God's Gifts!

 For Tuesday, June 13, 2023:

Matthew 19:29 NLT: “Everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.”

Jesus is trying to explain life after this life to his disciples, when Peter impulsively asks a very human question: “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?” For all the religiosity, miracles and majesty surrounding Jesus, Peter asks what’s in the back of everyone’s mind: “What’s in it for me?”

Jesus reassures everyone: “You’ll be repaid a hundredfold, and (best of all) you’ll have a reservation in heaven – eternal life with Father God!” Jesus is promising this to his closest friends, and his word is good!

God loves his children, and eternal life is his gift to us. We love God because he’s so good to us, sending his Son to orchestrate our redemption. Our faith is in Jesus. But remember that it’s all gifts and gratitude. We cannot barter our way into heaven. We cannot earn our way into heaven.

God’s gifts are the best gifts!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

God of Provision!

For Friday, September 16, 2022:

2 Kings 4:7 NLT: “When the widow told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, ‘Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over.’”

Q: Did the widow run out of jars, or did God run out of olive oil?

A widow in their group appealed to the prophet Elisha: “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.”

Our God, a God of caring and provision, had Elisha tell her to gather every jar, pitcher and pot she could find and then prepare for a miracle. She sent her sons up and down the street to borrow containers from everyone. She poured from her flask into the others, filling every one until there were no unfilled containers. Then the oil stopped flowing.

So you see, God has all the provision we require. The question remains, are we ready to receive God’s gifts when he pours out his blessings on us? You can borrow containers from your neighbors if needed. That’s how Christianity is supposed to work!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406