BELIEVE: week nineteen: Giving My Resources

“Since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” 2 Corinthians 8:7

History tells us that during the Middle Ages, whenever a soldier was baptized, he would leave his right hand extended above the water. Why? This was the hand that he carried his sword in and he was not offering it up to God. Today we might see a person with that same hand extended above the water but with a wallet in it.

Paul challenged the Corinthian believers to drop that hand with the wallet into the water and excel in the “grace of giving.” Notice he didn’t say the “obligation of giving.” We often miss this. In the opening words of 1 Corinthians Paul wrote, “I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus” (1:4, emphasis added). Aren’t you glad that when Jesus was baptized, his whole body went down into the water? Aren’t you glad his whole body went on the cross?

So grab your wallet and baptize it along with the rest of you, so you can excel in offering the same kind of grace Christ offered to you.

"I give my resources to fulfill God's purposes."

[Excerpt from Believe: 31-Day Devotional by Randy & Roxanne Frazee, pgs. 41-42.]

BELIEVE: week eighteen: Offering My Time

“Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17

The clock is no respecter of persons. Even single humans who has ever lived on the earth has exactly 168 hours a week. And most of us find that after spending time sleeping, working, eating, and commuting, there just isn’t much left over. So when someone requests a piece of your time, you can feel tension in your gut.

God, however, doesn’t want just a piece of your time; he wants it all. Yikes! Now, he is not asking you to go without sleep, quit your job, or stop eating. He is asking for a total shift in attitude. As you do the things you need to do, want to do, and are compelled to do because of your faith, offer it up to God in a way that pleases him.

You see, the time God wants to offer him doesn’t have to be spent only sitting in church or serving in a ministry. If you are peeling a potato, peel it in excellence for God. If you are holding a baby, hold that baby for God, offering the child love and the warmth of a caring heart. If you run into a friend in the store, offer that conversation up to God and see what a difference it might make.

What are you going to do next? Offer it up to God.

"I offer my time to fulfill God's Purposes."

[Excerpt from Believe: 31-Day Devotional by Randy & Roxanne Frazee, pgs. 39-40.]

BELIEVE: week seventeen: Spiritual Gifts

“Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith.” Romans 12:4-6

“That person has charisma.” We make this kind of statement about someone who arouses enthusiasm in others. Did you know that if you are a Christian, you have charisma? It’s absolutely true.

The Greek word for “gifts” Paul used in the verse above is charismata. It is literally translated “grace gift,” and it refers to at least one special gift the Holy Spirit deposited in you when you gave your life to Christ. Maybe it is the gift of leadership, or mercy, or administration, or teaching, or simply being a good helper. When we know our spiritual gifts and humbly use them in concert with other Christians to fulfill God’s purposes, good things happen in the lives of other people, it arouses enthusiasm in them. Voilà: charisma!

So, next time you hear someone say, “That person has charisma,” see who they’re talking about—it just may be you.

“I know my spiritual gifts and use them to fulfill God’s purposes.”

[Excerpt from Believe: 31-Day Devotional by Randy & Roxanne Frazee, pgs. 37-38.]

BELIEVE: week sixteen: Biblical Community

“All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:44-47

The members of the early church did not devote themselves to evangelism—leading other folks to Christ. They devoted themselves first to each other and to God. They saw each other every day and often shared a meal together. When they gathered around the table, they ate with “glad and sincere hearts.” How did they do that? Between notes they chatted about the wonderful life they now had in Christ, and they praised God for it.

Once they finished their meal, they walked through the neighborhood streets and simply met the needs of the people around them from a heart of gratitude. Before people knew the doctrine that drove these believing neighbors, they experienced it. The result? People were added to the community of Christ every day. Evangelism resulted.

Happy and kind people are contagious. You may only be a great meal away from seeing another person come to Christ.

“I fellowship with christians to accomplish God’s purposes in my life, in the lives of others, and in the world.”

[Excerpt from Believe: 31-Day Devotional by Randy & Roxanne Frazee, pgs. 35-36.]

BELIEVE: week fifteen: Total Surrender

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1

The problem with living sacrifices is they keep trying to crawl off the altar. Surrendering to someone else’s will bring about tremendous fear, even when it is God’s will.

What will he ask you to do? Stay in a tumultuous relationship or marriage for the good of the other person? Walk away from a relationship that is not honoring or pleasing to him? Watch your spouse or child head overseas to serve their country? Move your family halfway across the country for a new job?

Fear associated with surrendering to uncertainty can cause a living sacrifice to wiggle off the altar, God asks you to stay on it, rely on his mercy and grace to get you through, and believe his promise that he is working out all things for your ultimate good.

“I dedicate my life to God’s purposes.”

[Excerpt from Believe: 31-Day Devotional by Randy & Roxanne Frazee, pgs. 33-34.]