Whoever can be trusted with a little can also be trusted with a lot, and whoever is dishonest with a little is dishonest with a lot. If you cannot be trusted with wordly riches, then who will trust you with true riches?

Luke 16: 10-11 (NCV)

... the way we handle our money is the best outside reflection of our true inner values. You can tell more about the spiritual lives of a couple by looking at their checkbook than by any;thing else. People can say anything they think others want to hear, and many people are great at faking their true attitudes, but the way they handle their finances is usually a dead giveaway to what is really going on.

— Larry Burkett -- The Compete Financial Guide for Young Couples

Daily Meditations by Pat Nordman Š

August 17

"Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead, one...goes to law against anotherand this in front of unbelievers!" (1 Corinthians 6:5,6).

The cry of the land seems to be, "Sue 'em!" When Mickey Mouse gets sued for accidentally stepping on Precious' toes, we are in deep trouble. Then there was the suit initiated by Daddy because his sweet little girl didn't get her toy from the Cracker Jack box. Here was his golden opportunity to tell the little princess the tooth fairy doesn't always get there, and life is not always fair.
Where are wise minds to keep us out of the courts?

Pat Nordman Š

Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions
Spurgeon's Morning for August 17	Spurgeon's Evening for August 17
"The mercy of God." – Psalm 52:8	"This sickness is not unto death." — John 11:4
Meditate a little on this mercy of the Lord. It is tender mercy. With gentle, loving touch, he healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He is as gracious in the manner of his mercy as in the matter of it. It is great mercy.	From our Lord's words we learn that there is a limit to sickness. Here is an "unto" within which its ultimate end is restrained, and beyond which it cannot go. Lazarus might pass through death, but death was not to be the ultimatum of his sickness.

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August 17 Jer 7:1 - 10:25

365 days of Bible Readings Linked to Bible Gaitway TM

Current Bible Question

What was the name of the queen whose blood was sprinkled on horses?

Previous question and Answer:

Who was the partially blind and very fat man, who at the age of 98, fell off his seat and broke his neck?

Eli (1Samuel 4:15, 18)

Today's Devotion

But my mouth would encourage you;
comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
Job 16:5 (NIV)

Without Cause

by Cathy Vinson

" Freely (without cause) you have received, freely give"

(Matthew 10:8)

What ever happens without cause? Almost everywhere we turn we see the God. He loves be"cause" He loves; He gives to us be"cause" He gives.

From early in our lives, much that comes our way has been based on our performance. Then in relation to serving God, we find it hard to believe He gives to us because of Himself. Oh, we need a different reception of His abilities! Thomas Merton wrote of "watching ourselves live." Isn't this why we continue to substitute religious activity for His enablement?

In Matthew 10 Jesus calls His disciples to Himself, then sends them out. "Sent-out ones" are called apostles. Being sent out from Jesus meant an apostolic mission. From His initiative they received authority (exousia-freedom of action, right to act; previously meant liberty of doing as one pleases, later developed to mean ability, strength and authority).

How did Jesus impart such a right of authority? Jesus said "FREELY you have received..." (Mt 10:8). Freely (from dorean) meant as a gift. Elsewhere the same word was rendered "without cause" (Gal 2:21), "without reason" (Jn 15:25), and "free of charge" (2 Cor 11:7). This gives us a sense of how the disciples received this imparting. Are we humble to receive in this manner? side-stepping our performance, without a cause or reason in ourselves?

In turn, "...freely give." The disciples left Jesus with the right to exercise authority at will, it seems. Now they could go out in the liberty that arises out of Jesus' initiative and minister the power of preaching, healing, and delivering in freedom. They would give gifts to many others, in the same way as they received, "without cause."

Cathy VinsonŠ

Send a note to Cathy Vinson , the writer of this devotion.

" What ever happens without cause? Almost everywhere we turn we see the God. He loves be"cause" He loves..."

Other Whispers from the Wilderness Devotions are found HERE

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~ Reconciliation ~

When George Washington was stationed in early life at Alexandria, with a regiment under his command, his spirit became heated one day at an election, and he said something very offensive to a Mr. Payne. In response, Payne felled him to the ground with one blow of his cane. On hearing of the insult offered to their commander, the regiment, burning for revenge immediately started for the city; but Washington met them and begged them by their regard for him to return peaceably to their barracks. Thinking himself in the wrong in his hasty expressions, he nobly resolved to make an honorable reparation. The next morning Washington sent a polite note requesting Payne to meet him at the tavern. Payne took it for a challenge, and went in expectation of a duel. However, what was his surprise to find, instead of pistols, a decanter of wine on the table.

Washington rose to meet him and said with a smile, "Mr. Payne, to err is human; but to correct our errors is always honorable. I believe I was wrong yesterday. You have had, I think, some satisfaction; and, if you deem that sufficient, here is my hand. Let us be friends."

Such an act of justice and courtesy few could resist; and Payne became, from that moment through life, an enthusiastic friend and admirer of Washington, who in all of his victories never won a more glorious triumph. When by ruling his own spirit, he subdued the anger of his enemy and won his confidence and love.

—Dictionary Of Illustrations