Image via WikipediaNicodemus actsEXT ACT 3-END MOVING INTO A SMALLER HOUSE As the sequence opens we see Nicodemus and his wife loading a cart with some of their possessions from their house.
Nicodemus is excited and says: NICODEMUS Wife, I have never been so joyful and felt so blessed. I truly understand that Jesus was the Messiah. And his kingdom on earth is in the hearts of men/women who love God with their whole heart, mind, soul, spirit and strength.
WIFE Yes, but why did you sell our possessions and our house. And why must we move. And why did you quit your job.
NICODEMUS Patience wife, and I will answer you. To start with you need to understand is that in order to have Jesus’s kingdom in your heart you must obey what God expect’s of us, with our whole heart.
NICODEMUS (CONT’D) He warned us that we can not achieve that if we have fame and fortune; rather we will have mourning, hunger and persecution. This is necessary so that we do not find ourselves using God’s message only to promote our personal interests. Rather we need to learn to trust God instead of our own abilities.
NICODEMUS (CONT’D) We must be willing to give when others take, to love when others hate, to help when others abuse. By giving up our own rights in order to serve others, we will one day receive everything God has in store for us.
NICODEMUS (CONT’D) This is why we sold everything. So that we can live simply and trust in our God for our food, and everything else we need. By doing this we can take what money we had and thereby turn over the proceeds of the sale to the disciples in order to use it to help others. This is necessary, in order to be a follower of Jesus.
NICODEMUS (CONT’D) In order to find hope and joy, the deepest form of happiness, we must follow Jesus no matter what the cost. Our attitudes must reflect the humility and self-sacrifice of Jesus, our King. We should not seek comfort now at the expense of eternal life.
NICODEMUS (CONT’D) Our intention should be to seek the fulfillment of God’s purposes in all we do, not merely with our money. Self-serving desires, interests and goals block God’s purposes. Serving God is the best way to restore it. A ‘good’ eye is one that is fixed on God.
NICODEMUS (CONT’D) Jesus says we can have only one master. We live in a materialistic society where many people serve money. Their desire for money and what it can buy far outweighs their commitment to God and spiritual matters. Whatever we store up, we will spend much of our time and energy thinking about.
NICODEMUS (CONT’D) This means we have to do some cutting back if our possessions are becoming to important to us. Jesus is calling for a decision that allows us to live contentedly with whatever we have because we have chosen what is eternal and lasting.
Nicodemus is excited and says: NICODEMUS Wife, I have never been so joyful and felt so blessed. I truly understand that Jesus was the Messiah. And his kingdom on earth is in the hearts of men/women who love God with their whole heart, mind, soul, spirit and strength.
WIFE Yes, but why did you sell our possessions and our house. And why must we move. And why did you quit your job.
NICODEMUS Patience wife, and I will answer you. To start with you need to understand is that in order to have Jesus’s kingdom in your heart you must obey what God expect’s of us, with our whole heart.
NICODEMUS (CONT’D) He warned us that we can not achieve that if we have fame and fortune; rather we will have mourning, hunger and persecution. This is necessary so that we do not find ourselves using God’s message only to promote our personal interests. Rather we need to learn to trust God instead of our own abilities.
NICODEMUS (CONT’D) We must be willing to give when others take, to love when others hate, to help when others abuse. By giving up our own rights in order to serve others, we will one day receive everything God has in store for us.
NICODEMUS (CONT’D) This is why we sold everything. So that we can live simply and trust in our God for our food, and everything else we need. By doing this we can take what money we had and thereby turn over the proceeds of the sale to the disciples in order to use it to help others. This is necessary, in order to be a follower of Jesus.
NICODEMUS (CONT’D) In order to find hope and joy, the deepest form of happiness, we must follow Jesus no matter what the cost. Our attitudes must reflect the humility and self-sacrifice of Jesus, our King. We should not seek comfort now at the expense of eternal life.
NICODEMUS (CONT’D) Our intention should be to seek the fulfillment of God’s purposes in all we do, not merely with our money. Self-serving desires, interests and goals block God’s purposes. Serving God is the best way to restore it. A ‘good’ eye is one that is fixed on God.
NICODEMUS (CONT’D) Jesus says we can have only one master. We live in a materialistic society where many people serve money. Their desire for money and what it can buy far outweighs their commitment to God and spiritual matters. Whatever we store up, we will spend much of our time and energy thinking about.
NICODEMUS (CONT’D) This means we have to do some cutting back if our possessions are becoming to important to us. Jesus is calling for a decision that allows us to live contentedly with whatever we have because we have chosen what is eternal and lasting.
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