Giving or Taking?

The whole message of the Bible is not about a God who wants to take from you. It's about this God who wants to give to you. The fact that the Creator made (everything you see) means He actually loves us and wants to give to us and if you miss out on that you miss the whole point of your life - Frances Chan.

Perfectly said. Yes. God wants to bless us every day. Yes, He does love us with an everlasting love. Yes, we can receive this from Him. But I need to add (as Chan did later) that our life will not be without problems. Although we start with the basics of Jesus loves me there comes a time when we should begin to go deeper where we realize that we need to love Him back in the midst of our troubles. We give back to Him and cease our taking.

There are Christians whose lives are filled with trouble. Some more than others. Some can smile and be about their lives knowing in their hearts this will pass, even if it's at their death. They realize the end result in a relationship with Christ. They just plain trust Him. There are others who cannot shake the hangdog look, who play the victim game, who want a handout, are offended when a hard word of truth is offered and who can't understand why they are going through tough times if God loves them. I believe they are the ones who do not wish to go deeper and learn the more intimate things of God. They're stuck on taking.

We need to understand the two big things God wants to take from us is our sin and captivity. That alone should bring us contentment. If we are joyful in tribulation we have overcome our captivity. We know our sins are removed and we are enjoying our newfound freedom, even when things don't go exactly as we would want them to. In the midst of trouble we have a deep sense of peace. Hard to explain, but it's there! We still have the capacity of reaching out to others to offer something...a word, a smile, encouragement, a promise from God...instead of a word of defeat.

If we have not allowed ourselves to let go of those things that consume us (self-pity, anger, addiction, hopelessness) we have not overcome. We have clung to the things that hold us captive. If we don't let go I believe it will seem as though someone has it out for us, maybe even God. If we can't shake the "why me"'questions we're never going to get beyond our circumstances.

Israel was removed from their Egyptian captivity. There was no army. It was singlehandedly done by God. That's a picture of what Jesus does for us. Nothing we can do can remove our captivity. We can try to stuff something so deep that we forget it...until one little reminder crosses our path and all the hurts or guilt come back. The problem is we're still captive to those feelings.

Upon receiving the Word to depart from our old ways and enter into a new life on our way to our Promised Land, we are set free. Although they were free to receive God's blessings, Israel grumbled and complained. They imagined the "good" things they had in captivity which they believed they no longer had. The truth was they didn't have those things; they were servants. God, however, wanted to prove to them He would provide all things for them. They didn't recognize that though. What a shame. As long as they grumbled they wandered the desert. 

As long as we complain about how tough life is after receiving Christ who has given us all we need...forgiveness and eternal life, and an underlying peace and joy...we will not fully experience His blessings. It's as if we are still needing more when He has given us the most important thing. 

We are to praise Him each day, not complain about our circumstances. I fail occasionally, I admit it. We all do. Sometimes I don't realize I am. I think it happens without my really meaning it. It just comes out. (And there's another blog in the recesses of my mind on this!)

Chan suggests that even God's commands to us are a blessing, not meant to be harsh but out of love for us. Obeyed they bring blessings. It is we in our sinful, stubborn, proud manner who look at them with a thought of how dare anyone tell me what I should do? Shame on us. If we all did what He said we'd all be better off! Laurie, did you hear that?!

Do you realize that some day we will all stand before God and have to account for all things we've done...even after we have received Christ? My flaws, insecurities, sins will be laid before Him. He might ask Why did you do that? What was the purpose in saying that? How is it you didn't trust Me in that situation I put before you? I'll tell you, this hangs heavy in my soul knowing I've not always done what I should.

Here's the clincher though. God doesn't take a look at me and say I'm better or worse than others. He looks at us all the same. We're all guilty by His standards. That's why we cannot do good enough, we cannot strive to earn God's approval. Yet we are still called to receive Him and His forgiveness. It only comes through our acceptance of Jesus Christ. By God's grace, which is unmerited favor...we don't ever, ever deserve it...we receive our holiness through Christ's blood shed on the cross. Christ stands between God and us and has taken our sin upon Himself for all the people that have ever lived, are alive today and will live. Can you imagine that? Pretty incredible.

Those who have not received Christ will be rightly punished. He still loves but if His first command, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, is not received, they will not enter into Heaven. Those who make this choice to accept Christ will be judged but not punished. 

Christ died on that cross for you and me. The Roman form of punishment for crimes was crucifixion. In some Christian movies about Jesus, you might see a road filled with crosses with the bodies of criminals for all who pass by to see. Believe me when I say we all should be hanging on those crosses. But we have a God who loves us so much He sent His Son to do it for us.  

Look at all God has given us. The earth and all that's in it. He has given us life. That in itself, if you give any thought at all to, should cause you to be lost in wonder. But the thing is, you should think about it. We need to do this occasionally. We need to consider the heavens and the things of the earth and the One who created them. I know it can be a daunting task and beyond understanding. That's exactly where a better knowledge of God will help. 

At the end of our lives we do not get to judge ourselves. We do not get to say, Well, I know I did this better than so-and-so. God only reserves the right to judge. How good we think we are doesn't matter. That's pretty sobering. The Bible says there is not one good person. Just reach out to a God who wishes to give to us all we need. His forgiveness and His good thoughts toward you is all that matters.

Accept Christ. He will take that heart of stone and give you a new one. That's being born again. That's letting go of the old man and taking on a new one. Taking the worldly man and replacing it with a spiritual one. Does that stir something in your heart? We still are not perfect. That only comes when Jesus returns. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. (Proverbs 28:26, Proverbs 3:5)

He wants to give to us: freedom from condemnation and guilt and a relationship with Him. He wants us to stop looking at ourselves as our own savior and look up to Him, the only One who has done the work of saving us. It's not about religion. It's about relationship. Religion is works, relationship is receiving! It's standing in the presence today of a holy God totally accepted by Him upon our receiving Him into our lives. It's no longer having to rely on anyone or anything but Him.

