From Rent to Own! | Joshua Scott Zeitz

Have you ever considered that your approach to faith might resemble your approach to property—renting versus owning? This profound analogy forms the heart of today's reflection on Matthew 22:37, where Jesus commands us to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind."

When we rent a home, we handle minor upkeep but leave major repairs to the landlord. Similarly, many believers "rent" their spiritual lives—attending church, reading Scripture occasionally, or giving offerings—while leaving the heavier lifting to God. We check religious boxes without fully investing ourselves. But Jesus calls for something far deeper: complete ownership of our faith journey.

True spiritual ownership transforms everything. Prayer becomes conversation rather than obligation. Worship becomes expression rather than performance. Service becomes privilege rather than duty. Yet this level of devotion isn't always comfortable or easy. As today's message reminds us, "Life is not always peaches and cream, and neither is our walk with the Lord." There will be seasons when we don't feel spiritually motivated, when circumstances seem contradictory to God's promises, when prayers appear unanswered. During these wilderness periods, the enemy seeks to foster apathy, hoping we'll retreat to mere religious observation.

The antidote? Continued obedience regardless of feelings. Sometimes faith means simply declaring, "Come hell or high water, I'm going to walk with Jesus," and taking the next step forward. The feelings will eventually align with the actions, but we must first choose commitment. Today, decide to move beyond a renter's mentality. Choose to love and serve God with your entire being—heart, soul, and mind—even when it's difficult. Your perseverance will not only strengthen your faith but inspire others around you.

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome & Scripture Introduction
• 0:24 Renting vs. Owning Your Faith
• 1:16 Encouragement Through Difficulties
• 1:36 Closing Thoughts & Reminder

Transcript

Speaker 0: 0:00

Hello and welcome to Mornings with Jesus, your daily dose of encouragement. I am your host, joshua Scott Zaitz. Today's encouragement comes from Matthew, chapter 22 and verse 37. The Amplified Version reads and Jesus replied to him you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Speaker 0: 0:24

When we rent something versus own something, our outlook for that something is oftentimes entirely different. What I mean is this let's say I am renting a house. I might do my best to take care of some of the things within it or without it, but when it comes to the major things, I'm going to give those over to the owner. After all, it's not my responsibility. It's easier to negate some of the things that we don't see as important because we don't own it. In like manner, with our walk with the Lord, it can become the same way If we aren't careful. It just becomes something we do and not something we truly desire or want to invest in. If we aren't careful, we can start doing things like reading our Bible, going to church and even giving as a means of doing our part as renters, but really leaving the rest up to God.

Speaker 0: 1:16

Be encouraged today. Life is not always peaches and cream, and neither is our walk with the Lord. In other words, we aren't always going to feel like serving Him, feel like praising him or even feel like spending time with him, but it's in these times when we need to do so the most. Listen, the enemy wants nothing more than to steal, kill and to destroy us.

Speaker 0: 1:39

The way to keep him at bay and us from becoming apathetic in our walk with Jesus is by continuing to walk in obedience, even when we don't feel like it, even when we don't see things happening, even when we don't think God is answering our prayers the way we think he should. Sometimes we just got to dig down and say come hell or high water, I'm going to walk with Jesus. The feelings and the circumstances they will line up, but we have to do our part. Be encouraged today, keep on keeping on. Don't give up. Choose today to love him and serve him with all your heart, soul and mind. Remember until next time. What you make happen for others, god will make happen for you.