Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
1Jn 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Thinking of these scriptures this morning while I was talking to the Lord about giving. Its pretty simple really, He gave, we give. I remember listening to a message a while back about entering into the spirit of giving, entering into the character of Christ. I found myself asking the Lord to help me give more of myself. Which is a weird prayer request I know.
I am 32 years old. I still think that you get what you give. I have battled lately with being a consumer, even in my thoughts. ‘Its all about me’ .. I remember my Dad asking me when I was a teenager, ‘Do you think the world revolves around you?’ I thought, ‘well, ya, duh. Who else should it revolve around?’ I didnt have a clue.
Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
What has been given to me? Am I giving anything back? Anything at all?
I really think the Lord wants me to give it all. And I dont mean this like, ‘Sell everything you have…’ Giving of yourself is actually harder than selling everything you have in my opinion. Just like giving of your time is harder than writing a check for a need.. Another message I was listening to recently talked about Adultery, using it as an example of giving. I finally got ‘it’ that maybe the reason God doesn’t want us to commit adultery is because its giving only a part of yourself to someone. When the pattern set before us is to give it ALL. In marriage we give ALL of ourselves to one person for the rest of our lives. Kind of like we give all of ourselves to God. He doesnt want part. But all.
Act 20:35 …It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Sitting here wondering when I will figure out that God, my creator, knows better than I do. I dont need all the answers, I have enough in the life He left behind. I am believing today that if I choose to enter into the nature of Christ’s giving, that I will be transformed. And I dont mean doing it because I know I have to, but really asking for the desire to give wherever I can. Show us today, Lord ways that we can give more of ourselves. To you, to our communities, to our families. This is my prayer for today.