Giving and Receiving (Dec 26)

To sacrifice something is to make it holy by giving it away for love. – Frederick Buechner

I would like to share a devotional entitled, "Precious Offerings," by Chris Tiegreen:

1Ch 11:18 And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD.

David had been on the run from Saul, hiding out in caves and deserts. Now after Saul's death, he was on the attack against the Philistines in the same desert near the same caves. And, not surprisingly, David was thirsty. Far from home, he longed for the familiar water of Bethlehem. Three of his warriors decided to do something about it. They broke through Philistine lines and brought back the coveted water to quench David's thirst. David's response? He poured it out to the Lord.

Those of us from capitalist societies cringe at his wastefulness. The water came at such great sacrifice, at such enormous risk, that David could at least show his appreciation by drinking some of it! But David had a higher goal than quenching thirst. His desire was to offer the Lord whatever was most precious to him. And this water was precious. Three of his right-hand men had risked life and limb to get it, even though there were surely closer sources of water than the well at Bethlehem. They did it because they loved David. The water, therefore, was immediately one of David's most treasured possessions. And treasured possessions make the best offerings.

We could learn from that. We give generously to God at times, but we save our most treasured possessions for ourselves. The first 10 percent of our income is one thing; the precious items we secure with the rest of it are another. God loves expressions of sacrifice. The greater the sacrifice, the greater the love demonstrated. If we hold things tightly, we love less fully.

Consider the things you give God. Do you give Him not only the first of your income, time, and talents, but also the best of them? Do the things you treasure become the things you most want to honor God with? When you survey your domain, you will see things you hold dear and things that are expendable. Which do you give to God? Do you long to give Him what is most precious to you?

Yesterday was Christmas Day. At Christmastime, we always talk a lot about giving and receiving. Of course it is a time to celebrate the coming of Christ, but also for many people, it is a time to exchange gifts. They do this to show that they care. Someone started spreading the word that it is better to give than to receive: I give because I care, but I'm not all selfish and wanting lots of stuff. Well, as we celebrate at Christmastime, God gave the greatest Gift – His Son. But he also wants to receive. He wants our hearts, our commitments, our love. And we, on the other hand, tend to just receive – whatever we can get from God, we take. But we also need to give. Give God the best offerings – your heart, your love, your most treasured possessions, your most treasured love…all of it. Glorify and honor God this Christmas – give Him the most sacred spot in your heart. And receive the great gifts that come straight from His heart…

God’s Detours (Dec 19)

Mat 1:18-25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. (19) Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. (20) But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. (21) And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. (22) Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, (23) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (24) Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: (25) And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Gen 46:1-4 And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac. (2) And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. (3) And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: (4) I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.

Gen 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Detour – a deviation from a direct course or the usual procedure; especially: a roundabout way temporarily replacing part of a route.

Sometimes along life's path, God throws us a detour. It may not seem to make sense. It may seem to be "out of the way," or it may seem frustrating, but God knows that sometimes we need extra measures, sometimes extreme, in order to see his glory. The other day, I was driving and was approaching an interchange. I needed to change lanes in order to go north, but the traffic was such that it seemed impossible. (It wasn't, really, but there were so many insane drivers out that day, I figured it was in my own best interest to not test my luck, haha.) Besides, with traffic stop-and-go, it almost seemed perfectly logical to just stay in my lane, end up on the south-bound lane and turn around at the next exit, which was only a mile away and an area with literally no traffic. It only took an extra minute, but it was an odd detour to take. But as I got on the highway and rounded the bend, I was presented with an amazing view in the sky as the sun lowered and was about to set. As I cruised down and turned around, beating the traffic, the thought crossed my mind that if I had headed north and avoided the detour, I would have missed the work of art that God had painted on the sky. See? Sometimes you have to think of the positive aspects of a situation when things don't seem to go the way you intended (or expected). When we are following God, a detour may be an altered route God uses to protect, preserve, and teach us about Himself and His will. In the scriptures listed above, people saw some pretty drastic changes to their plan, but it all fit into God's plan—the "bigger picture." A detour may seem like an inconvenience (or worse), but God may be using it to teach us something—or maybe even something on a much greater scale like changing a life or saving a multitude. Keep your eyes on the Lord. He will direct your path…including the detours.

Anticipation (Dec 5)

The other day we were playing with Lilie and she was having lots of fun (well, we all were). She was laughing and squealing. Sometimes we tickle her and she laughs. But sometimes, just the anticipation of the tickling makes her squeal. If we act like we're about to do something funny, she'll laugh just as hard as if we'd already done it. She laughs again, of course, when we finally follow through. Well, it got me thinking a little bit about anticipation, anyway.

Anticipation – the act of looking forward; especially pleasurable expectation.

Tit 2:11-15 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; (14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (15) These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Php 1:19-20 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, (20) According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

Psa 62:5-8 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. (6) He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defense; I shall not be moved. (7) In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. (8) Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Pro 24:14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

We wait for the coming of the Lord. We wait for answers to prayer. We wait for direction. We wait for so many things. Do we wait in anticipation or do we grumble and get impatient? I think that you'll find that the joy is greater when you anticipate the answer. For if you are impatient, your answer will likely be, "Finally…Took long enough." Pray expectantly for God to work in your life and the lives of others. Wait expectantly for the coming of the Lord. Yearn expectantly for the leading of the Spirit.

Pray about it—let your life be full of joyful anticipation!