The Living Word: A Daily Devotional with Jeff & Dale from The Jenkins Institute
The Living Word is a daily devotional featuring Scripture and encouragement from Jeff and Dale of The Jenkins Institute. Each episode offers a thoughtful reading to coincide with the daily devotional guides from our annual devotional books. They are designed to help listeners begin or end their day grounded in God’s Word.
The Living Word: A Daily Devotional with Jeff & Dale from The Jenkins Institute
Week 28: Thursday, My Stuff Ain't My Stuff
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The friend who came to ask for help requested three loaves of
bread, “Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has
arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him” (Luke
11:5-6, ESV). The three loaves may not have a specific meaning,
but they represent a sincere request for a physical need. It was
culturally shameful to host someone in your home without
anything to offer the guest. There was an urgent physical need that
needed to be filled. But could there be more?
Welcome to Hearing God's Stories, a daily devotional on the parables presented by the Jenkins Institute. Week 28. The Parable of the Friend in Deed. Luke 11, 58. By Austin Johnson. I'm Del Jenkins. Thursday. My stuff ain't my stuff. Luke 11, 5 and 6. The friend who came to ask for help requested three loaves of bread. Friend lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey and I have nothing to set before him. Luke 11, 5 and 6. The three loaves may not have a specific meaning, but they represent a sincere request for a physical need. It was culturally shameful to host someone in your house without anything to offer the guest. There was an urgent physical need that needed to be filled. But could there be more? To the disciples, Jesus was using this parable to educate them on intercessory prayer. Since they were asking how to pray, Jesus was teaching a fundamental aspect of prayer, intercession, that is, praying for others. To pray like Jesus means praying for others. To be encouraged, to have hope, to gain spiritual insight, to be moved toward a broken and contrite heart. But could there be more? What if an inappropriate conclusion? What if an inappropriate conclusion to draw from this parable is providing for the needs of others both physically and spiritually? What if my stuff ain't my stuff? What if God has blessed me so that I can be a blessing to others? And that's not just with comfort, 1 Corinthians 1 4, but with coin as well. Paul quoted Jesus in Acts 2.35 as saying, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Jesus Himself stated that where your treasure is, there your heart be also, Matthew 6.21. If people treasure, if you treasure people, souls, and helping others, then you will realize that your stuff ain't your stuff. Your stuff is really God's stuff. And the stuff God has given to you, you are merely a steward of until he calls you home one day. So here's what happens when you provide for the needs of others. You draw closer to the nature of God and the image of Christ, His Son, who is a selfless giver. Today I will pray for readiness to provide for someone's physical and or spiritual needs. You've been listening to Hearing God's Stories, the Parables of the Bible. Thank you for joining us for the Living Word. For more encouragement and ministry resources, visit the Jenius Institute.com and may God's riches and blessings be yours. Is our prayer for you.