1 00:00:35,675 --> 00:00:40,675 Speaker 1: Welcome to Abides Daily Christian Meditations. I'm Tyler Boss. Today's 2 00:00:40,715 --> 00:00:43,915 Speaker 1: meditation is brought to you by our partners at Life Audio. 3 00:00:44,235 --> 00:00:46,475 Speaker 1: If you go to lifeaudio dot com you will find 4 00:00:46,555 --> 00:00:50,075 Speaker 1: dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. They've 5 00:00:50,075 --> 00:00:53,915 Speaker 1: got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more. Head 6 00:00:53,915 --> 00:00:57,795 Speaker 1: over to lifeaudio dot com now, and remember you can 7 00:00:57,835 --> 00:01:01,555 Speaker 1: have full access to our meditations commercial free. Just text 8 00:01:01,635 --> 00:01:05,075 Speaker 1: abide to two two four three three for twenty five 9 00:01:05,115 --> 00:01:09,355 Speaker 1: percent off. Now receive his piece as we meditate and 10 00:01:09,435 --> 00:01:16,275 Speaker 1: abide in Christ. Welcome to this Abide Meditation. I'm Tyler. 11 00:01:17,675 --> 00:01:22,035 Speaker 1: What do you have that you need to give away? 12 00:01:23,035 --> 00:01:31,115 Speaker 1: Sit with that question for a moment. When we talk 13 00:01:31,155 --> 00:01:35,875 Speaker 1: about being good stewards of what we have, we often 14 00:01:35,915 --> 00:01:40,475 Speaker 1: think about money. Maybe you tithe ten percent of your income. 15 00:01:41,995 --> 00:01:45,475 Speaker 1: But Scripture invites us to remember that everything we have, 16 00:01:46,435 --> 00:01:51,915 Speaker 1: not just our money, but our talents, our education, and interests. 17 00:01:52,995 --> 00:01:57,075 Speaker 1: They all belong to God and they've been given to 18 00:01:57,315 --> 00:02:06,395 Speaker 1: us so that we can share them. The apostle Paul 19 00:02:06,995 --> 00:02:09,995 Speaker 1: also talks about being a good and faithful steward of 20 00:02:10,035 --> 00:02:17,035 Speaker 1: the gospel we've been entrusted with. In One Corinthians nine. 21 00:02:17,115 --> 00:02:21,595 Speaker 1: He writes, if I were doing this on my own initiative, 22 00:02:22,475 --> 00:02:27,835 Speaker 1: I would deserve payment, but I have no choice, for 23 00:02:28,035 --> 00:02:34,675 Speaker 1: God has given me this sacred trust. He doesn't share 24 00:02:34,715 --> 00:02:39,835 Speaker 1: the Gospel because it's his job. He preaches about Jesus 25 00:02:39,875 --> 00:02:45,235 Speaker 1: because it's a message he's been given. And what we've 26 00:02:45,315 --> 00:02:52,315 Speaker 1: been given we're invited to give away. What does it 27 00:02:52,355 --> 00:02:56,995 Speaker 1: look like for you to be a steward of the gospel. 28 00:03:03,155 --> 00:03:07,115 Speaker 1: Stewardship isn't just something you do when you feel like 29 00:03:07,195 --> 00:03:12,115 Speaker 1: you have enough to spare some good. Stewardship invites you 30 00:03:12,155 --> 00:03:23,275 Speaker 1: to a life of disciplined generosity. Pray with me, Jesus. 31 00:03:25,355 --> 00:03:28,515 Speaker 1: I confess that it's hard for me to share what 32 00:03:28,635 --> 00:03:34,155 Speaker 1: I've been given, what I feel i've earned, and sometimes 33 00:03:34,155 --> 00:03:38,195 Speaker 1: I feel uncomfortable sharing the Gospel and the spiritual gifts 34 00:03:38,195 --> 00:03:41,835 Speaker 1: you've given me because I don't know how people will 35 00:03:41,875 --> 00:03:46,515 Speaker 1: receive them. But I want to be faithful with all 36 00:03:46,595 --> 00:03:50,955 Speaker 1: You've entrusted to me. Fill me with a faithful and 37 00:03:51,075 --> 00:03:59,955 Speaker 1: generous spirit. In your name, I pray. Amen, Take a 38 00:03:59,995 --> 00:04:07,995 Speaker 1: deep breath and open your hands before God. Shake your 39 00:04:07,995 --> 00:04:15,515 Speaker 1: fingers loose, and turn your palms up. Show God that 40 00:04:15,635 --> 00:04:20,715 Speaker 1: you have given up grasping instead. Your hands are soft 41 00:04:21,795 --> 00:04:29,915 Speaker 1: and open, ready to receive and ready to give. Open 42 00:04:29,955 --> 00:04:39,515 Speaker 1: your heart like your hands, and breathe here, slowly, in 43 00:04:44,395 --> 00:05:05,515 Speaker 1: and out before God. Perhaps you've fallen into the trap 44 00:05:05,555 --> 00:05:10,275 Speaker 1: of believing that you've earned the blessings you have, that 45 00:05:10,395 --> 00:05:14,955 Speaker 1: you deserve them. Perhaps you've struggled to share generously with 46 00:05:15,035 --> 00:05:20,115 Speaker 1: those in need. Maybe you've been afraid to share the gospel. 47 00:05:22,195 --> 00:05:25,315 Speaker 1: Let the Spirit search your heart and reveal your sins 48 00:05:25,355 --> 00:05:44,835 Speaker 1: to you, and confess them to God. When we confess 49 00:05:44,915 --> 00:05:49,595 Speaker 1: our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us 50 00:05:51,835 --> 00:05:58,315 Speaker 1: and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Pray with me, 51 00:06:00,195 --> 00:06:04,955 Speaker 1: Heavenly Father, all that I have is on loan from you. 52 00:06:05,955 --> 00:06:11,875 Speaker 1: The earth and all its fullness belong to you. Keep 53 00:06:11,915 --> 00:06:16,035 Speaker 1: me from the sin of hoarding. Help me to see 54 00:06:16,035 --> 00:06:20,355 Speaker 1: that everything I have is not just for me, but 55 00:06:20,475 --> 00:06:26,475 Speaker 1: for furthering your kingdom. God, Make me a faithful and 56 00:06:26,555 --> 00:06:31,115 Speaker 1: generous steward of the money and time and spiritual gifts 57 00:06:31,235 --> 00:06:36,275 Speaker 1: you've given me. Help me to give them away freely 58 00:06:37,235 --> 00:06:44,635 Speaker 1: and with joy, and to see you multiply them. From 59 00:06:44,715 --> 00:06:53,475 Speaker 1: Jesus name, I pray Amen. Being a steward of the 60 00:06:53,475 --> 00:06:58,115 Speaker 1: gospel is a really high calling. Let it be a 61 00:06:58,155 --> 00:07:02,755 Speaker 1: source of joy today that you have something of infinite 62 00:07:02,915 --> 00:07:09,675 Speaker 1: value to share with the world. Until next time, may 63 00:07:09,715 --> 00:07:10,875 Speaker 1: you abide in Christ.