Between my morning reading from Matthew Barnett about finding our calling and overhearing some conversations last night, the idea of people in need, people who have hit hard times, homeless people, hopeless people, that we pass on the street. Imagine it being your first day in need. Imagine finding yourself out on the street and not sure where to turn. Imagine going to places where you think there might be people who can help and they treat you like you don’t exist. Imagine going to places where you think they might have answers or support and they won’t give you the time of day. Imagine now being that person and how things went from bad to worse. Imagine the low self-esteem you already had and with the treatment you have received spiraled even further down towards hopelessness.
Now, imagine being the person walking or driving down the street and seeing the person in need. Many have been jaded by the idea that there are people out there of their own choice and making a living out of conning people of their money. Many have been turned off because of the responses to their availability when people aren’t interested in food but just want money. With the rejection and scams people who would normally be generous and giving can become hard hearted and stingy.
But is that how God would want you to respond? Remember what the Bible says about the poor? In John 12:8, Jesus speaks to the people ‘You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.” ‘ So we need to have a heart for the poor? We need to have a heart for people in need and have eyes to see them as God sees them with unconditional love. Yes there are some people who might be at a point where they aren’t willing to accept or receive true help and are just trying to get by with whatever they can get. There are others that are preying on the weak and trying to profit from and through them. There are others who are in need and are just looking for people to help meet it. So do you know what it takes to meet or fill that need? It requires knowing and understanding their need. It requires acknowledging them and letting them know you see them and that you care. It requires that you take time to listen to them and hear what they really need in order to be able to look for and find ways to fill that need. It may be something you can do on your own. It may be something that you need to recruit some friends. It may require bringing in an organization to be able to help fill the need. But it all starts with you being will and ready to see them, acknowledge them, and listen to them. Are you able to discern the difference between their needs and their wants? Are you able to listen and hear their story and how they got to this point?
So where are you at? Are you ready in and out of season to give a reason for the hope that is inside of you? Are you prepared to be generous on every occasion? Are you ready to walk with your hand upwards so that not only can God fill your hands but you can then use what He puts in your hands to give others a hand-up? Will you look to give generously to help them get a hand-up rather than a handout? Will you choose to be a conduit for God to be able to pass on and pour out His blessings on the people He brings across your path?
Are you ready to pass on this responsibility and behavior to the next generation? Are you ready to help your kids to know how to treat people with respect? Are you ready to help your kids to see a need and fill it? Are you ready to help your kids to know what they can do vs when they need additional support to meet the need? Are you ready to get started on this journey today?
The One Year Daily Insights with Zig Ziglar and Dr. Ike Reighard
for July 9th
Richer Than You Think
MEMORY VERSE OF THE DAY:
‘And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. ‘
Philippians 4:19
POINTS FROM THE DEVOTIONAL:
- Are you willing to be generous in order to fill a need?
- Are you willing to be generous in the work of God in order to fill a need?
- Do you realize that by pouring out to the work of God from the resources He has given you that He will help to refill and replenish so that you will have enough to meet the needs in front of you?
- Are you standing with the man of God? Are you standing with the people of God? Are you investing into the work of God?
- Are you being generous in order to put wind in the sails of those who are out on the mission field or working at the church or working at a mission for the homeless?
- Are you giving to God as an acceptable sacrifice?
- Are you giving to God’s work as a sweet aroma?
- Are you being generous like David who wasn’t willing to just receive but had to pay for what he was about to sacrifice to God?
- Are you willing to give to meet the need even if it might challenge you?
- Do you realize that God doesn’t forget your generosity?
- Have you ever heard the statement that you can’t out give God?
- Have you ever taken the Malachi test? It is the one time God asks us to test Him!
- ‘Bring all the tithes (the tenth) into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the L ord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you [so great] a blessing until there is no more room to receive it. ‘
Malachi 3:10
- ‘Bring all the tithes (the tenth) into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the L ord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you [so great] a blessing until there is no more room to receive it. ‘
- Remember that there is a difference between your needs, your wants, and your desires.
- The promise is around meeting your needs.
- It is a promise to meet our needs, especially those when we have given over and above what we can afford in order to support God’s work.
- Do you have any needs?
- Are your needs being met?
- Is there something God is calling for you to do and invest in so that you can be a conduit of God’s love and blessings to meet others’ needs?
- Are you ready to give to God’s causes, God’s works, and God’s calling on your life?
DISCUSSION TOPICS FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
- When you have given the most to the Lord’s work? How did you feel about it?
- What is God prompting you to do now in your giving?
QUOTE(S) FROM TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL:
“God’s word done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.”
— Hudson Taylor
— Zig Ziglar
Today’s reading from Tanakh:
So where are you at today? Are you ready to accomplish the good works God has prepared in advance for you to accomplish? Do you have the right set of mind? Is your heart in the right place? Have you allowed Jesus to help clean up your mind and your heart? Could today be the start of something incredible? Let’s pray:
I come to you in prayer asking for the
forgiveness of my Sins. I confess with my
mouth and believe with my heart that
Jesus is your Son, And that he died on the
Cross at Calvary that I might be forgiven.
and have Eternal Life in the Kingdom of
Heaven. Father, I believe that Jesus rose
from the dead and I ask you right now to
come in to my life and be my personal
Lord and Savior. I repent of my Sins and
will Worship you all the day’s of my Life!
Because your word is truth, I confess with
my mouth that I am Born Again and
Cleansed by the Blood of Jesus! In Jesus
Name, Amen
Did you pray with me?
Would you be willing to leave me a comment so that I can pray with and for you about such an incredible decision?
Or if you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment on my blog, why not email or text me instead?
God's story through my life from 2005 to eternity... 