How BIG Is Your Box??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #12 Bible Ballistics
As I sit here writing today, this verse came to my mind; yet being the strange thinker that I am, I couldn’t help but think of the question that entitles this post! How BIG is my/your box? We often settle for less than God has for us, because we won’t listen to Him, or we refuse to obey, or we just can’t “believe” that God is asking/telling me/you to “do THAT”!
I sit here listening to my favorite southern gospel music on a music service and one of the songs talked about needing another Noah—a faithful servant who preached that a flood was coming as God’s judgment on the sin and rejection by men of God Himself. Yet, something we often overlook, is that while Noah was a faithful servant, and he preached for some one hundred years, he took only his family onto the ark! Think about that call! He was faithful but had no converts. God gave several of His servants/prophets a similar warning in their calls.
It seems that as modern believers, many have swapped the truth of God’s Word for the idea that God measures our work by “popular acceptance”! That is a totally unbiblical idea. Paul stated it best in his message to his young protégé, Timothy! We need to take note of it today!
“Yea, and all that will live godly
in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers
shall wax worse and worse,
deceiving,
and being deceived.” 2 Timothy 3:12-13
It seems to me that we often miss God’s best by settling for the world’s message rather than God’s. Our box is filled with other things than God. While Malachi’s message was contextually in regard to “giving/tithing” the message is one that applies to every area of our lives. I find it amazing that many people who claim the name of Jesus want to talk about blessings, but they don’t have/make time for obedience. When I keep my eyes on Jesus, knowing that I am HIS and HE is mine, and that HE has promised to care for me, money isn’t even an issue! Money is simply one of the tools that God has entrusted to me to meet the needs of others as well as myself. (I would encourage you to read Malachi—it’s only 4 chapters long. And it has great insights that we surely need today!)!
“Ye are cursed with a curse:
for ye have robbed me,
even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse,
that there may be meat in mine house,
and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts,
if I will not open you the windows of heaven,
and pour you out a blessing,
that there shall not be room enough
to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer
for your sakes,
and he shall not destroy the fruits
of your ground;
neither shall your vine
cast her fruit before the time in the field,
saith the LORD of hosts.
12 And all nations
shall call you blessed:
for ye shall be a delightsome land,
saith the LORD of hosts.” Malachi 3:9-12
Paul’s message to the Ephesian believers, on his final departure from them was a commission to serve and share (truth and blessings):
“Yea, ye yourselves know,
that these hands have ministered
unto my necessities,
and to them that were with me.
35 I have shewed you all things,
how that so labouring
ye ought to support the weak,
and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus,
how he said,
It is more blessed to give
than to receive.” Acts 20:34-35
Are we seeking the blessing to “keep it” or to to pass it on? We are truly blessed to be a blessing, but if our box is so full of the world how can we have enough of GOD’s blessing to share? WE can’t! Blessings are to share not to hoard! Get the world out of that “box” and receive from God that which you can pass on for God’s glory, and the good of others as well as yourself!
“Let him that stole steal no more:
but rather let him labour,
working with his hands
the thing which is good,
that he may have to give
to him that needeth.” Ephesians 4:28
Oh, we are so rich! May we be found to be faithful stewards of all that God entrusts to each of us—it’s not the quantity of our resources, but what are we doing with what GOD has given to us! Is my/your box filled with blessings from God that we may reflect the glory and gracious heart of our Lord; emptying our box of the control and lure of worldly things and allowing God to “pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it”!
And one last thing that blessed me years ago, and I hope it will bless you as it did, and still does, me! We aren’t to be glasses that fill and empty, fill and empty; rather we are to be a glass without top or bottom that is continually allowing the love, grace, and power of our God to flow “through us” continually. In closing I’d like to share an old hymn that always makes me smile and remember that my hope isn’t in this world—but it IS IN JESUS!
God Leads His Dear Children Along By C.A. Young
In shady, green pastures so rich and so sweet
God leads His dear children along
Where the water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet
God leads His dear children along
Refrain
Some through the water, some through the flood
Some through the fire, but all through the blood
Some through great sorrow, but God gives the song
In the night season and all the day long
Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright
God leads His dear children along
Sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night
God leads His dear children along
Though sorrows befall us and Satan oppose
God leads His dear children along
Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes
God leads His dear children along
Some through the waters, some through the flood
Some through the fire, but all through the blood
Some through great sorrow, but God gives the song
In the night season and all the day long
To read a most touching story about the author of this song go to the link:
https://popularhymns.com/god-leads-his-dear-children-along
Blessings on your day my friends—each one filled with HIS blessing, and opportunities to share that which the world may not value, but GOD does!
Amen and Amen!!!
Bible Ballistics 