“²³But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them, and he turned toward them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them nor has he cast them from his presence until now.” – 2 Kings 13:23 (ESV)

What we do not see in this verse is why it is so important. You see, the Lord was gracious even when Jehoahaz was leading Israel and they were worshiping idols and had turned away from God. God continued to honor His covenant with the people of Israel that He had made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Am I always honoring and completely turned to God? Certainly Not. I am human and will stray from my Lord each day. Even if only for a moment and even when I do not realize what I am doing at the time. That is why repentance is so important. I must repent and pray to my Lord each day to remain faithful to Him. And how, by following the model of prayer Jesus gave to the disciples.

“²And he said to them, ‘When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. ³Give us each day our daily bread, ⁴and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.’” – Luke 11:2-4 (ESV)

When I look at the model prayer given to me by Jesus, I am taken back to the simplicity by which God requires us to act. I am required only to love God, ask only for my needs, repent, forgive, and ask for guidance. When taking this approach my graciousness to God is revealed.

But, here’s the thing, God will love, guide, provide, and protect me even when I may miss a day, week, month, or year. He cares deeply for me and you and will continue to honor His new covenant, even when we wander away briefly.

When you look at your relationship with God, are you aware of that relationship daily? What actions can you take to get back to and demonstrate your graciousness for Him? Are you aware of the grace of God even when you may not be gracious back?

I just completed the book by brothers Chip Heath and Dan Heath, “Made to Stick”, and in it they discuss the “curse of knowledge”(when you know about something and expect that others will know as well). I hear on a regular basis from others to be blessed, and I accept their words and thank them. I will say however I am pretty sure that I take the words for granted. As a Christian, blessings are a significant part of our lives and I fear I may expect that everyone gets the same out of the words.

Here is what the Bible says about blessings:

“²²The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ²³’Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, ²⁴The Lord bless you and keep you; ²⁵the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; ²⁶the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. ²⁷So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.’” – Numbers 6:22-27 (ESV)

The words here are great, although when I see them, I have to admit to myself that again I may be swayed by the curse of knowledge and therefore I studied a bit further into the commentary of my NIV Bible and here is what I found.

“A blessing was one way of asking for God’s divine favor to rest upon others…Its five parts conveyed hope that God would (1) bless and keep them (favor and protect); (2) make his face shine upon them (be pleased); (3) be gracious (merciful and compassionate); (4) turn his face toward them (give his approval); (5) give peace. When you ask God to bless others or yourself, you are asking him to do these five things.”

When looking at what offering blessings to others is, it is more than just favor from God. There is a depth of what I am saying and what others are saying to me that I must embrace fully to get the most out of what God has to offer and has been providing.

I have to be mindful of what I am saying to others and remember that I they may not really know what I am trying to convey. When giving blessings, I must remember I am asking God to do the five things for those I am speaking.

When you think of someone granting you blessings, what goes through your mind? What about when you are offering blessings for others? Do they know, and more importantly do you know what you are saying?

God is very deliberate in all of His actions. There is nothing left to chance and there are no coincidences.

“¹⁹And he said, ‘I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name “The Lord.” And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.’” – Exodus 33:19 (ESV)

When I read this verse, I think to myself, is that why I don’t feel as though I am getting all that I want from God, He does not feel gracious to me?

The answer is NO. I do not feel that I am getting what I “deserve”, because I have gotten what God knows I need. God is and has been gracious to me with what He knows is in the best interest of me. He may be keeping me from things that will cloud my mind and turn me away from Him, like fame, fortune, & recognition. I have to remember that God gives what I need and His grace is demonstrated in that provision and not in getting everything I want.

God will provide for and grant me that which is good for me when I need it as He determines. He listens to my pleas just as He listened to the plea of Moses in the passage Exodus 33:12-23. God will give graciously when I ask, but He will not give more than I need so as to keep me on the path to Him. If He were to give everything I want, I would certainly lose my way and worship the things I have before me.

God gives graciously to me at His choice. He provides for me all that is needed, in abundance and when asked.

Are you aware of God’s provisions? What kind of things are you asking God to provide? Are you okay with God’s gracious giving at His choice and for your needs?

I have a unique name, Trevor Flisowski. I have a unique approach. I have unique gifts. My service is unique.

