It all boils down to this

Today's sentence of wisdom, from our friend Solomon, has been passed down from generation to generation - and it is still so so TRUE.

"We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can’t take our riches with us."- Ecclesiastes 5:15

When we come to realise this fact we slowly start to detach ourselves from the obsession of holding onto our "things". Most of us take a long time to learn this, but eventually it dawns on most of us. We can't take any material things with us when we die.

Jesus said it like this:

"“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal" (Matthew 6:19).

Living in Grace

D3LM3

What's in a name

What is in a name?
In the opening verse of Micah's prophecy he mentions that he comes from a town called Moresheth. For most of us this doesn't mean much, but I think it is profound in light of our own journey through Advent. Moresheth means 'Possession' in Hebrew and this reminds us that ultimately we belong to the Lord.

The reason for Micah's stern words in his prophecy is because people have turned away from God and so he calls them to repentance. It is interesting that we often see God's calling us to repent as an angry gesture, but what if we changed that perspective to one of Care. God's calls us back home because we are 'His' and God loves us. He doesn't want to see his 'pride and joy' living unfilled lives.

Micah 1:1 - "The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah..."

As you begin this season of Advent remember that the Lord loves you and we belong to him. He loves us more than anything.

Mark 9:41 - Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.

Living in Grace
D3LM3

Our Portion - Ezekiel 44

In Ezekiel's 44th chapter he gives clear instruction as to how the priests should live and work. One of the things that struck me about this chapter appears in verse 28, where God says:

“‘I am to be the only inheritance the priests have. You are to give them no possession in Israel; I will be their possession."

I believe this speaks to all of us today, not just priests. God is to be our true 'inheritance' and 'possession.' All of the material things we spend time trying to acquire and hold onto, will revert to someone else when we have died. However, the one thing that we can claim for our eternal life, is God's inheritance and possession. These things we can claim in the name of Jesus.

Psalm 16:5 - Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. 

Living in Grace
D3LM3

 

Treasured Possession

Gifts, presents, treasurers - these are all synonymous with Christmas. Even though some people choose not to remember Jesus during this season, it is undeniable that the giving of gifts originates from the 'gift of the Christ child.'  God gave of his very best and so, in turn, we also give to others. 

In this lovely verse from Malachi 3:17, we see how God speaks about as being his Treasured Possession. We are loved so much by God, that he sees us as TREASURE! What a delightful thing to reflect on this Advent season.

“On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. ¹⁸ And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.^"
 
There are a few other passages in the Bible that convey the same message. Here is one of those:
^"For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession." - Deuteronomy 7:6 

Have a blessed day,
Living in Grace
D3LM3