There is one word that was uttered by my Savior before He surrendered His life on the cross, effectively paying my debt and purchasing my place in Heaven.
"Tetelestai!" Literally, it is finished.
This same word has been found stamped on receipts or business documents in New Testament times when a debt was paid or an account closed...
"Tetelestai." Paid for. Completed. Account settled.
Friends, please don't miss this. Make sure you hear this.
Haven and Aaron's adoption has been Paid In Full. With one single private donor who wishes to remain anonymous, God has brought this matter to a close.
There will be no more fundraisers, no more puzzles, and there will be no applying to ABBA Fund for a loan or juggling money. Let another family benefit from those resources.
The last adoption was not like this one. And I won't forget what we learned.
In fact, one of the provisions God used to bring our Ethiopian children home during our last adoption was the sale of my wedding diamond in exchange for plane tickets and covenant loans from organizations which stood outstanding at 10K when we began this adoption.
You see, these children are our treasure. They are our investment. They are our retirement. They are our security.
It is the hope of Christ that drives us this way.
And for Him, we would sell everything we have to buy this field. We would give up everything we own to dig out this treasure.
These things that I know to be true allow me to believe in foolish investments.
Because I was once one of them, and Christ chose to invest in my life.
Do you know of this treasure? Do you know Jesus? Do you hear Him calling you to do something insane? Have you dared to give it a voice and share this calling with friends or family only to be made to feel foolish?
Do you feel unequipped?
Friends, He does not always call the equipped. And His plans often sound crazy. But I promise you with every ounce of my soul that I know this to be true:
What is He asking you to do? Has He called you to adoption, to missions, to ministry, to evangelism, to give of yourself recklessly, to pour yourself out in His Name?
Do you know Him?
Have you surrendered?
Have you REPENTED?
You see, before you step out and do even one thing FOR Him, there is an account that must be settled.
"Tetelestai!" Literally, it is finished.
This same word has been found stamped on receipts or business documents in New Testament times when a debt was paid or an account closed...
"Tetelestai." Paid for. Completed. Account settled.
Friends, please don't miss this. Make sure you hear this.
Haven and Aaron's adoption has been Paid In Full. With one single private donor who wishes to remain anonymous, God has brought this matter to a close.
There will be no more fundraisers, no more puzzles, and there will be no applying to ABBA Fund for a loan or juggling money. Let another family benefit from those resources.
The last adoption was not like this one. And I won't forget what we learned.
In fact, one of the provisions God used to bring our Ethiopian children home during our last adoption was the sale of my wedding diamond in exchange for plane tickets and covenant loans from organizations which stood outstanding at 10K when we began this adoption.
You see, these children are our treasure. They are our investment. They are our retirement. They are our security.
It is the hope of Christ that drives us this way.
And for Him, we would sell everything we have to buy this field. We would give up everything we own to dig out this treasure.
This is our "financial peace".
This is reckless.
This is foolish.
This is wasteful.
This is beautiful.
This is Jesus.
This is the only thing worth anything.
These things that I know to be true allow me to believe in foolish investments.
Because I was once one of them, and Christ chose to invest in my life.
In fact, Christ chose to TRADE His life for mine.
And I am His Little Girl.
Do you know of this treasure? Do you know Jesus? Do you hear Him calling you to do something insane? Have you dared to give it a voice and share this calling with friends or family only to be made to feel foolish?
Do you feel unequipped?
Friends, He does not always call the equipped. And His plans often sound crazy. But I promise you with every ounce of my soul that I know this to be true:
He equips the called.
What is He asking you to do? Has He called you to adoption, to missions, to ministry, to evangelism, to give of yourself recklessly, to pour yourself out in His Name?
Do you know Him?
Have you surrendered?
Have you REPENTED?
You see, before you step out and do even one thing FOR Him, there is an account that must be settled.
WITHOUT Christ,
you have a great debt to pay.
WITH CHRIST,
you have been paid for. In Full.
Your account has been closed.
you have a great debt to pay.
WITH CHRIST,
you have been paid for. In Full.
Your account has been closed.
If you are IN CHRIST, your works, your resources, your adoptions and your humanitarian projects do not add to this account.
If you trust in your own good works for your Salvation, you are tossing pennies at the Cross and
you are not trusting in Christ alone...AND THIS IS SERIOUS:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Matthew 7
If you trust in your own good works for your Salvation, you are tossing pennies at the Cross and
you are not trusting in Christ alone...AND THIS IS SERIOUS:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Matthew 7
Whatever you do must flow from obedience and thankfulness
of this closed account.
So if you have repented and have turned to Jesus, there is only one thing left to DO. Follow Him.
Whatever He has asked you to do, I implore you to do it.
Whatever He has asked you to do, I implore you to do it.
I dare you, in fact.
Do it and do it now.
Is this safe, though? Is HE safe?
I leave you with this, from the land of Narnia and the pen of C.S. Lewis...
"Safe?...Who said anything about safe. 'Course he isn't safe.
But he's good. He's the King I tell you."
Long live the King.
