“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” JN 10:10 ESV.

We all need God’s Grace.

When you stop for a moment and realize that people are sinning against you today, it can be paralyzing. Just like a deer in the headlights of a car, or a bicyclist facing an on-coming vehicle, we can easily freeze and be harmfully impacted by the event.

Yet because we have a loving heavenly Dad who cares for us more than  we accept, we can faithfully face any situation knowing he will provide and protect us in his own time and way.

Take stealing as an example. Think of the many ways people are stealing from you today. Most of the ways are hidden from our view. For example, the government is robbing from you every day by allowing inflation to eat away at your hard earn dollar. They rob you of your future purchasing power by spending more than they take in and paying interest on it.  Being the third largest item in the budget, imagine how many other ways that money could have been spent.

When we thankfully accept a helping hand through the tough times of life and then greedily turn it into a long term lifestyle, don’t we blindly think we are getting the better side of the deal? However, over time one learns how entitlements slowly destroy Godly character. These handouts rob us of the opportunity to grow through our walk with God in the pursuit of what He has prepared for us. Instead we settle for the assured crumbs instead of the rich blessing God wants to give us as we learn to trust Him in our walk. Aren’t we then stealing from our eternal inheritance?

Don’t the media and advertisers steal from you when they package lifestyles and products as a poor substitute for the Triune God? For example, happiness is found in a drink, joy in dishwater detergent, and tasteful (unhealthy)food through the convenient drive-thru window.

Or in business, owners find ways to hide money from the government through off shore companies and therefore not pay their share of taxes.

Than we have employees who find ways to enrich themselves outside their agreed compensation. Whether it is taking office supplies home or only giving 50% of themselves toward their work, isn’t that taking away something that belongs to another?

Husbands and wives steal from each other when they are not faithful in their relationship.  Parents steal from their children when they spend their free time pursuing their dreams rather than investing time with their offspring.

This is my short list for the moment. I am sure you can add many other situations where you are being robbed financially, emotionally, or socially. But be brave. God knows. He showers his grace on all. Whenever someone steals from you, ask God to correct the situation. Let him lead you to show good to those who rob you. Haven’t we at one time or another robbed from others? Or more specifically, haven’t we at times stolen from God? How does He treat us? Doesn’t he pour out more of his abundant grace and mercy upon us when we finally acknowledge His authority in our life? Maybe we need to do the same with others.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

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