2 Corinthians 9:7

“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Each one must do just as he has purposed (proaireomai: brought forward for one's self, preferred, made up one’s mind) in his heart (kardia: the seat of one’s physical and spiritual life, innermost), not grudgingly (lupe: sorrowfully, heaviness, grievous, grudgingly) or under compulsion (anagke: by law of duty regarding to one's advantage, distress, necessity), for God loves (agapao: well pleased with, to be contented at or with a thing) a cheerful (hilaros: joyous) giver.”

SUMMARY

Each one must do just as he has made up his mind in his innermost being, not in sorrow or heaviness, or out of duty and necessity, for God is well pleased with a joyous giver.

MEDITATION

Recently, while dining out, I overheard the patrons next to us being told about how the restaurant was requesting donations for a certain organization. After the server asked them if they’d like to have a donation added to their bill, the patron began to thoroughly explain how she already has a certain dollar amount taken out of a her paycheck each week that goes to a charity, so they would not be making a donation at this time. While the lady’s regular, repeat donation is surely a great thing indeed, it got me to thinking. First of all, she didn’t just say “no”. She felt obligated to thoroughly tell the server why she was saying no - justifying her disinterest in giving again. (Which I’d like to point out, I’m not criticizing whatsoever.) In her mind though, she had already given “enough”. My mind wandered all over the place for several hours and I meditated on a couple Scriptures that came to mind, like the one above. Most Christians have resolved to adhere to the common “10% rule”. The problem that I have with the “10% tithe” mentality is that it can so easily lead to the “I gave already” mindset (as I overheard in the restaurant). Also, it can direct you to live a life that is duped to believe that the remaining 90% is somehow “yours” to use as you wish. Perhaps most dangerously, it can have a strong tendency to lead one to believe that God somehow owes you because you gave your minimum requirement. (We could explore how this approach actually defines God as your employee but I won’t get into that.)

All of this being said, I’m a huge proponent of the lifestyle of giving. After years and years of never being able to sort out the “what exactly is 10%?” question, guilt over when I didn’t even have it to give, dreading giving at all because I’d rather use it for something else and the twisted thoughts of how God owes me a blessing because I gave my 10%, I laid it all down (several years ago). These days I cheerfully give out of what I have whenever I see a need. People I give rides to. Neighbors that we take food. Cash given to the homeless and poor, no matter whether they “misuse” it or not! My time to sit and listen to others who are hurting, whether or not I actually have the time. I keep no records, never ask for tax write-offs (seriously?!) and never think for a moment that “I gave enough already”. I don’t choose to do it out of duty, repetition or begrudgingly because my Father gave me everything. My possessions, my money, what I hold as valuable in my life, I want to give – cheerfully! And the things that I cling to with clenched fist, well those are things that I still need to lay at the beautiful feet of my Jesus. We’re all surely a work in progress. What is “purposed in your heart” today?

James 5:16a

“Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed.”

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Confess (exomologeo: profess, acknowledge openly) your sins (paraptoma: faults, trespasses, offenses) to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed (iaomai: made whole, cured, brought into salvation).”

SUMMARY
Openly acknowledge your sins, faults and offenses to one another. And pray for one another so that you may be healed, made whole and brought into salvation.

MEDITATION

Ah, the age-old “unspoken” prayer request. I remember clearly countless times within my Baptist upbringing this mysterious activity. Hands pop up all over the group whenever prayer requests were well, requested. Once one person would say “unspoken”, it seemed the rest of those who followed would say likewise. As I’m nearing forty now, I reflect back on these activities with a heavy heart as I now know that this directly contradicts Scripture. (Do people still do the “unspoken” prayer thing?!?) The teaching of James that instructs us to openly share our shortcomings and errors has been replaced by quiet solitude and shame. Darkness to be exact for that is where secrets and lies live and thrive. Taking away this simple act of being transparent with each other might seem trivial but as I look at the Body of Christ, She’s often veiled in secrets and fabricated holiness. “How are you this morning Jason?” “Me, I’m just great! God is so good. And how are you and your family Richard?” “Oh man, we’re just all awesome!” All the while both families are hurting and in desperate need of being healed. Nothing is revealed, therefore nothing is cured. Salvation is never found. 

