Dear Friend,

God bless you in a special way today.

Jesus talks about the last days in Matthew 24 and He said, “ Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold…”

Growing cold means you have drifted from concern to isolation. Self preservation. This is natural behavior and most of the time it makes sense.

However cold is not the right temperature when wickedness increases. Shrinking back. Withholding salt and light and goodness cools things down.

Jesus gave us a key we can use to keep our temperature turned up. He said, “It’s more blessed to give than to receive.” This means there’s a good thing that is received only through the act of giving. Have you ever thought of that?  In God’s kingdom its give and receive. The kingdom of the world is get and get. And the temptation to go into the, ‘get and get’ mode increases when wickedness does. But let’s resist this.

Even when the things you thought you might receive from someone ends up arriving from another source, that’s okay. You and I aren’t in charge of how things come back to us. We are only in charge of doing what we can do and trusting God with the outcome.

God’s kingdom is one of action and sometimes sacrifice.

Here are 3 Action Steps for Not Growing Cold:

1. Offer yourself to God to be a part of the answer to someone in need.
2. Maintain a regular prayer focus that is international. This stretches you beyond your front door and helps you to have a well rounded perspective.
3. Remember, God has blessed YOU so you can be a blessing. Renew your commitment to look up and out and to engage with those around you.