Misguided Love

Those who love money will never have enough. How absurd to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what is the advantage of wealth - except perhaps to watch it run through your fingers!

Ecclesiastes 5:10-11

The book of Ecclesiastes includes one of the most important financial truths you'll ever hear. If you love money and the things it can buy, better budgeting, a higher-paying job, or even a winning lottery ticket can't make you happy or alleviate your financial worries. The only deciding factor that you can really depend on is to decide to pursue a fresh, new focus.

Love focuses on what it desires. When you desire God, you spend your time and energy getting to know him better and doing what pleases him. When you desire money, you spend your time and energy fueling an atmosphere of greed, instead of nurturing a sense of contentment. A deep desire for wealth can tempt you to do things you normally wouldn't consider, like cheating, lying, or stealing. You don't need to do anything illegal to fall for temptations like these. All it takes is holding on to the riches God has given you with a tight grip instead of opening your arms, and hoarding your blessings instead of sharing them.

The book of Ecclesiastes is all about how meaningless life is apart from God. Pursuing riches more vigorously than a relationship with your God will lead you to only one place - an impoverished life. (Even if your band account seems to say otherwise!) Instead of focusing on money, focus on God, the source of wealth. Thank  him for how he has blessed you and share what he has so generously given. You will find yourself rich in joy and contentment.

Money promises more than it can ever deliver, God will never do that to you. The treasures he promises his children are both certain and eternal.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God to love things from above more than that of this earthly world. When we keep our eyes fixed on him we live the life he has promised us on earth until the entry to the heavenly kingdom he keeps for us. Thank God for his wisdom and guidance to keep all paths lead to him and not be be swayed with promises of man that are not perfect like that of the love of Christ Jesus. ~ MME Team

Moving On

The Lord says, "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?"

Isaiah 43:18-19

The people of Israel made plenty of mistakes and suffered generations of consequences. They'd been salves in Egypt, wandered the desert for forty years, and were presently at war with Assyria. Because of repeatedly disobeying and distancing themselves from God, they'd lived with crippling fear, enemy invasions, and backbreaking bondage off and on for centuries. Along with words of rebuke and warning, the prophet Isaiah offered those desperate people words of hope, which summed up the heart of his message.

Through Isaiah, God promised his people he was doing something fresh and innovative. The Hebrew word of new conveys both expectancy and optimism. It describes something "unprecedented in its wonderful character." The promises that this new thing would "spring up" meant it would happen gradually, like a germination and growth of a beautiful wildflower. Its fulfillment would require patience, but its eventuality was sure. That fulfillment would be realized in Jesus.

To be able to look forward with joy, the Israelites needed to let go of the past. The same is true of people today. Learning from the past is useful. Dwelling on the past is destructive. It keeps your focus on things you can no longer change and off what God is doing right before your eyes. Follow Isaiah's advice to the Israelites. Forget what's behind you. Move freely forward toward the good that is sprouting right beneath your feet.

Letting go of past mistakes - yours and those of others - may involve forgiveness, repentance, and reconciliation. Let Isaiah's words encourage you as you work through emotional or relational roadblocks.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God for momentum and strengthen to break through the past and hold fast to the truth of the present and the future God has promised you. The promise of the TRUTH. Reminding yourself that we are not of this world. So when earthly times hit hard... keep your eyes fixed on him and the heavenly kingdom that awaits you per the grace and mercy of Christ Jesus. ~ MME Team

Message to the Masses

God be merciful to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.

Psalm 67:1-2

The Bible is filled with examples of how God blesses his people. In the Old Testament, God's blessings were typically physical ones, expressed in the form of personal provision, protection, and prosperity. In the New Testament, God's Spirit promised even richer blessings, such as peace, comfort, joy, hope, and eternal life - not to mention God's greatest blessing of all, the gift of his Son.

Like any loving father, God blesses his children simply because he loves them and delights in giving them pleasure. However, Psalm 67 reveals an even greater purpose behind God's gifts: God's blessings can provide the world with tangible evidence that he is active, involved, and graciously good.

One lesson this psalm teaches is that there is nothing wrong with asking God for his blessings. It also gives an Old Testament glimpse into God's New Testament plans. In the Old Testament, God primarily blessed the one distinct group of people he chose to demonstrate his love to and through - the people of Israel. Yet even then, God loved all the nations of the earth and wanted them also to experience his blessing of salvation. As the Israelites drew closer to God, their desires better reflected God's own. The same can be true for you. As God's love for the world fills your heart and your prayers, ask him to use every blessing he bestows on you to provide others with a clearer picture of who he is.

Consider the fact that every blessing can be a tool. Ask God to help you use your blessings wisely, in ways that draw others closer to him.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God for his blessings and feel secure in God's wisdom that he knows all that will occur in your life for he created you. He will not give you anything you cannot handle when you live with the grace and mercy of the Lord our God. ~ MME Team

A Servant's Heart

In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:5

Modern culture encourages individuals to fight for their rights, push their way to the top, and always look out for number one. Jesus demonstrated a different way to approach life, with the attitude of a servant who lays aside his rights for the benefit of others. In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul challenged the Philippians to make a counter cultural choice and to follow Jesus's example.

To understand what it means to have the attitude and actions of Jesus alive and working within you, read the Gospels. Note how Jesus treated people. Note his patience, his compassion, and his sacrificial perspective on life. He voluntarily put earthly limitations on his heavenly form in order to bless others. He continually asked his Father for "thy will," not "my will," to be accomplished. Out of anyone who ever lived on this earth, Jesus had more reason to demand that others put him on a pedestal than anyone else. He deserved to be honored and served. Instead, out of an attitude of humility, he chose to be the servant of all.

