Reflection on Luke 18:22

Luke 18:22
When Jesus heard this, he said, "There’s one more thing.  Sell everything you own and distribute the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me." 

For a long time, I have been trying to understand this verse and have been praying about how to understand it.  After attending a Secret Church simulcast event this past Good Friday, it became so much clearer to me!  In my earlier days as a struggling believer, I would have looked at this as giving up all of my belongings to the poor.  I see it as so much more of that now.  I am not denied of the fact that there are those that have fervently prayed and have heard that command from God to leave all they have to serve others without nothing but their open hearts and His Word!  Now, after much prayer and studying of the Word of God, this is how I clearly interpret it to apply to my life: 

As a Christian, share The Word with others, do not hoard all to oneself!  There are those that are poor in spirit that need the Word (Matthew 5:3) shared with them.  I am encouraged to share my faith through these verses from The Beatitudes in Matthew 5: 1-12.  They teach us that the true riches are from our Father in Heaven!  We must give all that we are to God and praise Him for the truth He has given us through His Word.  Even though we have belongings and items that we own, we should not idolize those items and give them more importance that we do God and following Christ!  God is number one above and beyond all our treasures here on earth.  Worshiping our earthly treasures gives us distance from God and our relationship with Christ weakens, leaving us poor in spirit.  Jesus also commanded us to make disciples of others, so others can come to know The Lord and experience the richness of His love - The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) - And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age".   After reading this over and over again, I am brought to tears of love because this is just another way that shows me that God is Truly Love!!  If the love of God through the words of Jesus Christ cannot empower, I truly do not know what else can!  I get so excited to witness to others as Jesus Christ has commissioned us to do!!  

After my prayer and reflection, the clarity of this bible verse, I am at peace with myself.  This last Easter was one of the best celebrations yet, not because of the Easter bunny or the food, but because of my understanding of how the crucifixion, resurrection and The Great Commission completely expresses The Greatest Love Story ever told!!!   It has never been as clear as it is now!!  I am in awe!!  

Thanks for reading!!

With God's Greatest Love,

 

 
Inspire Others



Celebrate New Life with Tinyprints

Truly Accepting Christ

"We know that Christ has been raised from the dead and he will never die again. Death no longer has power over him."  Romans 6:9.  During my personal bible study time, I came across this very powerful bible verse that has made my love for the Lord deeper than ever before!  If you are an avid reader of the word, surely there are many bible verses that stick out in your mind, but there are some that stick out more than others-that speak to you strongest!  Well, the aforementioned verse was mine!  The heavens opened up and I felt God's love just pour down on me...YES, that is how I truly felt and the feeling has been wonderful!

How did this verse speak to me and show me how God is truly love?  Well, here goes!  I have watched, heard and read many testimonies from people that were formerly Christians and suddenly became non-believers.  I asked myself how can this happen?  Even after asking several Christian leaders, their response was that when a person who has a true relationship with God and firmly believes Jesus Christ saved us by dying on the cross and there is no one or nothing that can take that away from us.  Reading this scripture today, was an affirmation of that!  God spoke clearly to me today - CRYSTAL CLEAR!  Not only is there that visual of Jesus Christ dying on the cross, resurrecting from dead and never dying again, but another clearer picture has surfaced!  Truly accepting Christ in my heart is an assurance that he lives in me, will never leave me and NOTHING or NO ONE can take him away from me, especially if I want him to always be there!  Once he lives in me, he will never die in me!!  Not to sound cliche, but it is pure and simple!!  I am not posting to pass judgment on anyone who does or does not have a relationship with Christ.  I am here simply to express how this verse spoke to me gave me the clearest assurance about Christ and how God truly does love us to send his only son to die for us, but still continue to LIVE in us and LOVE us!!  How amazing is that?

My journey and growth in Christ has not been easy given that personal experiences has made the road difficult.  After reading this verse and going through it over and over in my mind, helps make the journey easier.  If you are going through a tough time in your walk with the Lord, continue in the word and I promise you God will answer questions you have a burning desire to be answered.  Read deeply though, do not just read the surface of it and God will reveal more than you will ever think of! 

Till next time...have a blessed day.

Love,

Discover how God is truly Love...

My journey as a "new Christian" has been a roller coaster - it has had its many ups and downs.  My relationship with God now has been the strongest as it has ever been as I have been through some trying times with keeping that relationship.  I am actually starting to feel that "hunger" for his word more frequently than before.  That "hunger" for his word and that true connection has been something I have wanted for a very long time.  So, now I want to share my journey as I discover how God is truly love. This blog will be a diary of my journey discovering God's love in the different situations I face in my life and what I go through with others. Follow my journey as I rely on the truth in God's word to find His love in trying situations. Rejoice in times where there is immediate fulfillment of His love. I believe there is hope out there for people to truly find the love of God, no matter what situation it is. "For God so loved the world, that he gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life." - John 3:16