Our salvation should have a radical impact on our generosity. If the reality of Christ's generous sacrifice makes an imprint on our heart, we will respond with extreme generosity. Today, we'll meet a man who experienced this transformation.

I’m referring to Zacchaeus, the short tax collector who was transformed by Jesus. The Bible tells us in Luke 19 this man was very wealthy. Happily going about his highly profitable business, Zacchaeus enjoyed the luxuries of his two-chariot garage, slave service, country club membership and his luxury box at Gladiator Stadium. Life was good.

But not good enough.

KEY PASSAGE:

2 Corinthians 9:11-13 NIV

You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

RESOURCES:

Take the Free PERSONAL SELF-ASSESSMENT. It only takes 3 minutes. Download it at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

Everywhere I turn, all sorts of things shout at me, beckoning me to invite them into my life. I didn’t think I needed a second home in the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains until a full-color brochure landed in my mailbox yesterday. The price was right. The views were beautiful. They said the climate was perfect. I have to admit that I was starting to take the bait.

You get the same invitations, I’m sure. Cars, homes, vacation deals in exotic places. How are we to handle these temptations? We'll explore it together in today's audio devotional.

KEY PASSAGE:

I John 2:15-17 NIV

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

RESOURCES:

Take the Free PERSONAL SELF-ASSESSMENT. It only takes 3 minutes. Download it at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

Have you ever said this? “When I’m wealthy, I’m going to give away a lot of money to God.”

Generosity doesn’t have to wait until you’re wealthy. In fact, the Bible speaks out against that. The Apostle Paul wrote that a gift “is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have” (2 Corinthians 8:12 ESV). Generosity starts now, as Paul said, according to what you have.

We're going to camp on that concept today in our devotional time today.

KEY PASSAGE:

2 Corinthians 8:9-12 (NIV)

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

RESOURCES:

Take the Free PERSONAL SELF-ASSESSMENT. It only takes 3 minutes. Download it at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

God's plans are often far different than ours. The disciples planned on Jesus to be king. When he was crucified, those plans were dashed. But God had a better plan.

You might feel your plans are dashed. Have you considered that God may have a better plan? Let discuss that today in our audio devotional.

KEY PASSAGE:

Psalm 46:1-3, 8-10 (ESV)

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.

“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”

RESOURCES:

Take the Free PERSONAL SELF-ASSESSMENT. It only takes 3 minutes. Download it at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

How do you treat the ones closest to you? Are you patient with them or do you constantly fire orders their way? We’re called to treat others with respect. Remember, Jesus died for them. They are God’s masterpiece whom he loves dearly.

Jesus shows us how to be patient with those we have every reason to put down. We'll explore this touchy topic in our time together today.

KEY PASSAGE:

Luke 7:44-50 NIV

And turning to the woman, He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not greet Me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing My feet since I arrived. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume. Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

RESOURCES:

Take the Free PERSONAL SELF-ASSESSMENT. It only takes 3 minutes. Download it at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

I sat and listened as one person after another spoke words that made me squirm. The more they talked, the more uncomfortable I felt. I was troubled. Each one said things that infringed on my rights. The tension in my soul began to strangle me. By the end of the day, after listening to such distressing words, I slumped exhausted into my car and drove home.

Think of a time you’ve felt crushed by the words of others. Whether you were personally attacked or overwhelmed by opposing viewpoints, words easily penetrate your soul. They can bring you down.

How does this relate to patience? We'll dig into that today.

KEY PASSAGE:

John 15:5-11 ESV

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

RESOURCES:

Take the Free PERSONAL SELF-ASSESSMENT. It only takes 3 minutes. Download it at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

Have you been wronged so severely that you just can’t forgive? Betrayal is one of the deepest and longest lasting pains we can experience. What makes it even more agonizing is that betrayal comes from someone we trust. A spouse, boss, friend, sibling, parent or business partner, to name a few.

As I bring this up, you might be feeling pain in your gut right now. That person comes to mind. Yes, it’s terribly painful. You’ve been carrying this hurt for a long time. Then the anger, thoughts of revenge, bitterness, resentment or hatred creeps into our soul and lives there.

Today, we'll consider what Jesus had to say about this touchy topic.

KEY PASSAGE:

Matthew 18:23-35 (NIV)

“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

“At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

RESOURCES:

Take the Free PERSONAL SELF-ASSESSMENT. It only takes 3 minutes. Download it at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com

Fear has a way of playing with our emotions. It can rattle us, paralyze us.

Fear has a way of amplifying small, negative thoughts that creep into our minds. We even project things that aren’t likely to happen. Most of our fears never come true.

In the Old Testament, God sent 12 spies into the land of Canaan, which he was going to give Israel. He stated it so clearly to Moses, “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel" (Numbers 13:1 ESV). And that's where we'll start our audio devotional today.

KEY PASSAGE:

1 John 4:17-19

This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

We love because he first loved us.

RESOURCES:

Take the Free PERSONAL SELF-ASSESSMENT. It only takes 3 minutes. Download it at www.retreatingwithgod.org.

Visit FRESH FAITH 24/7, a place where you can retreat with God and get to know him more deeply: www.freshfaith247.com.

Connect with Jon at jon@freshfaith247.com