Sunday, August 9, 2015

We are rich- possessing nothing

Ministers of God-- YOU, ME, all who claim CHRIST!

2Co 6:4  But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
2Co 6:5  In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
2Co 6:6  By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
2Co 6:7  By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
2Co 6:8  By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
2Co 6:9  As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
2Co 6:10  As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

In MUCH patience.
In afflictions.
In necessities.
In distresses.
In stripes.
In imprisonments.
In tumults.
In labors.
In watchings.
In fastings.
By pureness.
By knowledge.
By longsuffering.
By kindness.
By the Holy Ghost.
By love unfeigned.
By word of truth.
By the power of God.
By the armor of righteousness.
By honor.
By dishonor.
By evil report.
By good report.
As deceivers.
As true.
As unknown.
As yet well known.
As dying.
As chastened- not killed.
As sorrowful- always rejoicing.
As poor- making many rich.
As having nothing- yet possessing all things.

I'm still caught up on having nothing - yet possessing all things.  We possess ALL things when we have nothing.

Mat 6:19  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also

As ministers of God, as those who have Jesus Christ as their Savior, we will PUT our treasures in HEAVEN.

Name one earthly material possession that moths and rust won't touch, name a single possession a thief won't steal.  You might be able to name lots that moths won't bother, and rust never tarnishes, but a thief can steal absolutely ANYTHING material, anything tangible.  If our treasures are not where a thief can get them they have to be in heaven and they have to be of things not tangible, or not reachable by anyone.

Where are the things we would hate to lose? Where are the things we would not want stolen?

Where does our heart lie?

Our lives reveal the truth. How we behave reveals the truth. And honestly how others see us reveals the truth. I'm not saying everyone can know everything about us so the way we see others and they see us is only a small part of who we are, but it matters.

We know good from evil and we choose to follow one or the other in a lot of ways.

Only by the GRACE of God may we choose good- choose GOD over evil in ALL things!

May we have NOTHING, but POSSESS all things through our SAVIOR, having HIM, having eternal life IN HIM, through HIM, by HIM!

Please Father, please help us be YOURS as the world and the prince of this world fights against this in so many ways.

In Jesus' name always!

Amen.

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