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Though a twin, he was quite the opposite of his younger brother and ultimately became the heartache of the family. Ripped off by his brother and rejected by his family, he couldn’t win, no matter how hard he tried. As we shall soon discover, the Bible pulls no punches. And you may find several places in this story where you can identify with Esau, “the son who couldn’t win.”

From the Series: Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives: Rediscovering Some Old Testament Characters

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More than forty years ago, Tim and Kathy Bush married but quickly discovered loving each other wasn’t enough. Each brought childhood traumas, abuse and addiction into the relationship, and their marriage was marred by lies, infidelity and secrets. Kathy’s breaking point was when Tim caught her entering into yet another affair at the 25-year mark in their marriage. Tim’s breaking point was the result of a perfect storm: his failing business, the terminal diagnosis of his brother and severe health issues due to anxiety. As a result, Tim and Kathy finally confessed everything to each other and began the process of learning to surrender everything to the Lord. Tim and Kathy offer practical advice about how couples can begin to heal and rebuild their marriages. They stress the importance of fixing yourself first before trying to fix your spouse. And they offer 8 intentional ways couples can help their marriages flourish.

Some dear friends of ours lost their 19-year-old son. Because of the way it happened, his death was a sudden, gut-wrenching tragedy. With Jesus as their anchor, even through this, they made this incredible faith statement. His mom and dad said this: "God wants life to come from his death." One way that's happened is through their decision to donate his organs to help save and improve some other lives. Not long after their son's death, the word came back that someone in a neighboring state had received their son's heart. That's been a source of comfort and encouragement to them. As they say, "Our son's heart is giving life to someone else."

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "A Heart Like His."

In a sense, Jesus wants to give you a new life by giving you a new heart spiritually - His heart. To live your life seeing what He sees in the lives around you, caring about the things He cares about. It's part of the miracle that happens when you turn your life over to Jesus. He fulfills this promise from Ezekiel 36:26-27 - "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you."

When you ask Jesus to put His heart in you, your life can never be the same. Paul talked about what a Jesus-heart does in our word for today from the Word of God. It's in 2 Corinthians 5, beginning with verse 14. "Christ's love compels us." Suddenly the love Jesus has for this world is part of you, and that love drives you to touch as many lives as possible with that love. Paul goes on to describe the dramatic revolution that takes place in what, or who, you live for. "He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again."

Look, what's our natural bent? To live for ourselves, right? What makes us look good, what makes us comfortable, what fulfills our desires, advances our agenda. But when Jesus puts His selfless heart in you, it's not all about you anymore. It's all about Him and the people He died for, and your life is never the same.

A life that's all about your needs and your agenda is a very small life. A life that's all about Jesus, all about the needs of others, all about introducing people to Jesus - that's a super-sized life - one with the satisfaction of knowing you are fulfilling your created destiny. But it takes a new heart, because our heart is, by itself, self-centered and earth-centered - not eternity centered.

When Jesus plants His heart in you, you finally realize who you really are and why you are where you are. Paul says, "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God was making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: be reconciled to God."

Going to work is never the same again. Going to school, going to the club or the gym, even going home to your neighborhood, because now you see the people there through Jesus' eyes, and He sees future inhabitants of hell unless someone helps them get to heaven by getting them to Jesus. You now know you are there on Christ's behalf, saying what He would say to them, trying to rescue them as He would rescue them. And your everyday stuff? It's never everyday again - it's got eternal significance.

If your life has been very full but not very fulfilling, if you want the rest of your life to really count, if you want to live your life for something that will outlast you, then it's time for you to open up your heart to receive the heart of your Jesus. It begins when you pray, "Go ahead, God, and break my heart for the things that break yours. Go ahead and fill my heart with the love and the burden that fills yours." Then fasten your seatbelt for a life of spiritual greatness.

With His heart in you, you will live a life yo

Read: Psalms 95:1-7; 96:11-13

Gannon’s mom plopped the mushy, still-warm mound onto the coffee table for him to enjoy. After locating a recipe for homemade playdough online, Mom and Gannon gathered the ingredients and started creating. He was so excited to see the first batch!

Gannon pressed his small hands into the stretchy substance, pulling it this way and that. “It feels perfect, Mommy! I like it!” he exclaimed. “How did you do this?” Gannon asked. “You must be the goodest playdough maker in the world!”

Gannon’s mother smiled and settled on the rug beside the coffee table. “As much as you enjoy what I made for you, I’m just as happy about the playdough as you are,” she said.

