It’s Tuesday, January 16, 2024. It’s 16 degrees this morning! We can be called the “Frozen Chosen.” Today’s lesson comes from the book of Luke, with several chapters of red letters. Jesus is teaching essential life lessons. Have you ever watched prices soar one day and then drop precipitously the next? Whether it's housing, consumer goods, or even used luxury cars, one day they’re uber-expensive, and the next, they are almost a “giveaway.” Worldly values fluctuate. If we set our hearts on them, we will too. What are your values based on? Read on…
Today's Reading:
Genesis 39,40,41; Luke 16
Scripture
“What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.” (Luke 16:15)
Observation
Jesus describes the value system of the Pharisees in the 14th verse: "The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all of this and were sneering at Jesus." Despite being supposed believers in God, they lived as believers in money. Jesus sets a standard with these words: "You cannot serve both God and mammon." Mammon is not only "money" but the primary pursuit of money that monopolizes a person’s life and thoughts. However, this quest can lead people, Christian and non-Christian alike, to an unbalanced view of life’s values, coloring every area of life, including family, faith, and legacy.
Application
I love John Wesley’s quote: "I now value all things only by the price they shall gain in eternity." This quote reminds me to align my values with what God values:
- People’s salvation
- People’s wholeness
- Helping the suffering in the name of Christ
- Living as an Ambassador of Heaven
- Bringing honor to Christ in all things
However, we are under a constant deluge of Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and television that compel us toward a different value system and mindset. I have only one life to live, so I cannot afford to end up with regrets. Therefore, checking my bearings daily will require constant vigilance, adjustments, and correction. Daily devotions help keep us aware of who we are called to be and what we are to do on this earth.
Prayer
Father, please help me differentiate between what You value versus what is advertised in the media. We are being flooded by the marketing and media of the world, so help me essentialize even what I see. May I see You and Your plans for my life rather than the plans the media has for me. I choose YOU!
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