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In the message “From A Pure Heart” we saw that God has blessed each of us with gifts, talents, and abilities; and we are to be good stewards by faithfully giving our blessings back to God with a pure heart. But what determines a pure heart?

When Jesus saw the widow offer her two small coins, He said she had given “out of her poverty” (Mark 12:44). It required great humility to offer those coins, a true lack of self importance. She knew her coins had no real value, but with a deep devotion for God and a strong desire to obediently serve she gave what she had. The widow offered her gift with a pure heart!

We are all called to this type of pure giving – a giving motivated by love, and “valued” by obedience. Our gifts to God may appear big or small in our eyes and in the eyes of the world, but when lovingly given in response to His leading, every gift is received as a sweet and fragrant offering.

As we give back to the Lord by ministering to the needs of others, we often find actual “results” fall far below expectations. To keep from being discouraged, we must always remember that our true offering is in our obedience and love. Our offering must never be judged by the outward appearance of results.

This truth is even more crucial when the results of ministry begin to exceed our expectations. The great danger of “success” in any ministry effort is the tendency to shift our focus to what WE have accomplished and given with OUR abilities. But again, our offering must NEVER be judged by the outward appearance of results!

1 Corinthians 4:7
“For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?”

God deserves the glory for ALL the results. He gave us our ability as well as the opportunity to minister and give. We fall into sinful pride anytime we forget the One who has provided all; “Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?” (1 Corinthians 5:6). We must always maintain a sense of poverty as we give back and minister to the Lord. We can give nothing of real value; indeed, we are very poor! Yet, we can continue to give our all and love Him with all our heart.

Let’s give praise and glory to the Potter who continues to shape and mold us into a vessel of great beauty. Let’s guard against every attempt to place a value, large or small, on what we offer our Heavenly Father. And, with a spirit of humility, let’s continue to abundantly give out of our poverty.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

Jeremiah warned the people of Jerusalem for many years that they must repent or be destroyed. He often warned with direct words from God: “I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways” (Jeremiah 18:11). It’s hard to imagine a more direct warning.

But the people of Jerusalem ignored God’s warning and failed to repent. And once the attacks on Jerusalem began, the promised destruction would not be stopped; “I will hand all Judah over to the king of Babylon, who will carry them away to Babylon or put them to the sword” (Jeremiah 20:4).

The righteousness of God requires that sinful hearts be punished. But the mercy of God always provides a path for those who place their trust in Him. This path may contain some painful consequences; but as we continue to trust, it will always lead us closer to His side. Jerusalem would be destroyed, but God provided one final opportunity for His chosen people to live.

Jeremiah 21:8-9
“I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death. Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; he will escape with his life.”

The people of Jerusalem felt secure in their city. They had weapons, strong walls, and a location which was hard to attack. Their worldly nature told them to remain in the safety of their “created” security, but God said the only way to survive was to trust Him and surrender.

Jesus used similar words when teaching the disciples; “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it” (Matthew 16:25).

Though we are trusting in the sacrifice of Jesus for our eternal forgiveness, are we living in complete surrender for our daily walk? Have we lost our life, in the sense of our control, agenda, and even dreams, for the sake of our faith? Our flesh wants to place trust in what we can touch and feel – in what we can create and control – but Jesus says the only way to truly live is to surrender ALL into His hands. His promise is that if we release all we think we hold, we will find a life more abundant and fulfilling than any we could imagine!

We may not understand how all this works, but the truth remains and the truth will set us free! (John 8:32). God has a wonderful plan for our life – a plan which will bring fulfillment and peace – but it’s a plan which requires surrender; and often this surrender will require us to trust Him in an area filled with great uncertainty and fear. Let’s begin today to place EVERYTHING in the loving control of His hands. Let’s begin a new life as we completely surrender and live!

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

Much of Paul’s letter to the Romans is a love story between a righteous God and sinful man. Even though our sinful state sentenced us to an eternal death (Romans 6:23), God looked upon us with love: “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Our Heavenly Father loved us long before we knew Him – He loved us when there was nothing in us that deserved His love – and He gave His Son as a sacrifice for sin so that, through faith, we might experience His deep and wonderful love for all eternity. This is a love I don’t think we fully appreciate or even understand. And yet, this love which was demonstrated through the life of Jesus has become the standard for how we are to love others; “As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34).

When Jesus came to earth He revealed the true love of God. John wrote of the awesome power of Jesus; “Through Him all things were made” (John 1:3). But we also know that the Creator of the Universe “made Himself nothing…being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:7). Jesus Christ came to earth in human form; He “humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8). His entire life was an act of divine love which revealed the love of God. And this is the same love He commands us to have for one another; the love which Paul says we must continually repay.

Romans 13:8
“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another.”

Paul knew the fullness of Jesus’ love and he knew we were commanded to love one another in a like manner. He also knew we could never truly fulfill Jesus’ command of love because His love was simply too great. And though the love involved in our Salvation is beyond comprehension, His love continues even more with the gift of His Spirit for daily guidance and strength. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each loving one another, together pour out their love on us with a blessed abundance. We definitely have a large love-debt!

But notice that our debt of love to God has become a debt of love to others – a “continuing debt” which will be with us for the rest of our life. Though we can never fully repay, we can honor Jesus’ command by welcoming our debt and joyfully loving those who are placed in our path; “We love {others} because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

Honoring the command of Jesus doesn’t mean we love just the loveable or those who love us in return – it means we love…and then we love some more! Let’s accept our debt and love one another as we make regular (daily) payments toward our continuing debt of love.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

In the message “God’s Provision” we saw that our limited faith often restricts our prayers and therefore limits what God accomplishes in our life. Many times we fail to even ask because we’re fearful of a negative response; “You do not have, because you do not ask God” (James 4:2). Then there are times when God answers but our limited faith refuses to accept His solution. We have God’s response but we never take the steps to follow His direction.

