On Giving

   Ron and I were talking the other day about a Christian seminar we went to years ago. What stood out to us most in our memories of that time was the sad representation of Jesus from many of the seminar goers. There was one person working the snack bar and you could tell she was overwhelmed almost to tears. We were first in line and all behind us were people with their big Bibles tucked under their arms huffing and making rude comments about service, or lack thereof. Ron and I told the young lady to just take her time and she was doing a good job. A lot of the huffers left, and she pressed on serving people.

When I think on that situation it breaks my heart. What were we showing this frazzled young lady of the love of Jesus?

In Hebrews 1:3, we read that Jesus is the radiance of the Father’s glory and the exact representation of His nature! Beloved ones, we should be that as well.

Paul wrote in Romans 13:8 that we were to owe no one anything except to love one another, and he called believers ‘vessels of mercy’ in Romans 9:23.

What does love look like coming from a vessel of mercy?  Look at the picture above. It’s my husband when he went on a missions trip to Ohio. He had been working hard and was sweating profusely, so he sat down to rest a minute. This sweet little girl saw him and ran to get a cold bottle of water, which she brought over and placed on his brow to cool him off. That looks like Jesus to me! It’s love coming from a vessel of mercy.

John said the Spirit is the Life Giver. Let Him love and flow through you to those around you. Ask Him to show you someone that needs a touch from Him. There are so very many hurting people around beloved ones. Wherever you are, they are there.

We sometimes think of giving as being only monetary, but in fact, a smile can be a touch from Jesus to someone wanting to be seen. A kind word spoken to an abused individual can be a touch from Jesus. Don’t give to get, though. We all know the scriptures that say the more you give the more you get, but let’s give to give. Let’s give in the perfect expression of our Holy Father, who withheld nothing from us.

For God loved the world in this way: so much that he would give up his Son, The Only One, so that everyone who trusts in him shall not be lost, but he shall have eternal life.

It says ‘everyone’ and we always have something to give to others in love. We just need to be aware of those He shows us.

Let each one do just as he purposed in his heart; not giving grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

May your heart purpose be to love with all the Jesus in you. Hallelujah and amen!