Mercy has Found Me

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With Sincerity of Heart
By Marc Nabié — Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 6:5-8

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
Ephesians 6:5

Many people around the world fall prey to the message of the prosperity gospel. It claims that all who believe in Jesus will experience social and economic prosperity. It’s tempting to believe this message—that a good Christian will always be the head and never the tail, the leader and never the follower, the rich person and never the poor. But the apostle Paul dispels that view of prosperity. He bears witness to the reality of the early church. Despite being children of God, there were still many Christians who were called to serve their fellow believers or even unbelievers—and some of them in that day were slaves. Paul urges them, in every situation, to serve their leaders wholeheartedly, with devotion, as if they were serving the Lord himself.

Paul, it would seem, is telling us that prosperity or success is not about having the most power or money or influence. Instead, we prosper through living a life of sincere Christian service. Working conscientiously for a boss or leader is a good thing when we do it for the right reason and in the right spirit. We should not work hard merely to reap the rewards of money and power; nor should we work hard at the expense of also serving our brothers and sisters.

How are you serving God in your work and daily tasks? How do you work differently because of your faith in Jesus?

Heavenly Father, turn my eyes to you so that I may learn to serve others humbly in all the areas of my life for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Written by: Marc Nabié

Be Filled With the Spirit
By Marc Nabié — Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Scripture Reading — Galatians 5:16-26

Do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. . . .
Ephesians 5:17-18

People who do not know Christ have no heavenly hope. Without hope, it can be tempting to live in unhealthy ways that cause harm and can even be deadly. The Bible warns against drunkenness, for example. Drinking heavily can be a temptation for believers as well as nonbelievers.

But God calls believers to wise living in the Spirit. When our hope is in Christ, we look forward to a heavenly feast, and the Holy Spirit confirms this hope. Through the Spirit we can already taste in our present lives the fruits of joy, peace, and love.

When we allow ourselves to be filled by the Spirit on a daily basis, we can grow in the Spirit’s fruitbearing and guard against despair or boredom, which can lead to all sorts of excesses. People who drink too much wine or other alcohol detach themselves in a totally wrong way. But by the Spirit of God we can detach ourselves from ourselves in a way that is perfectly good. As Paul writes, we are to “be filled with the Spirit.”

Every believer is called to desire that filling daily. This is a privilege that we can and should seize. Otherwise the danger is that we will exhaust ourselves by trying to live as good Christians on our own. Real Christian living is impossible without the influence of the Spirit.

Spirit of God, thank you for entering our lives as the promised counselor. Guide us so that we may bear the fruit of a life filled with you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Written by: Marc Nabié

People Marked by Generosity
By Marc Nabié — Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Scripture Reading — Luke 10:25-37

Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
Ephesians 4:28

Everyone knows what stealing is, and in all cultures stealing is considered shameful and unacceptable. In my local context, a thief who is caught may be beaten by an angry mob. Things may be different in other countries of the world, but the verdict on a thief is often harsh and negative.

The Bible teaches that stealing is not limited to deliberately taking something from another person. In the Old Testament the Lord makes clear that stealing is not only about taking money or things but also about depriving people of money or help when they are entitled to it. Stealing can take many forms: withholding a worker's wages, not paying tithes and offerings, or depriving the poor, widowed, or orphaned of the help they need.

Stealing happens actively and passively. Active theft is shameful, and few people do it. But who can claim to be innocent of passive theft? We like to think of help to the poor, to prisoners, to the sick, to strangers—and more—as charity, not as an obligation or as a call to justice. But Paul reminds us that the wealth we earn isn’t just for our families; we are called to share generously with people in need.

Who are some of the most generous people in your life? What traits and values characterize them? How can we share with others in new and creative ways?

Lord Jesus, thank you for your generous gift of eternal life. Guide us to be people marked by generosity, pointing others to you. Amen.

Written by: Marc Nabié