Value

"Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."  -Luke 15:10

A coin is minted for a purpose.  It is meant to be spent, treasured, and valued, but not to be lost.  When a coin is lost, it is worthless to the owner and the creator.  It doesn't matter how valuable it may be intrinsically.  If it is lost, it is lost.  Which is worth more on the ocean floor, a hundred-dollar gold piece or a fie-cent nickel?  As  long as they are both on the ocean floor, both have the same value.

Lost people are like lost silver.  As long as a person is lost, he or she is out of circulation.  God made you for a pupose.  He wants you in circulation to spend and be spent for His glory. 

Think about the relationships you have in your family, neighborhood, and community.  Ask God to put you in circulation as His salt and light to tell others about salvation through Jesus Christ. 

Procrastination

"Therefore to Him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to Him it is sin." - James 4:17

Procrastination.  Just seeing the word, makes me want to put off saying anything else.  That's because I find myself under conviction in that area.  And God has taught me that procrastination is a form of disobedience.

When God tells us to do something and we don't do it, we can label our actions with all kinds of fancy words, but the bottom line is that it is sin.  The days are passing and time cannot be stopped.  You can't call a "time out" in life.  And time cannot be stored like money in the bank.  Really, the only thing you can do with time is use it or lose it.  Someone has said, "  Lost: One golden hour, studded with sixty diamond minutes.  No reward offered, for it is lost forever."  Redeem the time. 

Have you been procrastinating about doing something?  Maybe you are putting off telling someone about Jesus out of fear they will reject you.  Maybe you are delaying asking someone to forgive you because you are feeling ashamed.  Friend, it's time!

Secrets Revealed

A story is told about the famous Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet Michelangelo when he was painting the Sistine Chapel.  One day he was working way up in a corner, out of everyone's view, when someone told him, "Forget that corner.  Nobody else can see the work you're doing there."  Michelangelo interrupted his work to make his view clear:  "I know it's there.  And I also know that what you are in secret is what you are- nothing more and nothing less."

How much better many of us would fare if we held tightly to that same philosophy!  For instance, what about the people who travel a lot and feel lonely in a hotel room?  They flip on the television, can't find anything to watch, and then spot the X-Rated movie offerings.  They think, "Well, nobody would know if I just watched one."  But those individuals are wrong- Jesus is in the room.

My friend, who you are when you are alone- when your spouse, children, friends, and colleagues are not there- is who you really are.  Do you need to make any changes in your life so that you don't have to fear your secrets being revealed?