When you ask Jesus into your life, you ask Him to forgive you of all your sins. He will remove them as far as the east is from the west and as deep as the oceans. They are forgotten. Don't you want anything you've ever felt remorse over having done removed? Unconfessed sin will trouble your heart. You can go to God Himself. He's waiting for you. You can do it in silence or out loud to Him. He will hear. When you receive Christ, you receive forgiveness. 

Psalm 32:5 - I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Do We Really Need the Government?

Acts 20:35 - I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive.'' 

I watched the Glen Beck the other night. My blog the other day was called Do You Believe in Miracles? That could have been what this program could have been called if it had not been called a Glenn Beck Christmas special!

Beck was in the small town of Wilmington, Ohio. Their major business concern three years ago was DHL, an international delivery company whose national hub was in Wilmington. The company shut down their domestic delivery service and pulled out of town bringing hardship to this community of 11,000 people. Why?...8,000 lost their jobs! But the people of Wilmington were not about to give up hope. The town experienced miracles. They pulled up their bootstraps and did some amazing things, enough to cause Beck to take notice. They chose not to ask for government assistance. Instead, the town rallied together and helped each other out. Now that makes a person smile and gives that warm and fuzzy feeling.

There was a woman who took it upon herself to start a prayer ministry. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week this town of many people from the 32 churches gather where  chalkboards are displayed with various prayer requests. It could very well be the town's success has come from this ministry, from the dedicated people who have humbled themselves before God and made these requests known to Him. Although there's a part of this country that is not seen God's blessings, this town is. Glory goes to God and God alone. Who needs the government when God is in control!?

Think what could happen if more people in more towns would shake the victim mentality of just wanting government to take care of them and begin to seriously consider helping each other out or applying themselves. The Bible tells us For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat (2Thessalonians 3:10). God worked...He created this world and everything in it...and when He was done He proclaimed it was good. Shouldn't that be example enough? 

Glenn talked to several people he'd come across after speaking with some of them. Some were from town, some came to Wilmington to be part of this celebration. Story after incredible story were shared of how people have begun to listen to Beck, have heeded not only his warnings but his suggestions, have even begun to seek God, and have seen wonderful changes in their lives.

A woman saw a hotel for sale. It had been for sale for a long time. She inquired about it but wasn't so sure she and her husband could afford it. It would take a lot to fix it up. But she met with the seller and he trusted she could do what needed to be done and they shook hands on an agreement. The hotel is up and running today.

One man and his family lost their business in a fire. They never felt so alone. Through his church he was introduced to a man in Wilmington who had a building he could relocate to and rebuild his business...on nothing more than a handshake...because the same thing had happened to him twenty years prior and he knew what this man was going through.

In the two cases I mentioned it was not just a handout. They were miracles. Miracles of a human nature done out of selflessness of heart. They were examples of people choosing to do something to help someone get a new start. They were able to move forward...on a handshake. People helping people. Not people whining about government assistance. 

There's a lot to be said for giving out of the very pure motives of one's heart. This is what Jesus would want us to do. 

This is a season of giving. It is more blessed to give than to receive, Jesus has told us.. Can we ever get a full understanding of this? Can we shake off the life we've become used to if this is not our nature? Can we step out of our comfort zone and get off the couch and away from the television and do something for someone else? Can we give without expecting anything in return but perhaps a warm, fuzzy feeling knowing we have given something to someone who needs it?

Another man runs the local food pantry. He prays over all the shelves and trusts God for the results. He has enough food to last six months. We need more of this. We need to begin to believe that God can do what He tells us...that He is our provider. He used people, but it was He who urged them to give. 

Beck explained how his good Jewish friend, Rabbi Daniel Lapin, broke down the meaning of the Hebrew word for love. The Hebrew language is so filled with meaning. Within the four Jewish symbols of the word are the center two. The center...the center...and they mean to give. Isn't that what love is supposed to be? You give, not take. To give of ourselves, not to ourselves. I sometimes feel I have failed in this area. Maybe it's because I did not receive as a child. So what about this thing I've been saying about my relationship with Jesus? Shouldn't that have healed that part of me? Perhaps it's in the works. I know there's a stirring going on...

Wilmington is an excellent example of what this country needs to be. This is what we used to be as a nation. Always giving. Now we are a country in debt. We need a country of people like those of Wilmington. I have heard, and Glenn says the same thing, there is going to be a spiritual awakening in this country. It's just a matter of time. The things that Wilmington can represent I think can be just the beginning of that revival. One town, then two and little by little a movement that cannot be mistaken or overlooked.

As we enter into the Christmas season where love--and giving--is to predominate, let us keep this all in mind. Let us give....not necessarily stuff, but let's give of ourselves. Let us push aside our own wants and needs and reach out to others. Let us go beyond what we have always done and let us communicate our love in our actions. Let us step beyond what we would consider "our job." 

Our families may not be needy and we don't have to give physical gifts, but we can give of ourselves... Remember what Jesus did for us. He gave His life. Can we not give just a moment of our life, putting aside our own desires for just a moment of time in our lives, for the family? Can we not turn off the television for a time and listen to each other and join in the conversations? I guarantee we will be blessed if we do that. Let's shake the crabbiness and desire to control and just let things fall where they may. Let us not shush the children or grouse at a spouse!

A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor. [So] do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship (Proverbs 22:9, Hebrews 13:16, Romans 12:1).