say “Well done” when you are finish.  Make the praise of God on your daily activities the number one priority for each day and make the choice to love the people around you more than making yourself of most importance.  This life is very short.  Even if you live 100 years, it will still be over in the blink of an eye.  Make the decision today to make every minute count for eternity.  Every step you take in this life can be an investment in your forever or it can also be a vapor that will fade away in the passing of time. The choice is up to you.

Today’s scripture reading: John 12:37-43

37 But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 

38 that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

39 Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again:

40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.”

41 These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him.

42 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 

43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

He was troubled

“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose, I came to this hour. John 12:27

Have you ever been on your way to an assignment that you were sure came directly from the Holy Spirit, but you felt nervous or afraid?  Maybe you made a decision to move forward in a direction that was His leading only to be met with setbacks and delays.  Sometimes the circumstances can actually feel like maybe you didn’t hear from God after all.  I have often found myself asking the question: “if it is God’s will it should just all fall into place or shouldn’t it be easy to complete the plan and mission He has for me?”

If we look at the life of Jesus, it is clear that God’s plan is not going to be simple, and it will require much sacrifice.  Jesus didn’t question God’s plan and He didn’t wonder that maybe He had gotten it wrong when the opposition came.  He recognized that it was all part of the plan and that the struggle made it necessary for Him to press in and depend more on His Father’s love and grace to get to His destination.  He had the hardest assignment that any person will ever have, and it was anything but easy all through His ministry.

This is good news for us today.  The good news is that we don’t have to wonder and question when the Holy Spirit points us in the direction of ministry.  We can know that we are heading the right way, and we can depend on needing help along the way.  If the plan of God on your life were easy, you would have not need to trust Him every step of every day.

In today’s reading Jesus is struggling with what He knows is coming up.  Even though He is still a couple of days away from the torment that He had to face, He is already starting to ask questions.  He admits that He is troubled, and He asks Himself the question of: “Should I ask my Father to save me from this mission?  Of course, not because this is the reason I have come into the world.”

This needs to be our response too.  When we are struggling to complete the assignment given, it is ok to be concerned and ask questions.  Ultimately though we need to recognize that the mission is the reason we have been given life and that we make the decision to get His grace and strength to complete it.  We will never have to suffer like Jesus did, but we will have to press through the tough times every day of our journey.

Today I want to encourage you to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteous plan for your life.  When you know God’s Spirit is pointing in a certain direction, first of all write it down along with a scripture that you asked Him for to remember when you have doubts.  When you do that, you will have an anchor to go back to when the questions and tough times come.  Next, instead of letting your feelings lead you, determine to ask Him for help when you are feeling like quitting.  Lastly, Thank Him for His presence with you every day of your life.  Walk out each step you take in this life in the power and grace that He has for you.  Then when you are faced with struggles and set backs you can say: “Should I ask for a different mission? No, this mission is the reason that I am here in this place right now.”  Go ahead and complete, down to the last detail, all that you have been called to.  Then when you are done in this world, you will be ready to face Him in the next.

Today’s scripture reading: John 12:27-36

27 “Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. 

28 Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”

29 Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”

30 Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. 

31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 

32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” 

33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die.

34 The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”

35 Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. 

36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

Maintain Focus

_{But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. John 12:23}

Focus is important in any mission in life.  It can be easy to get distracted with the cares that this world offers on a daily basis.  Something as simple as an unplanned circumstance or even a discouraging report can knock you off course.  It can take days to get back on track after a crisis hits and opposition is always a possibility when navigating this life.

In today’s reading, Jesus disciples brought Him the message that there were certain Greeks asking to see and talk with Him.  I don’t know if Jesus saw this news as a sign or prediction that the end was near, or even if He heard them. His response indicated that He was focused on what was about to happen and His purpose for coming into the world. He didn’t even acknowledge the news about the visitor. In fact, His response most certainly took them by surprise.

He answered the disciples by saying “unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But when it dies, it produces much grain.”  I am positive that the disciples were stunned at this response.  Not because it was so profound and deep, only because they had no idea what He was talking about, again.  I can just imagine them standing there processing Jesus’ words as He continued with: “He who loves his life will lose it and he who hates his life in this world will keep it.  Anyone who serves Me must follow Me and where I am, there my servant will be also.”

