SERMON QUOTE
“I’ll say it again – God doesn’t need our money. He can speak things into existence. But we have a chance to give.”
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT
Remember in Mark 10, the rich man who wanted to inherit eternal life? Mark says, “Jesus looked at him and loved him…” then asked the man to give his wealth to the poor and follow Jesus. When the rich man heard this his “face fell and he went away sad because he had great wealth.” Jesus loved this man, asked the man to give, and join Jesus. But he didn’t. It’s a sad story.
I wonder what this man’s life would have become had he given and followed? What stories we may have read about him? What love he would have realized and shared with Jesus? What lives he would have touched…if only he had given, and participated with Jesus.
I wonder what giving opportunities I have refused? What kind of partnership with God have I left behind? No doubt, God can accomplish His desires without us. But how amazing that He would rather have us join Him in the unfolding of His will. On our own, we can only scratch the surface of what God wants to share with us. If only we will give whatever He asks, to discover that letting go of what we want, will reveal that there is so much more that God has for us.
In Luke 6 Jesus reminds us, Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together running over, will be poured into your lap for with the measure you use it will be measured to you.
Try to listen for the places that God is calling you into partnership. Give, give just a bit more than is comfortable for you. Try to find more comfort in the stretching of your partnership with God.
AUTHOR BIO
Drew Mjoen and his wife Christine discovered Christ Church in March of 1999 and attend the Christ Church Lake Forest Campus. Drew has taught premarital and marriage renewal classes in addition to classes on depression, anxiety and spiritual health. He also enjoys playing electric guitar in several worship bands at Lake Forest and on occasion at Crossroads and Highland Park.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, thank you that you look on me with love. Let me remember that when, like the rich man, you ask me to do things beyond my capacity, you have a loving reason for this; you want me to depend on you to do what I can not, so that I can discover more of what you can do. Thank you that the impossible asks are invitations to join you into deeper partnership with you, full of possibilities for miracles.