KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Chapters: Luke 12-13
Message: Being Content While Waiting
Hello My Friend,
Contentment, Rest or quietness of the mind in the present condition. If you were to examine the most wealthiest, successful people, who have everything they ever wanted or needed you will find that they are not very content with the things they have. You know, there are some things in life that money or fame can never give you, and until we learn to be content where we are we will never find peace within ourselves. “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” – I Timothy 6:7-8.
Stuff, we all want it, some want more than others, some want simple while others want extravagant, and it is okay to want stuff, we just have to be careful that we do not start wanting it so much that we get envious and hateful toward those who have stuff. A man came to Jesus asking Him to tell his brother to give him part of the inheritance that his brother received, but Jesus responded a little different that I think he expected.
“And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” – Luke 12:15-21.
“and beware of covetousness:” Covetousness, A strong desire of obtaining and possessing some supposed good. We all do it, see something and think how we would like to have it or see someone that seems to always get what they want and wonder why we are struggling, but when it consumes us to the point that we become obsessive about it that is when it becomes dangerous. Instead of letting things like this bother us, go to God and talk to Him about it, you may be surprised to realize that God wants you to have them too, He just wants something else from you. As Jesus continues, He reminds us all that God knows exactly what we need.
“Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” – Luke 12:27-34.
“a treasure in the heavens that faileth not,” Jesus is not saying that we are to live like paupers, but he is saying that what we have waiting for us in the kingdom of God is more valuable than anything on earth, besides we cannot take it with us. God knows our needs, and often we are the reason that He delays in giving them to us, think about it, have we become selfish, stingy, whiny, immoral, or ungrateful while we are waiting for things to happen for us. It is not the situation that hinders God from giving us the things we need and even desire, it is the attitude, work on that and you will see God start blessing you more. “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” – James 4:2-3,8-10.
Sometimes you can read the Bible and just pass through it like the wind, other times it hits you like a brick and you find yourself being convicted of something you have done. We must understand that a lot of things we want come with God’s timing. God knows exactly when we need the things we need, and some things must come to pass before we get them. The Pharisees and scribes knew the Scriptures, they knew a Saviour was to come and that he would be rejected by them, yet they refused to believe that Jesus was that man. And while all the angels cried let there be peace on earth the day He was born, Jesus, who actually is the Prince of peace, had another message for them that they did not quite understand.
“I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.” – Luke 12:49-53.
“But I have a baptism to be baptized with;” Jesus is talking about becoming the sacrificial lamb, he was here for one purpose and one purpose only, to give His life as an atonement sacrifice for all mankind, to be maimed and tortured, to hang on a tree, to be rejected by the Jews, to die to save the souls of all who will believe in Him. God could have made any other way for a soul to be saved, but He chose to make it permanent with Jesus, and nothing was going to alter that plan. If Jesus did not fulfill what He came here to do a few things would have happened, people would have doubted God, we would still be under the law of works, and we would still be giving animal sacrifices to atone for our sins. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” – Romans 8:2-4.
Being content with what we have done not mean we are not to desire more, God does want to see us blessed, much more than we are now, He just wants us to have a little patience while we happily await the things we are wanting. We must not forget also that we have much more than we deserve already, including eternal life, not everyone can say that so we have to be grateful that if we never get anything we want here on earth, at least we are saved from the punishment of death and hell. A tragic event occurred in Galilee, followers of Judas Gaulonites refused to live under Roman authority, Pilate surrounded and killed them, while they were worshiping in the temple. A group of men hearing Jesus speak told Him what happened, Jesus responds with a parable.
“There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.” – Luke 13:1-9.
“except ye repent,” Whether we told a lie or killed a thousand people the same punishment for sin applies to all, the church did not make the rule, God did, and unless a person repents, meaning admit they are a sinner and accepts Christ’s atoning blood as their payment for their sin will die a second death. “And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” – Revelation 21:6-8.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:” – Luke 12:8.
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for the great sacrifice You made for me, I do not deserve to enjoy eternal life with You, but I get to because of my faith and acceptance of You as my Saviour. With all that goes on in my life I know that I am truly blessed, but that does not stop be from losing sight of that at times when I am desiring something I do not have. You are all that I need, and as long as I keep reminding myself of that You will provide me with more than what I need. Lord, I am not going to ask for patience, but that You will give me the strength and power to endure as I wait for You to take care of me and provide for me in Your time. Also, I ask that You help me be a blessing to others, and let me not forget how blessed I am just with what I have now. In Your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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