Blog Layout
God's Flow of Giving
Andrea Lende • February 11, 2021
Luke 6:38
God’s Perfect Flow of Giving
You can also listen to the devotion and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/Gods-Perfect-Flow-of-Giving-eq870r
Luke 6:38
“Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into your life. For with the measure you deal out, it will be measured back to you.”
As the days of this pandemic have turned into months and now a year, the idea of giving to others has sort of been lost.
We have had to pull in this last year.
Seclude ourselves.
We have lost connection with one another.
A year ago, people were still gathering at churches, meeting in all the meeting places, and doing life with one another.
Without this real connection, I have found that I am thinking less about others.
People are just not top of mind.
Taking care of my daily needs has taken precedence.
A year ago, I would meet with friends and family and I could see the needs in their eyes.
But without seeing them, I don’t see the need.
And I am not moved to action.
Unfortunately, I’ve become rather comfortable with that.
I have busied myself with other things.
Buried myself in my work.
Instead of taking on the needs of others, I am taking care of my own.
However, reading this passage today convicted me.
It made me realize that I can do better.
I need to do better.
There just has to be more we can do for one another even if we are denied in-person connection with one another.
Jesus included the nugget about giving in His sermon on the Mount.
He said, “Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over”.
If we don’t participate in the act of giving, our lives are empty.
We do not enjoy the ‘full to the brim and running over’ kind of living Jesus talked about.
The circle of giving and receiving is cut off and we cease to live in God’s beautiful flow.
Today I choose to be more intentional about tending to the needs of others, meeting those needs, and participating in the act of giving.
May you find that as you give to another, you will be blessed as live in God’s perfect flow.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for reminding me to be the giver of gifts. Thank You for showing me that I need to be the one to reach out to learn about the needs of those around me – those I can serve. Help me reconnect with people in ways that are possible and highly meaningful. Help me be more sensitive to the needs of others. Turn my eyes outward and help me see what I have been missing. May You show me who to serve and help me be obedient to Your call. Remove the barriers that have held me captive in my own mind. Lead me back into Your perfect flow of giving and receiving. Guide me this day in all that I do. Ready me for Your service and strengthen me to do as You ask. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: Your heart is bigger than you think My child, and I will lead you to serving beyond what you think you are able to do.
Response: Teach me and prepare in all ways to serve You, Father.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.