The Love of Money

^{Matthew 27: 3-5}

³ Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

⁴ Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

⁵ And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

          Sometimes the thing which we think we want isn't what we really want at all. Many of us have coveted after possessions, people essentially after that false sense of happiness. Only to find that once we possess that thing, they or it isn't all of what we thought it would be. Or for those that haven’t obtained that which they desire. They find that it’s just simply not worth it.

Manna for thought: There is so much we could gain from the life of Judas but I think here we simply see being blinded by what the bible tells us is the root of all evil, “the love of money”.

1 Timothy 6:10

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Encouraging song of the day: The Good Fight: Bizzle - Against You

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydcoi_m-5kE

You can be your biggest obstacle

^{Genesis 25: 31-34}

³¹ And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

³² And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

³³ And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

³⁴ Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright

You can be your biggest obstacle. This is why the Word tells us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. Because it’s not the enemy afar off that does the most damage but the one closest. It’s our own flesh that causes us to stumble.  For this reason “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” Matthew 4:4. It’s not always easy to turn away from the thing that your flesh so strongly desire for (LUST for). But we know that “to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace”. Romans 8:6

Manna for thought: John 4:13-14

¹³ Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:¹⁴ But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Encouraging song of the day: Draw nigh Fred Hammond

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbtRnmhBunM

Love not the world

Luke 15:12-14

12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

Experience is not the best teacher. Yet there are times where we overlook what we know to be true. That this world has nothing to offer us. After we have wasted our time and squandered our resources, then we see what was right in front of us.

Manna for thought:  ¹⁵ Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Encouraging song of the day: Prodigal Son - Fred Hammond

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3wwUdanYY4

Honest Conversation

1 Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

      For those that may speak ill of you for no apparent reason. Continue to pray for them and bless them. For in due time by your obedience and faithfulness.  They will behold God’s glory and favour in your life. Which by His grace may win a soul to the kingdom.

Manna for thought:  Let us always be mindful of the words we speak. For by our words are we justified and by our words are we also condemned. Matthew 12:37

James 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

Encouraging song of the day: Look Up - Tye Tribbett & GA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CupchdODA6s

Love your enemies

1 Peter 3:15-16

 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

Some people we choose or would rather avoid because of their negative speaking. But sometimes their negative speaking is a cry for help. That they are lost and negativity is the only way they know to cry out. Through their encounter with you (the believer) the Love of God can and will flow over into their lives. Even if you don’t see it, have faith that it is.

Manna for thought: Don’t be so quick to write someone off. It’s possible that you are the only light that they have in their lives. Love those that hate you.

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you ;

Encouraging song of the day: Patrick Dopson: GOD IS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nEeLkFaZ7o

Have your Heart

1 Peter 3: 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

It’s not the outward man that the world see’s that makes us approved in the eyes of our Lord but the inner man which no man can see. Only the Lord who knows the intimacy’s of our heart. Therefore it is the transformation of one’s self to be set apart from the world rather than to be conformed to what it deems acceptable. Romans 12:2

Manna for thought: God is not attracted to your deeds but your heart. If your heart is for Him your deeds would be a reflection.

Encouraging song of the day.

Uncle Reece - Have your Heart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhgSBTvSHZY

Be ye holy; for I am holy.

1 Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

It is good that we don’t curse or drink etc… But we shouldn’t look for a pat on the back. The Word teaches us that those things are to be expected. That’s like me saying look daddy I’m black, and him saying “I’m glad you realize and acknowledge that. But you’re supposed to be black because I’m black. I would expect nothing less”. For that cause, I wouldn’t go around promoting that I’m black. It would be obvious.  So also let your Holiness be seen and your conversation coupled with fear.

Manna for thought: You don’t have to expressly promote that you’re a Christian. Although it’s good that you’re bold about it. You don’t have to convince anyone.  It should been seen by the fruit you bear.

Matthew 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.