Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – November 23, 2015
Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Luke 6:38, The Message
It is impossible to out give the Lord, because He augments any gift given in Jesus’ name with His almighty influence. He can take a penny and make it a dime. He can take a dime and make it a dollar. He can take a dollar and make it a hundred dollars. He can take a hundred dollars and make it a thousand. Eternally motivated gifts grow exponentially.
He can take one life surrendered to Jesus and influence a family. He can take a family under the Lordship of Christ and influence a church, a ministry and a community. He can take a Christ-centered community and influence a state. He can take a state that stands for God’s standards and revive a nation. Indeed, He has taken a nation founded on His principles and influenced the world. One submitted life is leverage in the Lord’s hands.
“The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor” (Proverbs 22:9).
Would you be interested in an investment with a 100% guaranteed return? In God’s economy this is how He multiples gifts given for His glory. He takes our ordinary faith offerings and converts this act of worship into extraordinary eternal results. Money is not an end in itself, but there are times that nothing warms the heart like cold cash. Look to give toward movements that manage His financial resources well.
When you give in Jesus’ name you are giving to Jesus. The Lord is the righteous recipient of your good and generous gifts. Would your giving amount and motivation be any different if you gave to Jesus in person? Would your heart and posture bow in holy reverence and gratitude? Yes, giving is an act of worship to holy God—not because He needs anything—but because we need to recognize our need for Him and His reward.
“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done” (Proverbs 19:17).
Your master Jesus matches your giving with His incredible resourcefulness and reward. The Lord has chosen to meet the needs of His people through His people—and He even uses unbelievers to care for believers. To those outside the faith, it’s the kindness of God through godly people that leads to repentance. Your gracious gift, combined with God’s grace, is a conduit for people to know Christ. You cannot out give God, but your generosity joins Him in bringing people into the saving knowledge of His son Jesus.
“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:10-11).
Prayer: Where is the Lord calling me to join Him to give aggressively in the name of Jesus?
Related Readings: Psalm 146:7; Matthew 14:17-21; 2 Corinthians 8:2; Hebrews 6:10
Post/Tweet: When we give in Jesus’ name we are giving to Jesus. #generosity #WisdomHunters
Worship Resource: 3 minute video- Toby Mac: Speak Life
Today’s reading is taken from Boyd’s newest devotional book Two Minutes in the Bible for Men. Pre-Order now!
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Thank you for help and good and true