“Invest in the Eternal”

Luke 12:32-34

Today’s scripture continues to support the current sermon series on the Sermon on the Mount. This week’s focus is on Matthew 6:19-34 and the reading from Luke is very similar to Matthew 6:19 which reads as follows: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.”

When I read these verses the phrase “invest in the eternal” comes to mind. If we are walking in obedience to Jesus’ commands and recognize that our true citizenship is in heaven then investing in the eternal only makes sense.

So how do we do this? It occurs to me that only three things in this world are going to last forever – God, His Word, and people. Given this short list, a strong focus on growing in our relationship with God, studying His Word, and investing in the people God brings into our lives are logical priorities. In the gospels Jesus gives us examples of how to live this kind of life. He prioritizes prayer (relationship with the Father), He shows a firm grasp of scripture (the OT during His time on earth), and in today’s reading He puts a focus on people (helping the poor). Thanks be to God for Jesus’ examples and the opportunities we have at UALC to grow in our efforts to “invest in the eternal”.

I have lived long enough to see things in my life that I thought were “all important” (treasures) fade away. They didn’t last. But God’s love, the truth of His Word, and the people He loves (all people!) remain – forever!

ZEALOUS FOR GOOD DEEDS

Scripture: Ephesians 2: 8-10

You may have experienced this before. You read a portion of scripture – and the whole rest of the week God brings further “messages” related to what you read to “bring home” the lesson He wants to impress on your heart. A sermon, a Bible study, a conversation with a friend or co-worker may trigger the thought the Holy Spirit is trying to grab your attention about.

 

That happened to me this week, as I read and pondered especially verse 10 of today’s reading. “for you are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”  It triggered the question, “How is this related to my last week’s Bible study?”  My Thursday women’s group is studying the Fruit of the Spirit – last week’s was on “Goodness.”

A verse that stood out for me was Titus 2:14, “[Christ Jesus] gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”

As I looked at these two verses, a phrase from each stood out: God has already prepared good works for me to do, and He has prepared (purified) me to zealously do good deeds.

So if He has the good deeds all ready to go, and He has given me an eagerness to do them, all that needs to happen is to get me connected with those specific deeds He has for me!  One way that helps me identify a specific act as “mine” is to say to God as I am going into a store, a restaurant, or a specific setting where I will have the possibility of interacting with people, “You know who will be here and their need for a good deed.  Remove my blinders of self-absorption in the task I came to do.  Open my eyes to really see people.”

God has given some wonderful opportunities for me to encourage a cashier, to help a fellow customer reach for an item, or to offer to pray for someone.  Seem insignificant?  Not to the person you have acknowledged, nor to our Father, who sees that the good works He has planned are being accomplished one deed at a time!

Thank you, Father, that you created me for good works – even more, that You redeemed me so I might be zealous to do these good works for Your glory. Keep me walking toward my assigned good deeds! Amen.