Have you ever spent time investing in others? Or have you done a lot better in something because of other’s investment in you? I know personally that many others have invested in me such as my mom and dad and many other family members investing in my overall well-being, both physically and mentally. There were some bosses I had, especially at the Bridge of Storm Lake who invested their time and energy to make me a better leader and worker especially in the nonprofit space. I also have had many teachers who have invested time in supporting me and helping me get better in my school work and learning abilities as well as my overall love for school.
I also have been blessed in my life because I have been given positions such as a teacher, coach, and a leader in a nonprofit. Through these jobs I have been able to invest in both kids who are growing up and college students to help them be a better leader. My favorite moments in my life are when I have been able to invest in people or students and to help them be the best versions of themselves.
I was doing my Bible Study over Galatians with my Discipler (mentor). There were many questions we had to reflect on over the first 5 verses of the entire book. One question was, “How does the knowledge that both God and Father and Jesus the Son are invested in your salvation impact your daily life?” This is a good reminder that both God and Jesus are very much invested in us. He doesn’t just think of us as a number, but rather he does invest in our relationship with him.
Besides this Bible Study time with my Discipler from church, I also have been doing my own Bible study over personal revivals to Christ. The idea of revival is to go back to Christ in the times we have been falling away from him or choosing to forgo sin we have picked over our relationship with Christ. This means we need to be aware of the sins we sometimes fall into. This could be a habit we started that is really taking us away from Christ or this could be a thought pattern we need to get out of. This could even be a relationship we have and how we are treating the other person. This devotional gives real life stories and examples of revival. These stories all show ways God has been investing in a person. It is more than just a person becoming a Christian and becoming one with the body of Christ, God also wants to know each and every one of us intimately and to build a better relationship with us.
There are many Bible verses with the emphasis on investing. God cares very much about a person’s heart and their life. One such example is in 1 Peter 3:6 which says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” This shows how God cares about us not perishing. He instead chooses to be patient with us, even when we are always running away from God, and we are trying to seek validation through the things in the world. He wants us to come to the light and to be redeemed through Christ. Jesus is always trying to stand up for us and defend us in front of God.
This is a good reminder for anyone who is in Christ. This question reminds us as people we are only saved through Christ and through his grace he gave us. The Lord has led the steps to be where we are right now. He has led us in the direction of where we should work or where we volunteer or where we go on a regular basis. He led the people we have in our lives to us. This is because God directed our feet and gave us a life situation of which brought revival and change.
This also should serve as a reminder about us being good investors. The Lord very often uses people to invest and to show the Lord to other people. God very much wants to use us to invest in the lives of someone else. God will put us in different situations in order to preach to others.
My challenge for you is to first reflect on the main ways God has invested in you. What experiences have you had that have brought you closer to God? Who are the people who have been put in your life who have inspired you and invested in you to bring you to God? It is good to remember the ways God has invested in you, so you can always be more grateful for every step we have taken.
Then my second challenge for the week is to think of one way you can invest in someone. What is something you can do to help others in their walk with Christ? Can you share more of your story? Can you spend time praying over missionaries and their walk of life? Can you invite a friend to a Bible group or read the Bible together? There can be many different ways we can invest in someone else. I pray in this next week you feel invested and are able to invest in other people.
Colossians 3:23 Blog 