Good morning everyone. A few days ago a friend of mine got upset with me for being a blessing to a stranded individual who needed a ride home. My friend is in law enforcement and is very leery of situations like that because he feels that people can get hurt picking up strangers. I was not going to give the person a ride but the Holy Spirit dropped this in my spirit; “you are a child and a vessel of God”, so I gave the individual a ride to be a blessing and I’m not hurt. The situation also reminded me of a story a friend passed on to me a few years back. So get ready for the meal.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, I come before you on behalf of my brothers and sisters in Christ to make a declaration and to ask your help. I know that You want us to be like salt on the earth, like a candle in the dark, a lighthouse on a hill, so that others will come to You. I ask that You would cleanse us one more time so that we will be a witness for You. Show us how You want to penetrate the darkness of our domain with Your light. Help us to be a positive influence in the places where we live, work, study, play. Thank you Lord for not giving up on us as we are sometimes rebellious to Your prompting. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Let’s eat.
BEING A VESSEL TO BLESS OTHERS
One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. – Proverbs 11:24-25
The bible clearly tells us that we should be a blessing to others. One of the reasons God entrusts money to us is to bless other believers by meeting their needs. God uses the transfer of money within the Body of Christ to build unity among believers. Sometimes we withhold money that God has designated for someone else. He wants to use us to bless others, but His will can’t be accomplished through us if we are disobedient.
I know that some of you have probably read this story in one of my meals awhile back but it’s worth repeating because it is a practical example from my life experience. A few years back a friend of mine who is a business owner told me of a time when God put into his spirit to forego a company bonus one year. God directed him to share his year-end bonus with an employee to show his appreciation for him. He wrestled with God for three full days before obeying the Lord on the matter. When he finally met with the employee to give him a check, the man told him that he had been praying about a financial need he had three days earlier. He had decided to borrow the money to meet his need. The amount of money he borrowed was the exact amount the Holy Spirit prompted my friend give him.
You see, God had already planned to provide for the employee through my friend, but because he was hesitant, he almost missed the opportunity to be an instrument of God in this man’s life. Even so, he could have prevented the man from having to borrow money and incur interest on a loan. It was an important lesson for my friend and it opened my eyes about God’s leadings.
OK, it’s gut check time. How many people do we let down because we feel the “harvest” God provides is all ours? In our society, the pressure is always on to move up the ladder of gathering material things. Jesus warned us about this. If our focus is on accumulation, we will not look for opportunities to be God’s vessels of financial blessing to others. Ask the Lord if you have an open hand and a discerning spirit when it comes to finances.
Quote of the Day
Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that a man would stake his life on it a thousand times.
Martin Luther
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REV. ELDER G E STERRETT
FOUNDER
GCKRS HELPING HAND FOUNDATION & THE RELATIONSHIP FACTORY