Elon Musk’s net worth is $198 Billion. Each month he brings in approximately $200 Million. Makes one wonder, “what is my net worth?” More importantly, “what is my net worth in Christ?” A few years ago author Boyd Bailey wrote the following article that answers this question for us.
Hope you enjoy! Nate “‘My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge’. Colossians 2:2-3 Our financial net worth need not define who we are. If it does, we become fickled, fearful, faithless and enslaved to economic security. Our worth is not wrapped around Wall Street or Main Street, but the Streets of Gold. For followers of Jesus, what He believes about us defines us. I can become fixated on my personal balance sheet and murmur in disbelief, or I can believe what Jesus says about me—precious, highly valued, a king and a priest. My worth is defined by the wonder of His grace, His unconditional love and His gift of eternal life. Money does not make the man, man makes the money, but most importantly our Master Jesus Christ marks us. The fingerprints of God are forever embedded on our body, soul and spirit. He bought us, so He owns us through the blood of His son Jesus. Our born again birth certificate reads, ‘Christian’. We are highly valued in heaven. ‘But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.’ Ephesians 2:13 Christians have a much greater cause than cash and earthly kingdoms. There is a Kingdom, not of this world, whose goal is to glorify God. You are valuable, not by how much money you have, but by how much your Master has you. Your Savior Jesus defines you as a forgiven child of God who, by faith, is filled with the Holy Spirit for good works. Guilt is replaced by grace, fear flees in the face of faith, pride melts under the influence of humility, and hope has its way in the heart of surrendered Christians. Therefore, define your net worth by the things Jesus deems valuable, and you are rich indeed. Count your many blessings, not your coins, and you will become content. You are of high net worth if ‘Christ in you’ is your hope in glory. Your real net worth is His eternal riches. ‘For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.’ 2 Corinthians 8:9 What is my net worth as defined by what Jesus says are the most valuable assets I have? Related Readings: Ephesians 1:11-14; Hebrews 10:19; 11:26; 1 Timothy 4:8” https://www.wisdomhunters.com/real-net-worth/
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In the New Living Translation, the phrase “O LORD, why…?” occurs three times in the book of Psalms. The psalmist had some very serious questions for the Lord. What about you? Do you find yourself coming to God and ask the “Why?” questions, or do you shy away from those types of conversations with Him? There’s absolutely nothing wrong with doing so out of reverence towards Him, besides, He already knows your every thought anyway. So, how about you? What “why…?” question(s) do you have for Him today? Bring it to Him and see where the conversation goes from there.
Praying for each of you, Nate Psalm 10:1 (NLT) O Lord, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I am in trouble? Psalm 44:23 (NLT) Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Get up! Do not reject us forever. Psalm 88:14 (NLT) O Lord, why do you reject me? Why do you turn your face from me? Hymn: Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus by Casting Crowns https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiEqKpN90W4
Real Dudes, Would highly encourage you to listen to the hymn/song above and then answer the question, “What do you consider to be the so sweet in your faith journey?” Then take some time to talk with the Lord about that…He’d love to hear from you. Practicing His Presence, Nate Real Dudes,
On each of our calendars we reach a day once a year that's recognized as Easter Sunday, which we all just celebrated. May I remind us that each Sunday is Resurrection Sunday. Each Sunday is a reminder that we serve a risen Savior. That's worth rejoicing about, celebrating over, and being thankful for each Sunday when we come together as the body of Christ. What would our churches look like if we lived this out each week and not just once a year? Would there be a heightened urgency similar to what I pointed out in the last posting? There's a song that continues playing over and over again in my mind lately...I've included the link to it below. Hope you enjoy it, and hope you're looking forward to being in the Lord's House once again this coming Sunday and in the Sunday's to come. May it look and feel like a true time of celebration!!! Practicing His Presence, Nate Thank you Jesus for the Blood by Charity Gayle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhU-Omwg2rU Please take some time to thank Jesus for what He did for you on the cross. John 15:13 (NLT) reminds us of this truth, "There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." Real Dudes,
Below is the message that I shared at our Maundy Thursday get together. Enjoy! Nate As a father of six daughters who have played multiple sports, we have become pretty familiar with a place called Urgent Care. Some of the injuries they’ve experienced needed immediate attention…there was an urgency about it all. Not tracking with me, then here’s something y’all might relate better with concerning the topic of URGENCY!!! = The board game Perfection: If you’re not familiar with it, then here’s a video to help introduce you to the game and the importance of having a sense of urgency when playing it. So, when Pastor Rob asked me to preach at Maundy Thursday, the name Zacchaeus immediately popped into my head. So where does this story about Zacchaeus land in scripture? Just Before our passage… In Luke 18:31-34 (CSB) is recorded for us The Third Prediction of His Death And then Shortly after our passage… We read in Luke 19:28-40 (CSB) about The Triumphal Entry Now, smushed between those two passages is our passage of focus… Luke 19:1-10 (CSB) Jesus Visits Zacchaeus…beginning in verse one, we read that He [Jesus] entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man. 4 So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since he was about to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house.” 6 So he quickly came down and welcomed him joyfully. 7 All who saw it began to complain, “He’s gone to stay with a sinful man.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much.” 9 “Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.” Out of all the people directly in front of Jesus, God Perfectly popped up one single man that Jesus could focus on. Jesus looked up, saw Zacchaeus, and said to him in verses 5 and 6…
[Transition into Communion] What’s the Urgent Imminence within the Lord’s Supper? 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (CSB) 23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. The urgent imminence is His Return (He is coming again soon…at any moment) for those who have received Him as Savior. What are we doing in preparation for that day? Are we sharing the Good News with others verbally or maybe even nonverbally by partaking in the Lord’s Supper? Let’s keep these questions and thoughts in mind as we partake as the Lord leads… |
AuthorNate Smith is a husband, a father of 6 girls, grandpa to 3 granddaughters and one grandson, a police and fire chaplain, a pastor, and has a passion to see men grow in Christ. #girldad including granddaughter
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