From CHURCHLEADERS:
For many people, playing in the NFL and winning two Super Bowl rings might seem like a career pinnacle. But for 10-year player Stefen Wisniewski, who announced his retirement last week, the best is yet to come.
In a video posted to social media, the Kansas City offensive lineman says “it’s time to move on” after a decade of football. As for his next move? “I’m going to be a pastor,” he shares. “The absolute best part of my life is my relationship with Jesus Christ, and I can’t imagine a better full-time job than teaching people the Bible and sharing the love of Christ with others.”
“The glory of God, and, as our only means to glorifying Him, the salvation of human souls, is the real business of life.” C.S. Lewis
Two-Time NFL Super Bowl Champion Retires: ‘I’m Going to Be a Pastor’
Jesus: Worth Leaving Everything Behind
From Pastor Don Kimbro:
Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” – Luke 12:15
Writers have a class of words that they often turn to brighten their essays. They are called onomatopoeia. These are words whose sounds reflect their meaning. For example, whack, buzz, bubbling, hiss, jangle, and crackle, all sound like their meaning. You can almost hear the hissing snake ready to strike or feel the heat from the crackling fire.
In one of Jesus’ parables recorded in Luke 12:13-21, He tells a story of a farmer who had such a bountiful harvest one year that he had nowhere to store it all. Thinking that his harvests would be that way forever, he decided to tear down all his old barns and build bigger ones to store more crops and then live a life of ease.
As Jesus introduces the story, he cautions his followers, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed.” I believe the word greed is one of those onomatopoetic words. You just can’t say it without gritting your teeth. Try it. It has a sinister and disturbing sound to it doesn’t it? The word in the original language literally means, “eager to have more.” It points to a strong desire or passion for earthly wealth while ignoring spiritual treasures (Matthew 6:19-21).
Because greed always promotes a desire to become materially rich and live a life of ease, Jesus warns that if we, like the farmer, continue in that direction we could find ourselves in a two-way conversation with God that goes like this,
YOU: “I’ll sit back and say to myself, ‘My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”‘ (Luke 12:19)
GOD: “You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for? Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God” (Luke 12:20-21).
Notice the whole emphasis of the parable is how to become rich. The difference is in its source and future. One is the world’s way. The other is God’s way. Any idea which one will last longer? Maranatha!
From Adrian Rogers:
PRAY OVER THIS
“For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.”
PONDER THIS
What does it mean to have your mind opened by God? It means that the average man, the average woman, the average boy, and the average girl in the pew, who is obedient and diligent, can understand the Word of God. Look back at 1 Corinthians 1:26-27: “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.”
What does that mean? It means God takes ordinary people and does extraordinary things through those people. It means you can get your Bible and you can pray over it. And you can get your heart right with God, and you can ask, “Spirit of God, make Yourself known to me.” And God will reveal Himself to you supernaturally out of the Bible.
- When have you felt that God revealed Himself to you through His Word?
- How much desire would you say you have for God to reveal Himself on a daily basis? What contributes to that for good or bad?
PRACTICE THIS
Take time today to study your Bible. Begin by asking God to open your mind and give you an understanding of the things revealed in His Word.