The Word for Today
With Bob Gass

---

Living Unselfishly Give without expecting a return. - Luke 6:35 TM

If you're serious about becoming like Jesus, pay careful attention to His words: "Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them... give without expecting a return. You'll never - I promise - regret it" (Lk 6:31-35 TM). Love, expecting nothing in return. Give, though they'll never say thanks. Forgive, even though they won't forgive you. Come early, stay late, invest everything you've got even though nobody notices. Paul calls this "the high calling" (Php 3:14). And there's a reason: none of us would set such a standard for ourselves! If you think some people are just naturally more loving than others, think again. Love is a choice - one that costs! You can't love others while you're staring into a mirror or give to others while you're clinging to what you've got. Love will cost you your time, your money and your preoccupation with self. If you think you'll just go to church some Sunday morning, read a book or attend a 7-step seminar and turn into the kind of person we're talking about - good luck! There are no pre-packaged saints; no "add-and-stir" formula that makes God's love gush forth. To be loving you've got to take up your cross, deny yourself and make others your priority.

Remember the woman caught in adultery? Jesus stooped down to reach her, stood by her under attack, then sent her home redeemed and refocused. Do you want to be like Him? Go and find people who are hurting, hopeless, and even wrong. When you do, minister to them until they're redeemed, restored and right. That's living unselfishly!

SoulFood Bible Readings: Deut 18:9 -18, Dan 2, Isa 47:5-15, Acts 16:16-34

---

Tell your friends about The Word For Today e-mail service. If you've been encouraged by The Word for Today, then your friends will be too. NZ - Click here, UK - Click here.

---

This message from The Word for Today came from Rhema Broadcasting Group Incorporated in association with The Vine, New Zealand. "The Word for Today"® is copyright © Bob Gass Ministries.

Used under 'limited copy' permission by:

Matthew 7:7 gives some incredible promises:

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

Is this really true? I can ask for anything and I'll get it? So why do some prayers go unanswered? First, we need to understand the importance of persistence in asking. One translation of this text says, "Ask and keep on asking and you will receive." And Jesus has already given us other reasons that our prayers can get shot down: unforgiveness. But as we forgive others, and as we persist in prayer, we will see prayers answered.

Does that mean we can ask for whatever we want? Or does it mean that as we pursue God, He reshapes our desires into the things He plans to give us?

One thing is certain: Jesus wants us to bring our desires before Him.

Used with permission by:

FreshBread

Hayden Andrews