Good morning!
Welcome to your morning coffee! May our Heavenly Father continue to give us breathe, to make our hearts beat, and sustain our lives by His loving Will. Father, we can't do anything without you. We can't even live without your help. Even those who do not love you, they live only according to your patient love an grace. Continue to hold us close to you, Father. We are children because you said so and made us so. In the powerful name of Jesus, and held in the Holy Spirit, help us to live our lives in ways that please you. Amen.
Your Morning Song: "The Great Adventure" by Steven Curtis Chapman
Your Morning Scripture: Galatians 5:13
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
...
Luxury. What do you think of when you hear this word? Money? Cars? Houses? Private planes? Expensive food?
To be fair, luxury is one of those things that can be fairly subjective, a bit different for each of us.
But there is a constant, objective reality to luxury that maybe we haven't considered before.
There was a comparative study done between the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt, and the modern corporate secretary. They considered as broad range of variables, including housing, finances, diet, clothing, entertainment, etc.
Which of the two do you think had greater luxury?
It was the secretary. They had greater access to a greater variety of things of greater quality. And it wasn't even close.
What do you think most secretaries would say to that?
Do you live in luxury? I wouldn't describe my own life as luxurious, but when I start looking around my house and thinking of all of the things that I have, I have to admit, I probably have way more luxury in my living than I thought.
And there's two issues here, that I struggle with.
1) I don't see it. Just like I can't smell my own home, the quality of my everyday living becomes invisible to me. I too easily and too often am blind to the many material blessings I have. Kind of hard to be grateful when you're taking it for granted.
2) I don't share it. We have all been blessed in a variety of different ways. We are free in Christ to live much of our lives in a manner of our choosing. Of course, there are things God commands us to do and not do, but so much of my life is amoral. Not a moral choice of right and wrong. And if I'm not careful I will make use of my freedom to get more and more luxury. Because we cannot be selfless on accident. But we will always be selfless without thought.
On the cross and from out of the tomb, Jesus set me free from sin and death. But what will I do with my freedom? What will I do with this life that God has given me? Spiritually, I have been blessed, and should share these blessings with others, in worship, in study, in prayer, in fellowship.
And certainly physically. I have been very blessed. And I should share these blessing with others, in my house, in my neighborhood, in my town, in my work, and on and on until I cannot think of another place where I can be generous.
How can we use what we have, spiritually and physically to serve each other? God has made us each and blessed us each uniquely, so you would know better than I would. How can you serve others with the freedom you have been given?
Think of something small, and then do it today! God is with you. He is calling you. He will help you. And He will share His joy at your obedience, with you!
May we easily and often be
known and called as "free"
Open handed with the luxury of our living,
Giving, because He first gave to you and me.
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