Leviticus 25 :47-27 :13, Mark 10 :32-52, Psalms 45 :1-17, Proverbs 10 :22

What God said to me – Have you ever been in a meeting where the leader was explaining an important project and how they were going to need all hands-on deck with everyone working together to get it all done and when he asks for questions, one person raises their hand and asks what time lunch will be?  There are always people who are either so obtuse or so focused on themselves they miss the point totally.  Believe it or not, even after walking with Me for years, the disciples were like that – I had just explained to them in detail about how on this trip to Jerusalem that I would be arrested and condemned to death – that I would be tortured and crucified, but after three days, I would be resurrected.  Two of My closest disciples, James and John, chose that time to approach Me to ask if they could be seated at My right and left hand when it was all over and I came into My glory.  They wanted recognition – they wanted status.  Serving Me doesn’t mean recognition and status – it means serving others – ministering to others – praying for others.  Are you doing any better than the disciples?  Are you upset when you are not properly acknowledged for the things you do or are you content to serve whether or not you are recognized for it?  Is your prayer time more about you and your needs rather than for others?  Remember the first shall be last and the last shall be first so if you want to look like Me, be a humble servant.

Leviticus 24 :1-25 :46, Mark 10 :13-31, Psalms 44 :9-26, Proverbs 10 :20-21

What God said to me – There is a saying “put your money where your mouth is”.   It is really a challenge for you to prove your faith in whatever.  In poker the most extreme bet is to say you are “all in” – you’re willing to bet everything for the prize.  It’s a gamble unless you have a royal flush, then you know you can’t lose.  Those who are My children have a guaranteed outcome – eternal life with Me.  So, if I ask you to go “all in” in your walk with Me, it is not a gamble, it is faith, and you will be rewarded in the end.  As you grow and mature in your walk with Me, there will be people and things and habits and ways of thinking and acting and circumstances that you will leave behind in order to follow Me – not all of which will be “bad” things, but things that may distract or hinder you from serving Me as well as you could.  Are you willing to go “all in” in your walk with Me no matter what I ask you to change or leave behind?  The cost may be great, but your eternal reward is guaranteed.

Leviticus 22 :17-23 :44, Mark 9 :30-10 :12, Psalms 44 :1-8, Proverbs 10 :19

What God said to me – There are people who teach at the highest levels but who in reality have no real-life experience in what they are teaching.  You can take their classes and gain knowledge, but when you graduate and go out into the world, you find that the way things actually work is different.  Actual experience makes a huge difference in knowing how to apply the things you learned.  The same is true spiritually.  You could memorize the entire Bible and be able to quote it word for word, but unless you actually apply it to your real-life experiences, it’s of little value.  You can know verses about My peace or how “I AM” with you always or how I work all things together for your good, but until you actually go through trials and difficulties and experience My peace and presence through them, they are just words – head knowledge – but when you go through the fires of life, they become heart knowledge as you experience the truth of My word and My faithfulness – then you can minister to others with your testimony of My faithfulness and not just platitudes you memorized.  So, embrace the trials you encounter because through them My words come to life.