Recession Proof

Read: 1 Chron. 29:10-13
"All that is in heaven and in earth is Yours". —1 Chronicles 29:11

In his sermon titled “What Is the Recession For?” pastor John Piper suggests that when the economy plummets, God has His own purposes. Some of them might be:

1. To expose hidden sin and so bring us to repentance and cleansing.

2. To wake us up to the constant and desperate condition of the developing world, where there is always and only recession of the worst kind.

3. To relocate the roots of our joy in His grace rather than in our goods, in His mercy rather than in our money, in His worth rather than in our wealth.

4. To advance His saving mission in the world—the spread of the gospel and the growth of His church—precisely at a time when human resources are least able to support it.

5. To bring His church to care for its hurting members and to grow in the gift of love.

What else does God want to teach us in difficult times? That nothing is impossible with Him (Luke 1:37). That He who owns “the cattle on a thousand hills” (Ps. 50:10) is not limited by an economic downturn. That God hasn’t placed a moratorium on the Great Commission nor abandoned us (Matt. 28:20). Let’s not put our hopes on worldly prosperity, but on the One who owns it all!

When difficulties come our way,
God uses them to show
That when we put our trust in Him
His goodness we will know. —Sper

When all you have is God, you have all you need.

by Cindy Hess Kasper

Verse of the day

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

James 4:10
New International Version 

THOUGHTS ABOUT TODAY'S VERSE...
Humble yourselves. That sounds obscene. At least to the culture of self-promotion and "get ahead at all cost" and "don't look back, the competition is gaining on you" it sounds obscene. Humility is a forgotten virtue. Often confused with weakness or timidity, humility is about knowing our proper place in the world without flaunting it. Only God can exalt in a permanent way, so the key is to know our place before him and let him put us in the place he chooses to honor him. 

MY PRAYER...
Abba Father, Most Holy God, thank you for allowing me into your presence. When I think of all that you have done, the incredible universe you have made and hold together by your word, I am amazed you invite me into your presence and care about my words. Thank you for knowing me and having a plan for my life to please you. Help me this day to glorify you in what I do. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.