Discovering what love is one day at a time
When my youngest was little, he would get very excited about free stuff. I would hear quite often, “But MOM, it’s, for FREE!” Now, when we go to any event that has promotional items he is the one who has stopped at all of the booths.(sometimes more than once) The really cool thing though is that he also is as willing to give away many of the items he has gathered . He usually gives away more than half of the items: some of the time he knows exactly who he will give the items to, remembering a need, or a want of a person. I am always blown away by his tender and giving heart.
As freely as you have received, freely give... Love your neighbor as you love yourself… I love how his example got me to be thinking about these two pieces of Scripture. Although they are just pieces pulled out, they are pretty specific and speak volumes to me of my responsibility to have the perspective God wants me to have. God’s perspective will not only benefit me, but others as well. God’s redemptive grace is poured out for all of us. Until we allow Him access into our hearts and receive it, we cannot give what we do not have. When we have received it, we can give it away, and we never will be without. The supply from the hand of God is endless… He never leaves us high and dry. Loving your neighbor as you love yourself has many applications, yet it also means that when someone sins against us that we deal with it in a distinctly biblical and disciplined way. It is important for us to recognize that God has called us to be a part of what He is doing in their life, and that we can be a bridge maker or breaker. Instead of being self-centered, which is our natural tendency to do, God calls us to be others centered. We are called to put the needs of others before our own, despite the fact that we have been sinned against. We are to look for an opportunity to be ministers of His redemptive grace, instead of living as a victim; but as a servant to the One who redeems. Because we have been given all things that pertain to godliness…because we have Christ in us…because we have the Holy Spirit… because in Him we lack nothing… because we are seated in the heavenly places in Christ…because of the wonderful gift of His redemptive grace… because in Him we live and move and have our being… because of the great and precious promises that He has given us, we can and get to give grace to the one who has sinned against us. We get to give where they are not able. We get to give an abundant supply to fill and overflow the place in their heart that is parched and dry, because, He has done that for us. So then, if we know we have opportunity to do good, and we do not do it, it is sin…and thus we have become the offender, and thus the one in need of His grace again. He loves us more than we can say…
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AuthorI have been married to my wonderful husband for 29 years. We have two young men ages 25 and 20.. This blog is somewhat of a journal and attempt for me to remind myself of my purpose and invite others to join me in keeping an eternal perspective as we move through each day. Archives
May 2023
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