Your attitude influences your decisions and actions and, ultimately, the effect they have on the lives of others. A selfish, self-centered attitude will eventually lead to self-destruction. A humble, God-centered attitude will lead to deeper personal peace and a greater positive impact on the world around you. It also will bring joy and honor to God, who dearly loves you. Help keep your attitude in check by keeping this in mind.

Love is the motivation behind the attitude that you are asked to emulate. The closer you draw to God, the deeper your love will grow and the more like Jesus your attitude will become.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray and give thanks to God for one more day to walk in the footsteps of his son Christ Jesus. That your heart may be transformed to that of a servant's heart. To leave behind days of modern culture, focus on self. For our lives are but a whisper here today, gone tomorrow. Let us serve God and make an impact of love upon our brethren. Lord forgive us when we fail you and thank you for one more day to live through your will. ~ MME Team 

The Gospel of Creation

From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his his invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse  whatsoever for not knowing God.

Romans 1:20

The Milky Way, the Great Barrier Reef, the northern lights, the miracle of birth... the universe is filled with wonders that humans cannot replicate on their own, wonders that point to the existence of Someone as Creator. People disagree over who this Creator is and whether he is actively involved in the world today. Yet the intricacy, orderliness and sheer awesomeness of the natural world confirm what the human heart has felt since the dawn of time - there is more to this life than meets the eye.

What is visible proclaims the existence of something invisible. Some people have rejected this truth, but that doesn't make it any less true. Paul discussed in his letter to the Romans how people knew God was there but did not thank him or give glory to him for what he'd done. They chose instead to go their own foolish ways. The good news is that God is real. His fingerprints are everywhere and you can understand more about who he is by simply studying what he's made.

Knowing about God's character is not the same thing as knowing him. However, recognizing there is a God is the first step to seeking him. Through the wonder of creation, God has left no room for anyone's choosing to do anything less.

You can make the truth found in Romans more real to you by exploring the world around you, thereby discovering new things about God's character. Praise God for everything you learn.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray and seek God in your daily life that you may be prepared for his calling for your life.  ~ MME Team

Eternal Will and Testament

Christ is the mediator of the new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance - now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

Hebrews 9:15

Words like mediator, covenant, and inheritance in the book of Hebrews give the impression of a legal document. Actually, the entire book of Hebrews differs in writing style from the rest of the letters in the New Testament. Its unknown author presents a thesis-like case, methodically stating why faith in Jesus is a logical and God-designed spiritual progression from Judaism.

The verse at the heart of what the author wanted his readers to understand proclaims that Jesus is both a mediator, "someone who makes peace between two parties," and a testator, "someone who determines the conditions and benefits of the inheritance he leaves behind." The words testament and covenant are interchangeable. The Old Testament and the New Testament could just as easily be called the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, since the two parts of the Bible really focus on covenant. Under the Old Covenant, or Old Testament, God accepted the sacrifice of animals as a way to cover up the wrongs people had done. Under the New Covenant, the wrongs were permanently erased by a different kind of sacrifice - Jesus's gift of his own life.

A last will and testament is valid only after someone dies, and then it is irrevocable. That means Jesus's death guaranteed your inheritance. Jesus saved your life by substituting his own in payment for every wrong you've ever done and ever will do. Because of this, you will receive what you never could have earned on your own - the ultimate freedom of living a life that never ends.

Jesus's testament to you is not only a guarantee, but it is also a true source of encouragement. When God makes a promise, it's like a legal document. He will fulfill every word.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray and give thanks to the Lord all mighty who gave us Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice so that we may be saved. Our part is to go to him, our Father, and declare that indeed we need saving. Let no man, woman or beast depart you from your Savior. Salvation is a personal matter and it begins with repentance. No matter where you are (work, home, church, homeless) reach out to him in prayer and testify all that you know to be true of yourself. For he knows you perfectly and loves you always. God is waiting to hear from you, to strengthen you with his love.  ~ MME Team

Battle Plan

Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

James 4:7

The devil is referred to by many names throughout the Bible - accuser, tempter, deceiver, slanderer, enemy, Satan. One thing the Bible never calls him is a mythical creature. He is as real as God himself. There's no point in resisting someone who isn't there.

You need to know more, however, than that Satan exists. You need to know exactly what to do to defeat Satan. On the same day you aligned yourself with God, you gained this "adversary," which is what the word Satan literally means. Satan has no personal interest in you. His only aim is to hurt God. One way he tries to do that is by trying to hurt the ones whom God loves. Satan is only a prideful, fallen angel. He isn't all-knowing or all-powerful. Yet he can still wreak havoc, causing you to doubt God's love or tempting you to go down the wrong road.

But you can stop Satan in his tracks. First, submit to God. In the original language, submit is a military command that means "to get your proper rank." That's accomplished by humbly putting every aspect of your life under God's loving authority. Only then are you prepared to defeat the devil. Resist is also a military command that means "to stand bravely against." Stand against your adversary by recalling the biblical truths. Strengthen your resolve through prayer. Turn your back on anything that entices you to turn away from God. Satan will flee from the battle before it has even begun.

Satan has no future. Jesus assured Satan's ultimate defeat by dying on the cross. The potential skirmishes that James alludes to are nothing more than diversionary tactics from an opponent who is destined to lose.

Source: The 100 Most Important Bible Verses

Pray to God for courage and strength to fight the good fight until your last breath. ~ MME Team