A Good Return by Larry Refsland
We all want to receive a good return on our time, our money and our ideas. I’ve observed people as they scan the financial section of the newspaper. Their reaction gives away whether their stock went up or down in value. Homeowners open their property tax statements with anticipation and fear. They hope the value of their home has appreciated yet still want the taxes to go down! The Bible records a story that Jesus told about a wealthy man that left some money in the hands of his servants. They were to manage his assets while away on a trip. One of the servants made investments and was able to give a 100% return on his master’s money. Another one achieved a 50% return by putting his master’s money to work. A third servant, however, hid his master’s money and simply returned it to his master upon his arrival. A 0% return! Granted, he didn’t lose any of his master’s money (unless you factor in inflation), but the fact is he didn’t even try to get a return. The application, of course, is that our master, the Lord Jesus, has given each of us a gift, a talent, or an ability that he intends for us to invest and achieve a return for him. How are you doing with what he has entrusted to you? Each day is an opportunity to make your life count for the kingdom of God. He deserves a good return on his investment in you! How to Get to Heaven by Larry Refsland
"Don’t leave home without it!” I’m not talking about your American Express card; I’m talking about your map! If you’re going on a trip to a place you’ve never gone before, it’s a good idea to bring along a map. Or you’ll be stopping every so often to ask directions, and you know how embarrassing that can be! Speaking of asking for directions, do you know how to get to Heaven from your town? I’m serious! Some people think the road to heaven is found by doing good deeds. Others would say you take the highway of “trusting your church” to get you there. But, according to the Bible, there is only one road to heaven and that is the person of Jesus Christ. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of it is death.” Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by me” (John 14:6). The Bible makes clear the point that the way to Heaven is by accepting the free gift of God’s grace by faith. In Romans 10:9 it says if we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. In order to say truthfully that Jesus is Lord, you must turn over to Him your life and ask him to lead you the rest of your life. He will lead you to Heaven. You’ll never make it there on your own ability or merit. You must become a follower of Jesus Christ. So go ahead, get out your roadmap to eternity, the Bible, and check the directions. You can get on the right road today by asking him to lead you. Have a safe and joyful journey. I couldn’t help but notice the sign on the back of the semi I was following the other day. It said, “Owner/Operator Wanted.” Trucking companies are always looking for an ambitious driver that is willing to assume the responsibility of paying for and maintaining their own rig. The owner/operator assumes the majority of the risk, while the company lines up the loads and takes care of a lot of the paperwork. It’s a pretty good arrangement for the trucker and the company he drives for.
As a follower of Christ, things work a little differently. Driving for God’s fleet starts with turning over the ownership of our life to him. There are no owner/operators driving in God’s kingdom. God owns the whole rig or nothing at all. And who does the driving? Well, Jesus Christ wants to do that! He’s never content with just being along for the ride. He wants to be the operator of your life. See, in God’s Kingdom, we are not the owner or the driver—God is both. He takes us down roads we would never have been without Him. He shows us people and places that he wants us to deliver his good news to. He’ll steer us to situations where we can pick up a load of grief and drop off a load of joy. Everyday is an adventure when you turn over the title and the keys to the Lord Jesus Christ! Give up the owner/operator status in your life and, instead, report for duty as a passenger and follower of Christ. Whether you’re a trucker, a baker, or a homemaker, God wants to be your leader. Have an awesome day! I’ve lived in the Twin Cities are for about fourteen years, but even so, I’ve always had a hard time finding my way out of downtown and back onto highway 35W or 94 which led out of the city. For me, Minneapolis is an easy town to drive into, but a hard one to drive out of. The signs are clearly marked on the interstate on how to get downtown, but you’ve got to look carefully and quickly to see a sign pointing to the way out!
It’s the same with some of the choices we are offered in life. For example, it’s pretty easy to get into trouble, but it’s another story altogether trying to get out of trouble. All the signs to a wrong decision look inviting. Sometimes it’s a friend that’s showing the way—other times it’s the promise of a feeling you really want to experience, just once. Whatever the temptation, the decision to yield to those signs can leave you stranded in a neighborhood you never wanted to be in. Fortunately, there is a way out. It’s called, the “Narrow Road”. Jesus describes it in Matthew 7:13-14 like this: “Wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that lead to life and only a few find it.” Jesus later explained that he was describing himself as that “Narrow Road”. He is the road to true freedom. He is the road to life. He is not just a guide to the road—he’s the road itself! Stay on that road, and you’ll never have to worry about how to get out of the wrong neighborhood. |
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May 2016
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