WELCOME TO THE LAND OF MORE AND MORE, Part 9

“I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.
I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy”
(Psalm 132:15, 16).

Yes, we are still in the land of MORE AND MORE. And there is still more to explore. What an amazing kingdom we belong to!

MORE PRECIOUS TRIALS

1 Peter 1:7: “That the trial of your faith, being MUCH MORE PRECIOUS than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”

We don’t like going through trials, do we? But we must look ahead. They will bring more glory into our lives than living a life of ease and sunshine. It is through our trials that the junk and muck in our lives is exposed. It’s stuff we must get rid of if we are going to change more and more into the likeness of Christ. As we yield to God and allow Him to do His perfecting work in us, we are refined and will one day receive the reward of glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

Wait a minute. More than glory. God uses three adjectives to describe our reward. We will receive praise and honor and glory!

Look at this wonderful promise in 2 Corinthians 4:17: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment worketh for us a FAR MORE EXCEEDING and ETERNAL WEIGHT of glory.”

Wow! This time God uses five adjectives to tell us of the reward that awaits us as we allow God to refine us through our afflictions and trials. Speak these adjectives out loud. They will encourage you mightily.

MORE PROVISION

Luke 12:27, 28: “Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not, and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; HOW MUCH MORE will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?”

Do believe God? Do you believe His Word? Well, what are you worrying about? He has promised to care about you and clothe you much more than the grass of the field. Read the whole passage in Luke 12:22-34 and Matthew 6:26-34.

Matthew 7: 11: “If ye then, being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, HOW MUCH MORE shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

MORE POWER IN THE BLOOD OF CHRIST

Hebrews 9:13, 14: “For if the blood of bulls and goats . . . sanctified to the purifying of the flesh: HOW MUCH MORE shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

Do you notice that the triune God is involved in our salvation. You will read of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in this Scripture. Oh, how precious is the blood of Christ. There is nothing else in this world that can wash us clean from our sin.

How much value do you put on the blood of Christ? Do you honor the blood of Jesus. Do you thank Him each new day for cleansing you with His precious blood and making you ready for His eternal kingdom? I don’t think we should ever a day go by without thanking Him for His eternal salvation. Read 1 Peter 1:18, 19; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5, 6; and 12:11.

MORE RECEIVING FROM GOD

Matthew 13:12: “For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have MORE ABUNDANCE: but whosoever hath not from him shall be taken away even that he hath.”

It is difficult to understand this biblical principle. With our human minds we naturally think God would give to those who don’t have rather than those who do. But God knows what He is doing. We remember the parable Jesus told in Matthew 25 where the man traveling to a far country gave to one of his servants 5 talents, one 2 talents and to the last one only one talent. The servants who gained more talents received great rewards when the master came home. The one who buried his talent was chastised and his talent given to the one who received five.

If we do not develop what God has already given to us, He does not give us more. He gives abundance to those who use what He has given to them. The word “abundance” is perisseuo in the Greek and means “superabundance, excessive, enough and to spare, over and a above.”

The same principle applies in how we hear from God. Matthew 4:24, 25 says: “Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath to him shall be given, and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.”

God does not give revelation and enlightenment to those who carelessly and lightly read His Word or who are not interested in diligently seeking Him. However, when He sees our hearts and minds eager for His truth, He delights to give us a feast from His bountiful table. The more we seek, search, and knock the MORE He gives.

PRAYER:

“Dear Father God, I thank You that You are a generous God. You give freely. You have promised to provide our needs. You care for us more the grass of the field which is here today and gone tomorrow. I believe Your Word and I put my trust in You. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I want to be a developer of the gifts God gives to me. I want to be a diligent seeker of His truth. I want to be an attentive listener to His words.