The disciples were undoubtedly confused and a little frustrated.  Now what were they supposed to tell the Greeks that were waiting to talk with Him?  They couldn’t go back and say: “Jesus said unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone.”  That doesn’t even make sense.  What they didn’t realize was that Jesus was already preparing His heart for His mission on the cross.  He was not being distracted by the visiting Greeks or even the feast that they had come there to celebrate.  He knew what His assignment was and as the day was approaching, He pressed in to get ready and get His team set up for what was about to go down.

What about you and me?  What are we doing today to prepare for our mission ahead.  Are we pressing in for direction and details or are we distracted by activities and holiday celebrations.  Events and festivals have their place, but the most important thing is that we are getting our assignment each day and walking out the purpose each one of us has been called to.  Don’t let the distractions of this world and life steal your attention away from what is really important.  Instead, determine to keep your focus on His planned path and walk in His grace to complete your journey.

Today I want to encourage you to set quiet time aside to press into the call of God on your life.  Take time to listen with your spirit to the things His Spirit is leading you to. Write out the plan or at least some details that He puts on your heart today.  Whether it is for this time or sometime in the future, you will find it easier to keep the course if you put your notes in a place that you can review them often.  Then when the not so good days come along, and they will, read over those plans and reinforce them in your heart to maintain your focus.  He will always be leading you to your next step, but it is up to you to take the time to get it.

Today’s scripture reading: John 12:20-26

20 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. 

21 Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.

23 But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 

24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 

25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 

26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

Fulfill His Plan

Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.” John 12:14-15

I was there.  I walked down the “Palm Sunday” Road.  Oh, it was nothing like it was in Jesus’ day.  But still, a very narrow alley with buildings on each side of the road.  It is paved now, but so tight it is actually very scary when oncoming vehicles come around the corners.  It’s rough terrain and down the side of Mt. Olivet.  I was excited in the morning as we stood on top of mount Zion over looking the temple mount, the place where Jesus will return. But as we began our descent, I quickly realized this walk was not going to be a stroll in the park.  We stopped at a couple of historic points on the way down and by the time we were heading up the far side into the city, it was HOT!  Even though it was still before 12 noon, the heat of the day was already on us. 

Jesus rode into the city on the colt of a donkey, which in my opinion would have made it an even more grueling journey.  In Luke’s account of this event, Jesus told His disciples to go into the village next to them and find the colt tied to a tree.  He said to bring it to Him and if anyone asked what they were doing taking their animal, to respond with “The Lord has need of it.”  The passage doesn’t actually say that the colt was returned, but there is no doubt in my mind that it was since it was only borrowed for that specific purpose.  Jesus only needed it to fulfill prophecy and His mission.  God had laid out a plan for His life and that is what He determined to be the most important thing of every day He lived in this world. Even to the detail of riding on a donkey.

God has a plan for you and me too.  Jesus could have made His trip into the city on foot like everyone else did, but He was fulfilling a scripture that had been written long ago about that very day.  Today He is at work fulfilling all that needs to be done before He returns, and it is written that many of these things would be done through the hands of His people. One of the last things He said before ascending into heaven to be with His Father was: “Go into all the world and tell the good news” Since Jesus no longer lives in this world, He has delegated this part of the plan to His people that still live here.  He has given each one of us gifts, talents and abilities with which to uniquely fulfill this calling.  He didn’t use His gifts and talents for His own profit and agenda, and He doesn’t expect us to either.

The Lord has needs us, not because He cannot do it Himself, but because that is the way He set it up so that He could partner with us through His Spirit.  In that way we can cover much more territory than one person could, and we get to walk closely with Him each day as we live out our mission.  It is a win/win scenario and one that I am honored to be a part of.  My salvation does not only include escaping eternal torment and separation from God, but it also gives me the benefit of walking out this life as part of His family working in the family business.  Like the Palm Sunday Road ride, it may be rough sometimes and there may be detours and things in the way at other points, but He is planning on us completing the journey and keeping Him along with you until all His work is done.

Today I want to encourage you to examine how you carry Him with you each day.  Do you say a quick prayer each morning and then never check in again the rest of the day or are you intentionally taking Him on your life journey every step of the way and getting your assignment for the day?  Recognize today that the Lord has a perfect plan for your life and then walk into that purpose of carrying His message to the world around you all the while using the gifts and abilities, He has empowered you with.  Ensure that your life journey will be comprised of all the plans and details He created you for and when you come to the end of your time here, you will step into eternity knowing that you have done well!

