ACTS & ROMANS

I sure enjoy reading on a quiet morning for an hour or so by myself.  It is so peaceful to read God's Holy Word and to know that God is speaking to you through His Word and by His Spirit.  I want to hear His voice each time I pick up His Word.  I want to have the Holy Spirit guide me all day long.  I want to hear Him speak to my heart throughout the day and I would like to humble myself in His presence and worship Him in my heart.  To worship means to show the "worth of".  I want Jesus to know that He is everything, and I am nothing.  Here are a few thoughts I had today: 1) IT JUST TAKES SOME- In Acts 17:4, it says: "And some of them believed.."; in 17:34 "Howbeit certain men clave unto him..."; and Acts 28:24 says:  "And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not."  I know we want to win a world to Christ, but in reality, we are after some.  Last night I led a teenage boy to Christ.  Just one of some!  Each team that went out saw several people come to Christ.  Not a drop in the bucket.... but some.  Some who will spent eternity with Christ forever.  Some who will escape the torments of Hell forever.  Paul understood that his mission was to win some.  Romans 11:14 "If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them."           1 Cor. 9:22  "To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."   Including our mission's trip, we have seen almost 14,000 saved this year.  Not a lot.... but some!  One day we will spend eternity with Jesus and the "some" who also trusted Him as their Savior as we have.  Don't get discouraged dear brother and sister.... just try to reach some for Jesus. 2. GIVING AND RECEIVING- Acts 20:35 says that Jesus said:  "It is more blessed to give than to receive."  This is what is recorded that our Savior said, therefore, we know that it is true.  The problem comes when a Christians expects all of the blessings in this life.  We are laying up treasures in Heaven are we not?  When my father passed away last year, he had a few small policies for my mother.  It wasn't much, but dad thought that ten or twenty thousand was a lot of money.  Well, way back when it was, just not today.  My dear mother said when I talked with her one time, "Well, we really never had much, and still don't."   I reminded her that she could have had much had the things of this life meant much to her, but they don't.  Dad and Mom poured their finances into their church, into missionaries, into people.  They fed people, paid bills for people, gave of their money and time to church, to others, to missions, to .... the list goes on and on.  I said to my dear Mother:  "Mom, you are not poor.  You just have not seen all of your treasures yet!"  When they get to Heaven, a bunch of rich Christians on this earth are going to be surprised at the wealth of the "poor" Mutchlers.  They sent their wealth all ahead where it has been drawing Heavenly interest for many, many years.  They will be wealthy in Heaven, and many rich Christians who lived so comfortably here on this earth will have the cabin in the corner of glory land.  I praise God I learned to "lay up treasure" like my dear parents taught me by their own example.  I'm still doing it and plan to do so till the end.  Well, I'm just getting started, but wrote too much on just two simple thoughts.  Hope you have a blessed day.  May you walk with God today and listen to His voice, and feel His love.  He loves you so much.... let Him know you love Him too!   Pastor Mike Mutchler