“⁴Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; ⁵and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; ⁶and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” – 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (ESV)

Paul explains to the Corinthians here that there are “varieties” in everything, but only ONE for which they should be using those “varieties” to serve.

I am unique and that is certainly okay and frankly set up that way by God.

“⁷To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. ⁸For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, ⁹to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, ¹⁰to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.” – 1 Corinthians 12:7-10 (ESV)

The varieties of my “gifts, service, activities” are from God and for a purpose that may or may not have yet to be revealed to me. But, they have been given for me to b used by our Lord.

“¹¹All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” – 1 Corinthians 12:11 (ESV)

What are the varieties that have been given to you? How are you using those varieties for God? Are you using your uniqueness to serve?

“²⁴And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,” – 2 Timothy 2:24 (ESV)

And there you go. “kind to everyone”.

I know that it is hard to be kind when I am not treated as I believe I should. When I am persecuted by those I engage with on a regular basis. When I encounter adversity due to “man”.

I am only human, and God knows me better than I know myself. He provides for me in all, and I mean all, situations. Even those that drive the adversity and persecution I experience. He is molding me into the man He has in store for me. He teaches me through those situations and with His word on how to overcome and make sure that I am headed down the right path and not giving in.

Being kind to everyone is paramount. When I am treated what I believe to be unfairly, I am responsible to move past it and be kind. I am responsible to understand the situation and care for, teach, and serve all. The timing of the situation may not be ideal, but, I am in charge of me and how I react and respond.

I am to serve everyone, regardless of the situation and/or their actions toward me. I help everyone. I care for everyone. I serve everyone.

Are you able to endure? Are you able to look past the situation and understand others? Are you able to serve everyone?

My business career has taken me to be a teacher in the corporate and business world. Everyone is different in their style of learning, and it is my job to determine those styles and guide the learning for every individual in the classroom. As you can imagine, there are a lot of factors that aid me as well as get in the way of determining the style of each person. Therefore, I have to provide a method where I can reach all regardless of style and that is to:

• Tell the learners about the material
• Teach them how to use the material
• Have them practice the material

Paul provides a similar process in three verses in his letter to Timothy that guides him in his education of the people.

“⁶If you put these things before the brothers…¹¹Command and teach these things. ¹⁵Practice these things, immerse yourself in them…” – 1 Timothy 4:6, 11, & 15 (ESV)

As a young man, Timothy did not have years and years of experience and Paul provided detailed guidance on the process of leading and instructing the even younger in the faith. Paul was not there to give daily guidance and therefore, he trained Timothy on the grand process and what the final outcome should be. When followed, the job could be done with the final outcome in line with what it should be.

I only shared the beginnings of verses 6 and 15 above. There is more to them that give provide even more direction as to why Timothy should take this approach and what can/should result.

“⁶…you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and the good doctrine that you have followed…¹⁵…so that all may see your progress.” – 1 Timothy 4:6 & 15 (ESV)

When I read the full verses and the passage itself, I am reminded that I have been told of the right path to take. I am responsible to learn more about what I have been told. I have to continue to practice so that they become a habit and so that others may see those in me.

When you learn, what does your process look like? Are you aware that you have been told, taught, and should be practicing? In your service, are you telling, teaching, and practicing?

“⁷but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” – Philippians 2:7-8 (ESV)

I have seen a lot of movies where the king, queen, prince, or princess have left the castle for a short time to wander around and engage with the people to get a better sense of them and their needs. Where this is noble and great from a leadership perspective and makes for good entertainment, Jesus, our king, dove headlong in to the role.

Jesus was in heaven with all of the power and authority of God. He could have come down and mingled with the people, even for just a few days. But no, Jesus was born into the people to fully immerse Himself. He took on the role to fully become a part of our world and assimilate to our condition. Jesus even served to the point that He was put to death for His work with and for us.

I think of those that give to charitable organizations and the good that they are doing with their giving. I also am amazed how their giving is enhanced when they take an opportunity to truly get in the trenches with those in need. This immersion creates even more urgency and drives the service to an entirely different level for that individual.

In my life, how much have I assimilated to those around me? I should be humble to the point that I serve everyone even before serving myself. Paul writes of that in the verses that precede those above.