Today’s scripture reading: John 12:12-19

12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 

13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!”

14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:

15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.

17 Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. 

18 For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. 

19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”

Which one are you?

But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also.  John 12:10

Here we go again.  The Pharisees and the chief priests are up to no good once again.  Now they are plotting to kill Lazarus who just got back from the dead.  Again, they were jealous and afraid because now even more people were leaving the priests and following Jesus.

As I have been going through the gospels and now through the book of John, I noticed a recurring theme.  There are the same groups of people in almost every account that we read.  In fact, the same kind of people are around even today.  Let me explain.

First of all there is Jesus, the Savior of the world and the One who loves us all.  The One who died, raised up from the dead, ascended in to heaven and sits at the right hand of God for ever. Then there are the disciples who follow after Jesus and do the work of His ministry, doing the things that Jesus leads them to.  The next group are those coming to see and hear Jesus.  Most of them do not know Him yet but have heard of Him and are curious.  Then there are the people that are sick, oppressed, blind or lame.  These have heard of the miracles through a testimony and also want to receive His healing and salvation.  Lastly, there are the religious ones.  Those who are trying to keep control and rule over the Jewish people.

So now, I am asking myself, which one of these am I today?  I know I am not Jesus and although I do come to Him with trouble and sickness sometimes, I believe I am a disciple.  I hope to be a help to Him in the ministry of the Kingdom of Heaven.  I tell others of His love and goodness. I spread the news about the provision He has made for all to be saved and I spend time worshiping and learning from Him each day.  I do go to hear teaching at church each week, but I am not there to just observe objectively.  I am all in and want to have and encounter with Him in the corporate setting as well as in my one-on-one time with Him.

There is one more group that I didn’t list with the others.  That is the many that had no interest in God whatsoever.  They didn’t come out to see Jesus and they didn’t even go the priests when they needed something.  This is the crowd that believes they can handle it all on their own and take life as it comes at them.

Now I want to encourage you to decide which one you are.  I already know you are not Jesus and hopefully you do too.  Are you a disciple that is walking with Him each day of your life?  Or are you with the bunch who only shows up when there is a problem or pain that you need help with?  Maybe you are part of the assembly of religious leaders that are always looking for what people are doing wrong and trying to get them to do what you think is right for them.  Hopefully, you are not part of the crowd that doesn’t even think about it.  Decide today where you are right now and then begin to take steps closer to Him each day.  If you are already a disciple, take a step closer by spending quiet time with Him each day and then going regularly to a local church and serving.  If you are among those who only come to Him when there is a struggle or problem, break free from that bond by enjoying time in His presence each day in the good times and the bad. Begin interceding for others who may be hurting and sharing your testimony with the lost.  If you are of the religious sect that only wants to criticize, condemn and complain about those around you?  Turn around today and confess that you need to fill up your life with the love of God so that you can share it with others.  Lastly, if you just don’t care anything about the spiritual part of life but are reading the daily dose, I would ask that you continue to read each day to begin to realize the importance of finding out the purpose of your existence here in this world.  We only get one life to live!  Let’s be determined to live as closely to Him as we possibly can.  When you are at home and wherever you go.

Today’s scripture reading: John 12:9-11

9 Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. 

10 But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, 

11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

Waste?

“Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” John 12:5

Today I want to identify one of the ways you can recognize if you have this money obsession or covetous heart.  The verse for today is a passage that talks about Mary, Lazarus’ sister, anointing Jesus with the fragrant oil before His crucifixion.  Mary brought the most precious and expensive thing she owned and began pouring out this extravagant gift on Jesus.  Immediately Judas Iscariot became indignant with the excessiveness of the gift.  He wanted to talk about better ways this precious oil could have been used.  We know that his intentions were based in greed because the following verse says he didn’t care anything about the poor and that he was a thief.   He was thinking about how he could get his hands on that gift and what he would do with the proceeds.

