Today’s Bread ~ Unclaimed Property

2 Peter 1:3-4 – As we know Jesus better, His divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life.  He has called us to receive His own glory and goodness!  And by that same mighty power, He has given us all of His rich and wonderful promises.  He has promised that you will escape the corruption all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in His divine nature.

During my 13 year stint in radio, I became familiar with the cyclical nature of the news: stories leaning toward patriotism leading up to the fourth of July and the back-to-school bonanza in August.  During the once-or-twice-a-year ice/snow storm in Texas, you’d see the lonely reporter reporting live from a bridge, hoping to catch a car in an out-of-control skid.  And about once a year, the headlines honed in on unclaimed property.

Although I had faithfully reported that story for years, I had never actually checked to see if I had treasure pile up somewhere in a government vault.  So this morning, for no real reason other than simple curiosity, I pulled up the website and searched my name.

Nothing.

I typed in my maiden name.  Nothing.  Thinking that perhaps my husband had unclaimed cash, I entered in “Mike Carrell.”  No luck for him, but a lucky guy of the same name in Sherman, Texas has a whopping $3.50 just waiting to be claimed.

The paragraph at the top of the site grabbed my attention:

One in four Texans has unclaimed property from forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, security deposits and utility refunds.  Texas is currently holding more than $2.2 billion in cash and other valuables waiting for the rightful owners to claim. It’s never too late to make a claim, and we are committed to ensuring hardworking Texans don’t lose a penny.

One in four Texans?  2.2 billion dollars??  The website goes on to say that in 2010, the state returned more than $163 million dollars in cash, property, and other valuables.  Staggering.

If you would allow me to draw a parallel, it would be this:

Three in four Christians have unclaimed promises from God.  The Bible is currently holding more love, peace, joy and victory than you can fathom, waiting for the believers to claim.  It’s never too late to claim a promise, and the Trinitarian God is committed to ensuring faithful Christ-followers don’t miss a promise.

John 10:10b – “I came that you might have life and have it abundantly.”

Are you living abundantly? 

Do you claim the promise of peace or live riddled with anxiety over the future and your current circumstances?  Do you live a life filled with love, or frustration and anger?  Do you experience joy in all its fullness or do you strive toward and settle for momentary, fleeting happiness?  Do you claim the victory Christ has won for you or do you walk around in a spirit of defeat?

The Bible is full of unclaimed promises.

Wouldn’t it be interesting if we could go to a website, type in our name, and see where we are living deficiently?  And if we were to find our deficiencies, wouldn’t be nice to simply follow a set of directions to claim those promises?

The Bible also contains the directions for a life lived in abundance.

Believe.

Colossians 1:23a, b – But you must continue to believe this truth and stand in it firmly.  Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. 

Believe, and keep believing.  The original word in the Greek means to persist, stay the course, and persevere.  What is the truth?  That Christ loves you.  That He came to earth wrapped in flesh and died for you, that you might know you have an empathetic advocate that sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for you.  So that you might know there is more. 

Obey. 

Colossians 2:6 – And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to Him.

If you want to live a victorious life filled with peace and joy, you must remain faithful to Christ.  I think of my children and how much I love them, how I’d do anything for them…except this: I will not reward their disobedience.  I love them too much, and I care far more about their long term character than their immediate comfort.  How much more then, will God withhold blessings and rewards from His children when they walk in direct, premeditated disobedience?  God cares far more for our eternal salvation than our immediate comfort.  Far more. 

If you are entertaining sin, stop it.  It doesn’t matter if society endorses it.  It makes no difference if “everyone else is doing it.”  If you want to live life in all of its fullness; if you want to live the life Christ died for you to have, confess and repent.  As Jesus told the adulterous woman, “Neither do I condemn you.  Go and sin no more (John 8:11).”

Drink deeply from the fountain of life. 

Colossians 2:7 – Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught.  Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all He has done.

When people tell me they struggle with anxiety over their present or future circumstances, or they can’t seem to figure out what God wants them to do, the first thing I usually ask them is this: “How often are you reading your Bible?”  We can’t claim God’s promises if we don’t trust Him to make good on them.  If you don’t spend time in the Word getting to know Jesus, why would you trust Him?  I don’t know that it’s possible to really trust someone you don’t know.  Relationships take effort.  They require commitment and time spent both listening and sharing.  The Bible is where we receive the Living Water of Christ.  The Bible is where we get to know the nature and character of God.

Trust that your circumstances have not surprised God.  Trust that He is capable of handling it and will handle it in His time.  Tell Him what you need.  Focus on what you have, and trust Him with what you don’t.

Philippians 4:6-7 – Don’t worry about anything, instead, pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.  If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

I believe that one of the most important components of living victoriously is this: pray for a heavenly perspective.  It is so easy to get caught up in the here and now, and forget that there is a bigger plan in place.  Look around you.  There is more to life than what you see.  Your pain and your struggles have a shelf-life; they will not last forever.  Let the words of Jesus wash over you, cleanse you, and comfort you.  Drink deeply from the fountain of life.

“So don’t be afraid, little flock.  For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom (Luke 12:32).”

Dear God, thank You for this day and all it holds.  Thank You for another chance to praise You.  Thank You for another chance to claim Your promises.  God, would You please wash over us right this moment, reassuring us of Your love?  It is so difficult to live in a world that counters everything You say.  It is so difficult to live in obedience, when even some of Your leaders bend to the world’s way of thinking.  Minister to us.  Draw us close to You, and closer still.  Uphold us by Your victorious right hand.  Remind us that Jesus has gone ahead of us to prepare a place for us in Your house.  Remind us that He has experienced every pain and temptation that we experience, and He did not sin.  Instead, He paid the price for our sin.  He won the war, that we might win our battles.  God, we love You so much, and we sit in awe of the knowledge that You love us with an unfailing, everlasting love.  Help us to love You more.  Help us to trust You fully.  Help us to walk in victory.  We pray these things in the precious name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.