“³Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” – Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV)

Paul points out that the Philippians should make sure to serve others as much as they serve themselves. Therefore I should take the same approach. I should be looking out for the needs of those around me and serve them in the capacity that God has given me. I should be immersed in work of Christ to the point that I assimilate to those in need and truly understand their needs so that I can work to meet them.

When you serve, how immersed are you in the work? What does serving others look like to you and are you fully aware of the needs? Are you willing to assimilate and understand the needs of those you serve?

“¹⁹For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.” – 1 Corinthians 9:19 (ESV)

Paul made himself a “servant to all”. He was able to identify with everyone in his work to win them to Christ.

“²⁰To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. ²¹To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. ²²To the weak I became weak, that I might wing the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.” – 1 Corinthians 9:20-22 (ESV)

Paul states that he was a bit of a chameleon in his approach to winning others for Christ. He was Jew when it called for it, he was gentile at times, and he was weak when needed as well. Paul was “all thing to all people” in the context of saving them from this world for Christ.

Paul, at the end of his ministry was exhausted, and after my study this morning I see why. His work was mentally taxing. Let alone that he was beaten and persecuted, he was constantly adjusting to those around him to influence them toward Christ. He demonstrated at all times the work of Christ while putting on the veil of those he was working with.

I have chosen the word “authentic” to live out this year and my morning bible study has helped me to understand that does not mean I have to avoid others. I must continue to move closer to them at all times while doing the work of God that He has written for me. I am to work while here in this world and rest when my time is done. Like Paul, I should exhaust myself in service to the Father.

Are you willing to be the chameleon and assimilate to others in service of God? What are some things that you can do to live a life of Christ, even in the midst of those outside of the life of Christ? Are you willing to serve for the sake of the Father?

“¹³No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” – Luke 16:13 (ESV)

Wow, what a statement of truth. I cannot be devoted to God and devoted to money. In effect, as devoted, I am a servant of, and therefore cannot be a servant of God and a servant of money.

But there is more to it than just that. In this passage, Luke 16:1-13, Jesus is telling the parable of the dishonest manager. And whereas there is a lot to unpack in the passage, verse 13 only gets me started in understanding. When I look back at verse 9, Jesus is telling the disciples to use their money to “make friends”.

“⁹And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.” – Luke 16:9 (ESV)

When I read this verse on its own, I see that I should “make friends” by using my wealth. This confused me into thinking that I should buy friendships with my money. But what Jesus is really referring to after some study is that I should “use wealth and possessions for the care and well-being of others so that when wealth does fail, ‘they may receive you into the eternal dwellings’” (ESV Commentary).

It is okay to earn a living and even a good living, however I have to remember not to serve that living and focus my attention on serving God. I should be using my earnings to care for those around me as I carry out my kingdom purpose.

How are you using your earthly possessions? What is the purpose of your earnings? When you look back on it, will others care for you when your wealth fails?

I have wondered how much time I should spend working for others and when will I receive rewards for the work I have done. As I read Jesus’ parable of the talents, I am reminded of what being a good and faithful servant is all about.

“²⁰And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ ²¹His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” – Matthew 25:20-21(ESV)

I see here that the servant was placed in charge of a significant item (5 talents) and went immediately to grow the talents for his master. In the parable, there is no mention to why the servant worked to grow the talents for his master. There is no indication that he was given instructions to do so, and there is nothing that says there would be a reward for doing good work for the master. The servant simply felt it was his duty to do the good work as the master would do and look at opportunities to increase what he has been placed in charge.

I wonder sometimes if I am placing too much emphasis on my own reward and missing the greater good that comes from simply doing as those above me would have me do? I should be looking at the goodness in the work and not seeking the external or overt rewards.

When I am focused on the work that is my mission, “Improve lives through growth and learning as an example of Christ’s love”, I am joyful and excited at the intrinsic rewards of their growth. I am in the business of growing, developing, and leading others to their kingdom purpose and when someone realizes their worth, I should be joyful and sit back to take it all in as my reward.

When you are out in the world, are you focused on servant-hood? Are you looking for the extrinsic or intrinsic reward you receive from your service? What would it be like if you simply found joy in the work as a servant?