FROM J T STIN Be Honest With God God loveth a cheerful giver.–2 Corinthians 9:7 The greatest blessing of giving is not on the financial side of the ledger but on the spiritual side. You receive a sense of being honest with God. You receive a consciousness that you are in partnership with God—that you are doing something constructive—that you are working with Him to reach the world for Jesus Christ. You are also enabled to hold on to this world’s goods loosely because the eternal values are always in view. How do you give? Is it liberally and cheerfully? Or is it sparingly and grudgingly? If you have been giving God the leftovers of your substance and your life, you have been missing the true joy and blessing of Christian giving and living. Prayer for the day Forgive me, almighty God, for so often giving You the leftovers. In my heart I know I can never outgive You. His Child Forever I’m entering my fourth decade as a pastor and I’ve learned the question to ask. If we were having this talk over coffee and you were telling me about your tough times, I’d lean across the table and say, “What do you still have that you cannot lose?” The difficulties have taken much away. I get that. But there’s one gift your troubles cannot touch. Your destiny. Can we talk about it? You are God’s child. He saw you, picked you, and placed you. Jesus said, “You did not choose Me. I chose you.” (John 15:16). I remember a young groom once leaned over, just minutes before the ceremony and said to me, “You weren’t my first choice.” “I wasn’t, I responded?” “No, the preacher I wanted couldn’t make it.” “Oh, I said.” He responded, “But thanks for filling in.” You’ll never hear such words from God. He chose you. Replacement or fill-in? Hardly. You’re His first choice. His open, willful, voluntary choice. Hear him say, “This child is mine!” His child forever. That’s who you are! God Takes His Time Sometimes God takes His time. One-hundred and twenty years to prepare Noah for the flood. Eighty years to prepare Moses for his work. God called young David to be king, but returned him to the sheep pasture. He called Paul to be an apostle and then isolated him in Arabia for fourteen years. How long will God take with you? His history is redeemed, not in minutes, but in lifetimes. We fear the depression will never lift, the yelling will never stop, the pain will never leave. Will this sky ever brighten? This load ever lighten? Life in the pit stinks. Yet for all its rottenness, doesn’t it do this much? Doesn’t it force us to look upward? The Bible promises at the right time, in God’s hands, intended evil becomes eventual good. You will get through this!
Posted on: Sun, 08 Sep 2013 12:15:12 +0000
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