It’s Wednesday, January 18, 2023. Thank you for joining me each week, Monday through Friday, as we do daily devotions together. Today is “promotion day,” when we graduate from being a slave to being a son, from accumulating to stewarding! Read on …
Today's Reading:
Genesis 44,45,46; Luke 18
Scripture
“When Jesus heard this, He said to him, ‘You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’” (Luke 18:22)
Observation
This may seem, at first glance, to say that if you "really" follow God, you have to take a vow of poverty and reject all earthly goods. However, as we read further, we find this is not the case. It's not an abandonment mandate, but rather, it is a transition from being an "owner" to being a "steward." It is a promotion from being a slave to a son.
"I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life." -Lk. 18:29-30
Everything we need will be provided by the King whom we serve, and His provision is much better than we could provide for ourselves, but His provision is His to own and mine to steward.
Application
As the years go by, I am learning to trust God to provide; His ways have always been far better than mine! Example after example fills my mind on how God has provided ... and I am getting used to the fact that He owns it all, and I am to steward what He entrusts to me.
God promises to replace what I have yielded to His ownership many times over! He has no desire for His people to live in poverty for the sake of the Kingdom. It is instead a promise that He will provide in far greater ways. There may be seasons of lack, but if I steward well whatever amount He entrusts to me, He can increase that at any time.
But that’s His call … not mine.
Prayer
Lord, You are so kind and abundant. I choose to live Your way and follow You. Thank You for the Holy Spirit who prompted me to say "Yes" to You many years ago.
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