July 8, 2009
~Denise Grant
“The worries of this life the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the world, making it unfruitful..” Mark 4:19
Something to Think About:
~Have you ever given your best effort only to experience a great failure?
~Equally, have you ever experience Great success at something –you really didn’t put your heart into?
~Is there something God wants your effort on right now?
God measures your success not just by results, but by the faithfulness of your spirit.
Would you consider someone highly successful who was conceived out of wedlock? Who was born into a dirt poor family? Who lost their father at an early age? Who was looked down on because of their race? Who was a simple manual laborer? Who depended on the kindness and gifts of others for food and shelter? Who was ridiculed by both the religious and political leaders of their day? Who was arrested and imprisoned? And who was executed as a criminal?
If you said “no” to any of the above questions – then you just snubbed Jesus! He was all the above – and yet, clearly has changed the world! Jesus set aside all the frills and trimmings of worldly success in order to bring glory to His Heavenly Father – “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life – only to take it up again.” John 10:17
He even cautions His followers (that’s you and me) that loving Him may result in persecution – “Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues.” Matthew 10:17, loss of family – “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death.”, Matthew 10:21, and even their death – “You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.” Luke 21:16
But He also assures us that there is no greater reward than doing the will of the Father in Heaven – “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory and with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.” Matthew 16:27
Remember, God spells success differently than the rest of the world:
F - ocused
A - llegiance
I - ndisputable
T - rustworthy
H - onorable
U- nwavering
N- ever ending
S - incere
There’s nothing wrong with experiencing the kind of success that the world recognizes. Paul says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24.
If the choice for you is the applause of the world or the applause of Heaven – only one reward is worth pursuing. Which do you crave?
“I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” 1 Corinthians 10:33
God Will…
Make great those who serve – “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” Matthew 20:26
Bless those who commit their work to Him – “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16:3
Bestows favor on you – “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” Psalm 84:11
Jesus tells His disciples to do their acts of righteousness “in secret” and not for the approval of men – “Then your Father, who sees what is done is secret, will reward you.” Matthew 6:4
Lord God,
Please help me learn to be more faithful to You in all ways. Let my life be pleasing in Your sight and bless everything I do in service to You. In Jesus name, Amen
Denise Grant - Just "clay" in the Master Potter's hands.
The man who walks with God always gets to his destination.
If you have a pulse you have a purpose. 
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