Share
Will we walk?
by Marnie Vasquez
Ding-donggggg.
You open your Ring app and see Micah. Micah is a highly respected financial expert who many claim is a “financial whisperer,” helping them earn great money and set their finances up for success. You tap the ‘answer’ key on your app and say, “Hello, what can I help you with?” He says, “Hello. I’m Micah, and I’m offering a free analysis for the top 5 best accounts in the community. You’re on that list. Would you like this free analysis?” You’re honored and intrigued. “You bet, Micah, that sounds great. I’ll be down and let you in.”
To do this analysis, Micah must review all your finances, including bills, bank statements, investments, and tax returns for the past few years. You happily comply and gather these items. Micah reviews your information and shares that you are in a good place. He recommends several new easy changes to boost your investments and a few minor changes to lower your bills.
Micah then leans in towards you and says, “I love doing these analyses. I learn so much about people’s values. For example, I can see that you greatly value family, especially with all the family trips, events, and family activities you do. You highly value your community by buying, dining, and shopping locally. And I see that animals mean a great deal to you through the various events, fundraisers, and donations you are part of.”
Micah’s words and advice make you feel warm, smart, and headed in the right direction.
As you walk Micah to your front door, Micah stops and looks puzzled. He looks at your wall art that reads, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15”
Confused, he says, “I don’t understand. Are you a Christian?”
You stand tall and say, “Why yes, my family and I are believers in Jesus and go to church almost every Sunday.”
Still confused, Micah says, “I would have never guessed that. Nowhere do your finances suggest this. There were a few small contributions, but these were blips.”
You assure Micah you’re a firm believer. Micah says, “I’m by no means saying you’re not. I have witnessed that people’s money habits follow their values and passions, and your Christian values did not appear on your family’s financial radar.”
You thank Micah for his time, and after he leaves, you return to the wall art that puzzled Micah.
You think, “If my house and I serve the Lord, our money habits should show that, but they don’t. I’m sorry, Jesus.” This is a Jericho Wall moment; God tells you, “Follow my spirit, let your finances also follow me; I’ve got you; it’ll be okay.” You take a big breath, agree, and find your family to discuss.
THE END / AFTERWORD
I love this Jericho Wall story. It challenged me to ask, why am I not giving more financially to the church? Why? Today, we pay for many monthly or yearly subscriptions to things like Amazon, Netflix, DoorDash, Diet & Exercise programs/apps, sporting programs, and so much more. It’s also that time of year to sign up for your company’s insurance and benefits, where monies get deducted from your paycheck bi-weekly or monthly. I realized I needed to rethink my financial contributions to the church and create my own Jericho Wall Monthly Subscription to Heartland.
I need this Jericho Wall to come down. And thus, for the first time being a Heartlander, I’ve finally set up a monthly giving amount. I hear you, Jesus. Consider this my first time around this Jericho Wall! I know there’s more to do, but consider Lap 1 done!
If you feel God speaking and nudging you, please give to Jesus and his church.
[Monday, November 11]
Acts 27:13-26
Day after day, night after night, the storm rages on. The crewmen continue to try and stop the ship and throw things over the boat; they are desperate. They believe they will die. They are scared. Then Paul talks of a dream, an angel, and a God who says, “Don’t worry while your ship won’t make it, I will save you, you will live.” While this story happened over two thousand years ago, this story is relived again and again in this modern-day world. And repeatedly, God tells us, “Don’t worry about this storm, I will save your soul.” Turn this promise into your own prayer of thanks today.
[Tuesday, November 12]
Acts 27:27-44
What stands out in these verses comes more towards the end, that even in a shipwreck, hope and help lives. As the ship grounded, the centurions and prisoners could use the ship’s planks and boards to hold onto and get them to land. God will not leave us stranded; He will get us through. What hope might this bring you in your life today? Have you experienced this previously in your life?
[Wednesday, November 13]
Acts 28:1-10
Imagine you’re the islanders as you read these verses. Your world and beliefs in the goddess called Justice would have been rocked when Paul and the other 200+ people shipwrecked on your island. Paul defies the snake bite and therefore Justice. Then Paul goes and heals the Chief Official of the islanders, their leader. How do you think their beliefs and views changed after Paul and the men left the island?
[Thursday, November 14]
Acts 28:11-16
I often wonder what it must have felt like for Paul to be away from fellow brothers and sisters in Christ for months on end. Was he lonely? And then I wonder how it would’ve felt to finally see them again. This passage provides insights into what that must’ve been like
[Friday, November 15]
Acts 28:17-31
Before Paul became a Christ follower, he was a devout Jew and deeply committed to Judaism. And in this passage as he shares Jesus’ story and love to believers and non-believers alike, he bridges his deep learnings of the Old Testament with what he experienced after following Jesus. God’s words form the Old Testament were coming true right before his eyes. How did this experience further deepen Paul’s faith? How does this deepen yours?
{extra journey resources}
CLICK HERE to visit The Bible Project site and explore their super simple, super informative Bible videos (and other resources). You can also download The Bible Project App HERE.
CLICK HERE to get the Read Scripture App, from our friends at The Bible Project.
CLICK HERE for more on how to use the observe-reflect-apply approach to getting the most out of your Bible reading.
The Bible App Get the free YouVersion Bible for your phone, tablet, or computer. Experience the Bible anywhere, with options to highlight, save notes, and share what you are reading with others.
The Bible App For Kids YouVersion partnered with OneHope to develop the Bible App for Kids, designing it specifically to engage children with Bible stories on an age-appropriate level. The Bible App for Kids is a free app for Android, Apple, and Kindle devices, available in over 60 languages.
Bible Gateway Provides advanced Bible searching capabilities, which allow readers to find passages in scripture based on keywords, phrases, or scripture reference.
Please visit us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter and share what you are learning, questioning or experiencing. We love conversations!
© 2024 Heartland Community Church