How sad that we’ve been taught to run from one of the main things that will bring our sins and shame into the light? I’ll admit, confession is often not easy. (Not to mention, most Christian gatherings don’t even allow for this to properly take place.) But if we’re really in true biblical relationship with one another, it has got to be a part of our journey together. So first of all, share life with those who desire transparency and openness and give you the freedom to do likewise. Time after time after time I’ve experienced one person stepping out to share some pretty intimate issues in their life and it absolutely opens the floodgates for others to do likewise. We must heed the wisdom of James. Confess. Pray. Receive salvation and healing. Amen.

Psalm 37:23

"The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way." (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS
"The steps (mits`ad: goings) of a man are established (kuwn:  ordered, prepared, readied, provided; made firm) by the LORD, And He delights (chaphets: desire, pleased to do, takes pleasure) in his way."

SUMMARY

The comings and goings of a man are prepared and provided by the LORD and God takes pleasure in his way.


MEDITATION

You are not God’s pity project! The Creator of all things delights in you, the pinnacle of His Creation! So many times I come across Believers who view themselves so lowly and worthless that God must surely only love them because of their great depravity (pity love). I believe that this greatly cheapens what God has done, is doing and desires to do in and through men because their identity and purpose is distorted. In Christ, we become a new creation, seated in heavenly places beside Christ Himself. Of course there’s no debating that we’re still housed in temporal bodies of flesh, prone to sin but God’s love is not rooted in our need or desperation alone. He is a lover! He longs to lavish His love on us as a Father – genuine and unconditional, established in relational love, not in our need and wantonness.

Consider the vast scriptural metaphors of the Husband and Bride. The Husbandman doesn’t take the one he’s courting out to dinner (we’ll say allegorically), because she’s ugly, undesirable and no one else wants her. He desires her. He longs for her. He pursues her moved by His great love! Likewise is the love of our Pursuer! So today I ask you, do you see yourself as one worthy of such great love? Not in your own eyes of self-elevation, but in humility and purity of heart, see yourself as the Great Lover sees you! Today, rejoice for the unimaginable is true – the God of all Creation takes pleasure in you!

James 5:8

“You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“You too be patient (makrothumeo: endure, not to lose heart, persevere patiently and bravely; to be longsuffering, slow to anger, slow to punish); strengthen (sterizo: establish, make stable, make firm) your hearts (kardia: the center and seat of spiritual life; seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavors), for the coming (parousia: arrival, advent; the future visible return from heaven of Jesus, to raise the dead, hold the last judgment, and set up formally and gloriously the kingdom of God) of the Lord is at hand (eggizo: draw nigh, be at hand, come near, approaching).”

SUMMARY

Don’t lose heart! Patiently persevere and establish your purpose and motivations for the visible return of Jesus Christ is fast approaching!

MEDITATION

I don’t know about everyone else but at times I wrestle with impatience and lack of unshakeable faith when it comes to Jesus’ return. I look at this world around me and I cannot imagine it being allowed by Father to go much further down the road of despair and destruction. So many are hurting, violence runs rampant and, as Scripture foretells, all has become a lawless mess. All of that being said, today I cling to this verse. I know, in my deepest recesses that my Father has it all in His hands and is well aware of the situation. My task is to not lose heart and to establish my innermost being in Him, no matter what my eyes may see. Are you found today doing likewise my friend? The coming of the Lord is surely at hand.   

Proverbs 1:20

“Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square.” (NASB)

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Wisdom shouts (qara': calls, cries out, proclaims) in the street (hamah: roar, noise, disquieted, troubled, clamorous, concourse, mourning, tumultuous, commotion), She lifts her voice in the square.”

SUMMARY

Wisdom calls out and proclaims in the noisy and troubled concourse, She lifts her voice in the square.