“You are?” Gannon rolled the dough between his hands.

“Yep, I love to see how much joy it gives you. To know I made something for you that brings you pleasure is a blessing to me.” Then she picked up a lump of playdough and began pressing it into shape.

“I’m not the only one who likes creating things for their children to enjoy,” Mom continued. “I mixed together some items from our pantry to make the playdough—but think about what God created.”

“Yeah! Oceans, mountains, flowers…even koalas!” Gannon exclaimed.

Mom laughed. “Yes, even koalas. And God created all of that out of nothing.”

“Not even stuff from the pantry,” Gannon said.

“That’s right. God shows us His glory through His handiwork in the world, and He likes it when we enjoy His creation.”

“The world is a neat gift from God.” Gannon twirled his playdough into a bird’s nest.

“It is, and when we know God as His children—by trusting in Jesus, who lived a perfect life and then died to take the punishment for our sins—we understand how God loves to show us His love. He gives us good gifts, like the beautiful world we live in, and the gift of Jesus so we could become His children.”

“Mommy, we should say thank you to God for the world He made, for Jesus—and for this good playdough!”

–Allison Wilson Lee

How about you? When you play outside, do you notice the world around you? God created it for you to enjoy—the sun and moon to give you light, grass for you to play on, and animals for you to see and learn about. God not only created a beautiful world because He loves you; He also sent His Son, Jesus, so you could have eternal life. Next time you go outside, let the world God made remind you of His love!

Today's Key Verse: He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32 (NIV)

Today's Key Thought: God gives good gifts

Would you say that most of your days are filled with contentment or anxiety? Dr. Stanley teaches that anxiety is not something God gives but something we bring upon ourselves. Learn how you can overcome obstacles to peace.

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I recently learned that the name “CARE” package came from the acronym for “Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe,” a group that sent boxes of food to help Europeans displaced during World War II. While the care packages I send my kids at college are mostly filled with homemade treats and candy, they usually include a few practical items—a favorite shirt forgotten at home or extra school supplies.

While the name “care package” may be modern, the practice of sending helpful items is far older. It’s even tucked away at the end of 2 Timothy. Writing while imprisoned in Rome, Paul concluded his letter to his trusted disciple with some personal requests. He asked that Timothy come and bring Mark to help him (v. 11). Then he requested some personal items: his cloak and his “scrolls, especially the parchments” (4:13). Perhaps the cloak was needed because winter was coming, and maybe the scrolls contained copies of the Old Testament. Whatever the reason, Paul longed for companionship and practical items to refresh and encourage him.

Tangible reminders of care, whether the recipient lives near or far, can have a significant impact on someone in need of a little encouragement. The gift of a meal for a neighbor, a thoughtful card written to a loved one or acquaintance, or a package full of goodies sent to a faraway friend can extend God’s love in practical ways.

Jesus taught that the true measure of our giving isn’t the size of the gift but the heart behind it. Generosity begins with what we treasure most. On the next Faith & Finance Live, Rob West and Pierce Taylor Hibbs explore the motives that shape our giving and why God cares so deeply about them. Then, it’s on to your calls. That’s Faith and Finance Live . . . biblical wisdom for your financial decisions, weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio.

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Segment 1

• Lots of us in the south cancelled gathering last Sunday due to inclement weather – and there are spiritual consequences to skipping church.

• Church isn’t something we do just to do – it’s a weekly realignment of our lives.

• Even when gathering is hard, faithful churches find creative ways to feed their flocks.

Segment 2

• Kevin DeYoung models how to preach a one-off sermon with clarity, structure, and gospel power.

• Biblical preaching must consider the genre of the text. Historical narrative, poetry, wisdom, and gospels don’t all preach the exact same.

• The aim in good preaching isn’t just increasing knowledge, but to draw sinners to Christ as we learn more about him and are conformed to His image.

Segment 3

• Disturbing church protests raise questions for parents: what if your child is trapped in the chaos?

• Churches must prepare now — when agitators disrupt worship, there won’t be time to get ready.

• Comparing violent protests to Jesus cleansing the temple is biblical malpractice.

Segment 4

• Churches are absorbing secular values — “Flamy Grant” drag shows prove it’s more than a trend.

• Postmodern self-expression is replacing reverence for biblical truth in pulpits and pews.

• As persecution rises globally, now’s the time to clarify our mission: be holy, not popular.

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