Naaman was the army commander of a kingdom northeast of Israel. He was a very successful soldier, but he had been afflicted with leprosy. At the suggestion of one of his servant girls, Naaman traveled to the home of the prophet Elisha so he might be cured.

2 Kings 5:10-12
“Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, ‘Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.’ But Naaman went away angry and said, ‘I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?’ So he turned and went off in a rage.”

Naaman was an important and proud man. He was offended when Elisha sent a messenger who told him to wash in the dirty Jordan! Naaman thought he had wasted his time, but one of his servants stated a simple yet profound truth: “If the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” (2 Kings 5:13).

Naaman made the decision to obey. He dipped himself seven times in the Jordan river and came out of the water completely cured.

How often does our limited faith or pride keep us from being “cured”? (I’m talking about more than a physical cure). We ask God to heal the broken areas of our life, and He says; “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength” (Mark 12:30). But in our abundance of “wisdom,” we conclude there must be more – some “great thing” which will heal or give our life meaning. We pray again, and God simply replies; “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).

Today we will make a choice. We will choose our own path, which allows our “disease” to spread, or we will put aside our pride, follow God’s direction and be cleansed. True healing can only begin with the free gift of forgiveness through faith in Jesus. A life of purpose can only be found as we seek to glorify God in all we do. Let’s receive His gift and live a life of loving obedience as we trust Him with ALL our heart. Let’s praise Him with every step and receive a complete cure.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

In the message “Spiritual Companions” we saw how, at the time of his greatest need, God gave Elijah a spiritual companion to share the burdens as well as the joys of ministry. I’m so glad God understands this need in His children! Elisha served as Elijah’s attendant for many years while learning the ways of God. Just before the end of Elijah’s ministry – immediately before “Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind” (2 Kings 2:11) – Elisha made a bold request of his mentor.

2 Kings 2:9
“Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?’ ‘Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,’ Elisha replied.”

According to Jewish law, a double portion of the inheritance was given to the firstborn son. This son would also then have the honor of leading the family. By boldly asking for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, Elisha was asking to inherit Elijah’s prophetic ministry and his ability to serve God. Elisha could have made many different requests, but he asked to be blessed with an increased ability to serve.

God granted Elisha’s request and used him to perform many miracles and serve as a prophet for more than 50 years (almost twice as long as Elijah). God granted his request because Elisha’s motives were pure; his heart was firmly set on worshiping God through his service and proclaiming His Word throughout the land.

Solomon made a similar request when God offered to grant him anything he asked; “Give your servant a discerning heart to govern Your people and to distinguish between right and wrong” (1 Kings 3:9). The primary focus of our requests should always be to draw closer to God and glorify Him in all we do. Jesus said if this is the one true desire of our heart, all our other needs will also be satisfied; “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).

Our Heavenly Father desires to abundantly bless His children as we seek His kingdom. He desires to increase our abilities, knowledge, wisdom, peace, and all manner of gifts – He desires for us to inherit these blessings as firstborn sons, “coheirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17). And when He blesses those with pure hearts, we ought to remember that He “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).

God honors the prayers of those who love Him with all their heart and desire to increase their ability to serve. Let’s “approach the throne of grace with confidence” (Hebrews 4:16) and live our lives as firstborn sons. Let’s inherit all He has promised, and glorify His name as we boldly ask to be blessed with a double portion!

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries

In the last several messages we considered the prophet Elijah as he was used by God to miraculously confront the 450 prophets of Baal, but then sank into a deep despair when threatened by Queen Jezebel; “I have had enough Lord, take my life” (1 Kings 19:4). We saw how God demonstrated His compassion, sent Elijah on a forty day journey through the desert, and revealed His presence in a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12). But after all this, God had a very serious question for Elijah.

1 Kings 19:13
“Then a voice said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?'”

Obviously, the question was not in reference to Elijah’s physical location. Elijah was standing on the mountain because God had called him to that exact location. Though God already knew the answer, His question was asking Elijah what had brought him to this spiritually defeated condition. Elijah had been given the opportunity to talk with God, witness His power, and actually stand in His presence; yet he was filled with doubt and felt terribly alone; “I am the only one left” (1 Kings 19:14).

Once again God could have lectured Elijah on his lack of faith. Instead, in His mercy, God gave Elijah the reassurance he needed to continue; “I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal” (1 Kings 19:18). God encouraged Elijah that there were many others fighting this same battle. He also gave Elijah a companion who would walk with him for the remainder of His ministry; “Anoint Elisha to succeed you as prophet” (1 Kings 19:17).

Jesus Christ died as a sacrifice for our sin so we could be restored to a loving relationship with our Heavenly Father. This relationship saves us from an eternal death and separation from God; but it also allows us to be saved from the despair, fear, loneliness, and lack of purpose which surrounds us in the world today.

We are eternally saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. But as we walk through this life, we must trust God to daily save us from the effects of a fallen world as well as our own weak and sinful nature. He is there to hear our cry and we must never be afraid or ashamed to tell Him exactly how we feel: “I’m weak and lonely, frustrated and discouraged. Lord, I need You! … please hold me!!” Nothing we say will ever surprise God or cause Him to let us go.

Our Heavenly Father has called us to examine our heart, confess our condition, and trust Him for the solution – He has called us to be saved! Our strength in the Lord will often depend on recognizing and admitting our weakness. Let’s strive to live each day in His presence; but let’s also be prepared to respond honestly and without fear when God asks: “What are you doing here?”

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Steve Troxel
God’s Daily Word Ministries