It is very alarming to me when I hear people talking about how others spend their money.  It clearly reveals the evil intent that comes from loving money.  I have watched and even heard people say (when they see someone with expensive things) just what others should have done with their money instead of spending it on themselves.  “They could feed the poor, they could support missions”, but the truth is they have no idea what else that person may be supporting or using their finances for.  Jesus had no issue whatsoever with this extravagant gift and recognized it as a true locator of where her heart was.  He even said, “you have poor people with you every day, but I will only be here for a short time.”  He did not see this as a waste of money but that she was honoring Him with everything she had.

The fact is we have a very extravagant Heavenly Father, and He desires us to have good things.  He just doesn’t want “things” to have us.  He didn’t spare His most precious gift when He gave His Son for us.  He would gladly give us all things!  “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)

Today I want to caution all of us to watch our heart concerning money.  The next time you hear someone say, “they could have sold that and given it to the poor” remember they are quoting Judas (the disciple who betrayed Jesus.)  It can be easy to be deceived into thinking you have good ideas for other people’s money and what you might do if you had more money of your own.  Watch the intent of your heart and make sure it lines up with God’s way of thinking.  Don’t get tangled up in the evil root of loving money!  Trust God and live by His ways and become an extravagant giver like He is.  He will bless you more than you can imagine!

Today’s scripture reading:  John 12:4-8

4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 

5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 

6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.

7 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. 

8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”

Bring your best gift

Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.  John 12:3

It was a day of celebration for Martha, Mary and Lazarus.  They had just come through a great trial into their victory.  It was appropriate that they should throw a party.  It was also appropriate that they invited Jesus who seemed to be the guest of honor.  Martha was cooking and serving for all the guests, Lazarus sat at the table with Jesus.  At that point of Jesus’ ministry, Lazarus was probably His biggest supporter.  After all, Jesus had done a great miracle when He called Lazarus out of the grave and their family couldn’t be more grateful!

Then there was Mary, the younger sister. Her part of the festivities was to lavish Jesus with her best gift.  She brought a whole pound of very expensive oil and poured it out on Jesus’ feet.  It is interesting to me that she wiped His feet with her hair.  I can imagine that when she finished, the smell of the spikenard was as strong on her as it was Jesus.  There was no doubt who had so generously anointed Him.  This was a gift of sacrifice, and even though we cannot fully understand this today, it was probably something that she had been saving for a very long time for a special occasion.  This type of precious and aromatic oil was often brought to the temple to bring to God as an incense offering.  It was a sweet-smelling savor.  It was also often used to prepare a body for burial which made it all the more special at this time for Jesus.  Mary didn’t know that within a few short days He would be giving up His life for the world and surely still carrying the scent of the offering with Him.

For sure, Martha, Mary and Lazarus had so much to be thankful for and the joy that they were experiencing over Lazarus being brought back to life was beyond any treasure they could give in return, but the did make sure to at least make the effort to express their gratitude.

We have a great miracle to celebrate every day and it is also fitting that we try to express our love for Him each day.  When we received salvation in the blood of Jesus, we were raised up out of that spiritual grave of being dead in our sin.  He took our place and paid the price so that we could be alive.  It is not required that we bring Him a costly gift each day, nor could we ever repay the debt that we owe for His payment.  However, we should at least tell Him thank you and bring our best gift to Him every chance we get.  He is worthy of all our love, all our thanksgiving and all our life. 

Today I want to encourage you to pour out your most costly and best gift on the feet of Jesus.  Offer up a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving and lavish Him with your whole heart!  When you go into His house to worship, bring your best gift.  Whether it is serving, singing or giving, do it all to the glory of God.  If you have never received the gift of salvation, do it today.  Jesus will come into your life, raise you up out of the grave of sin and lead you in the perfect path of righteousness.  Pray this pray from your heart and your life will be change from this day forward:

_{God in heaven, I know I’m a sinner and I need a Savior.  I want to turn away from my sinful life to the life You have planned for me.  Please forgive my sins, cleanse me from my past, and make me new today.  I know Your Son, Jesus died for me.  I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead.  At this very moment, I accept, confess, and proclaim Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior . . . to be Lord of my life from this day forward.  I now have a right relationship with God my Father through this salvation in the blood of Jesus. I thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to guide me and to empower me to accomplish the things You have planned for my life in Jesus’ name, Amen}

Today’s scripture reading: John 12:1-3

1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. 

2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. 

3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.