MEDITATION

At this hour yesterday millions of people were shouting how proud they were to be Americans. Discussions of the great opportunity and blessing to be able to act as a nation (to choose a leader) were all over the airwaves. Many seemed filled with hope and excitement, “God is doing something new!” and “It’s time for a change!” many declared openly with confidence. Today though, a different echo is resounding like an ugly clamor rising from the earth. Despair, words of hopelessness and an all-out onslaught of fear. Why in the world are we who claim to be within the Body of Christ so fickle and wayward in our thinking!? The patterns of this world and kingdoms of men rise and fall. This is why it’s absolutely imperative to make your permanent dwelling in a land that cannot be shaken. In this land, there is only one throne and it is not offered up for any other to possess. So, amongst the “noisy and troubled discourse” of today, will you hear the voice of Wisdom crying out in the streets? What is She saying? Who will hear and most importantly, who will take the time to sit and listen? Will you?      

Psalm 51:10

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” 

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Create (bara: shape, form, fashion) in me a clean (tahor: pure) heart (leb: mind, understanding), O God, and renew (chadash: repair, make a new) a steadfast (kuwn: right, fixed, established) spirit (ruwach: wind, breath, mind) within me (qereb: seat or faculty of thought and emotion).”

SUMMARY

Form within me a clean and pure heart O God. Make new a right spirit deep in the innermost part of me, where all of my thoughts and emotions reside.

MEDITATION

No matter how hard we all may try, attempting to create and fashion something within our own strengths and abilities usually only yields temporary results (at best). The necessity of this verse is often overshadowed by Christian programs, books and teachings on how to find happiness and purpose in your deepest, innermost being. We’re often told that if we just do this more and do that less then results will somehow come. The problem however is that what we must do first is overlooked. We need to be found going to the One who is Creator and beseech Him to do what we cannot. The same One who fashioned us physically out of dust desires to regenerate our innermost being, spiritually. Are you living a daily life of approaching the One who is in the business of regeneration? Do you grasp that until your mind and understanding are renewed, all other “fixes” are just rooted in feeble, limited attempts to band-aid the results of the deeper issue at hand? Today, find a quiet place and ask the Lord if He would do some creating and renewing today… in you.  

John 15:2

“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.”

STRONGS HEBREW/GREEK ORIGINS

“Every branch (klema: tender and flexible shoot or sprout of a vine) in Me that does not bear (phero: bring forth, carry) fruit (karpos: that which originates or comes from something, an effect, results), He takes away (airo: to take upon one's self and carry off from its place ; remove); and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes (kathairo: cleansed of filth and impurity) it so that it may bear more fruit.”

SUMMARY
Every branch from the vine in Me that does not bring forth results of being in Me, [My Father] removes; and every branch from the vine that brings forth results of being in Me, He cleanses of impurity so that it may bear even more results of being in Me.

MEDITATION

If you saw my work truck this week, you’d likely have some questions for me in regards to my line of work and how I would allow my own vehicle to looks so shoddy considering detailing is my business. Yesterday, a friend did some wet-sanding for me as we’re prepping the hood and front fenders for some new paint in a few days. In its current state, it looks pretty awful. The sanded areas have more of a pink hue than red and the finish is as flat as a chalkboard. In contrast to the rest of the truck, the front end sticks out like a sore thumb. All of that being said I know that it’s literally a work in progress. Others may see me pull up to a parking lot to work for the afternoon and think that my truck is in dire need of some work itself but that’s OK because I know the end of the process is around the bend. So, even though I can’t hardly stand the way my own truck currently looks, I know that it will lead to a much-needed end – fresh, new, shiny paint. I see a lot of my own spiritual life within this simple example. There are things in my life that just don’t look too great right now at first glance. I’m a branch that is in constant need of pruning and purging. Father has His hands full at times tending to this “tender shoot” that’s hidden in the Son. Thankfully, He sees the end result that lays before me. My spiritual journey is one where I’m constantly in process until I breathe my last breath.  And I’m OK with that… no matter how I may look for now, for in the end, I’ll look like My Saviour.