Assets or Liabilities?

November 20

(Psalm 127:3-5 NIV) “Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. {4} Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. {5} Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.”

(Mark 10:13-16 NIV) “People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. {14} When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. {15} I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." {16} And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.”

As the faithful ascended to worship, they were reminded to give thanks for one of their greatest assets: their children. Children were the assurance that the family name would continue. They were the “social security” of David’s day. By the time of Christ, children were often seen as liabilities instead of assets. They were viewed as one notch above a slave. Jesus rebuked His followers when they treated children like this. He blessed the little ones and saw them as more open to the Kingdom of God than even His disciples at times. Today, many still see children as a liability instead of an asset. They have been aborted and abandoned by the millions -- sacrificed on the altar of personal convenience and expediency. A nation cannot be blessed unless it views its children as assets instead of liabilities... and unless it loves them as Jesus loved them. The same is true for the Church. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day      

Building It Right

November 19

(Psalm 127:1-2 NIV) “A song of ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. {2} In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-- for he grants sleep to those he loves.”

(1 Corinthians 3:10-16 NIV) “By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. {11} For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. {12} If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, {13} his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. {14} If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. {15} If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. {16} Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?”

Solomon not only had world class wisdom, he also knew how to build big buildings. After his father David led a successful building fund campaign, Solomon built a great temple for the Lord in Jerusalem. But in his wisdom, Solomon knew that unless the Lord was in it, no building could stand -- the work would not survive. The workers could construct it, but without God’s blessing, it would fall. It works this way with our spiritual house. Unless Christ is our foundation and chief builder, we labor in vain. Our work will crumble if we do not build on Jesus the rock. We are the temple that God seeks to build. If we build on anything but the Lord, our work will burn up and our reward will be lost. It doesn’t matter what material we use, it will not stand at the judgment. Don’t waste your life vainly toiling for that which will not last. Build it right. Let the Lord build your temple and it will stand strong. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day     

He Has Done Great Things For Us

November 18

(Psalm 126:1-6 NIV) “A song of ascents. When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. {2} Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." {3} The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. {4} Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negev. {5} Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. {6} He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.”

(Mark 5:18-20 NIV) “As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. {19} Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." {20} So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.”

People who have been lost and in desperate straits tend to serve the Lord with great fervor once they have been saved and delivered. When you know you owe your life to someone, giving your life to them seems like the natural thing to do. Jesus came to set captives free. He comes to where we are being held and brings us home. He breaks our chains and inspires us to dream again. He wipes away our tears and brings laughter back into our life. Once we wept as we sang the blues -- now our mouths are filled with songs of joy. Streams of living water now flow from hearts that were once dry and cracked. He has restored our fortunes. Instead of continually taking, we now have something to offer. The good seed has borne fruit. And so now, as we ascend to worship the Lord, we recall with delight how He has done great things for us. God has done great things for us! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day   

God the Do Gooder

November 17

(Psalm 125:3-5 NIV) “The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil. {4} Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart. {5} But those who turn to crooked ways the Lord will banish with the evildoers. Peace be upon Israel.”

(Jeremiah 17:10 NIV) “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.”

(Matthew 5:14-16 NIV) “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. {15} Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. {16} In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

(Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV) “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- {9} not by works, so that no one can boast. {10} For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

When someone calls you a “do-gooder”, it is not usually meant as a compliment. Instead, “do-gooder” has become a term of contempt. This is just another symptom of the inverted value system we live with today. Regardless of what the world values, God’s people are called to do good. God is the original “do-gooder”, and has said that He will do good to those who do good... so be a “do-gooder”! In this age of grace, good deeds have sometimes been downplayed, even devalued by the church. This is a mistake. We are saved by grace, but were created to do good works. It’s “both/and”, not “either/or”. When we do good for God’s glory, our Father in heaven is praised. Therefore, God will reward the “do-gooder” according to his conduct. So let your light shine as your good deeds bring glory to God. Find appropriate ways to be a “do-gooder”. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day