Freely ye have received, freely give. Matthew 10:8.
All that men receive of God’s bounty still belongs to God. Whatever He has bestowed in the valuable and beautiful things of earth is placed in our hands to test us, to sound the depths of our love for Him and our appreciation of His favors. Whether it be the treasures of wealth or of intellect, they are to be laid, a willing offering, at the feet of Jesus.
In commissioning His disciples to go “into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature,” Christ assigned to men the work of extending the knowledge of His grace. But while some go forth to preach, He calls upon others . . . for offerings with which to support His cause in the earth.
Not all can make large offerings, not all can do great works, magnificent deeds; but all can practice self-denial, all can reveal the unselfishness of the Saviour. Some can bring large gifts to the Lord’s treasury; others can bring only mites; but every gift brought in sincerity is accepted by the Lord.
Many would be surprised to see how much could be saved for the cause of God by acts of self-denial. The small sums saved by deeds of sacrifice will do more for the upbuilding of the cause of God than larger gifts will accomplish that have not called for denial of self.
The spirit of liberality is the spirit of heaven. Christ’s self-sacrificing love is revealed upon the cross. That man might be saved, He gave all that He had and then gave Himself. The cross of Christ appeals to the benevolence of every follower of the blessed Saviour. The principle there illustrated is to give, give. . . . The principle of worldlings is to get, get. . . .
The light of the gospel shining from the cross of Christ rebukes selfishness. . . . Many of God’s people are in danger of being ensnared by worldliness and covetousness. They should understand that it is His mercy that multiplies the demands for their means. . . . He thus makes man the medium through which to distribute His blessings on earth. God planned the system of beneficence in order that man might become like his Creator, benevolent and unselfish in character, and finally be a partaker with Christ of the eternal, glorious reward.
Maranatha p. 124
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for LS. She has a very good job possibility in another state. Pray that if that is the job that she should have that God will work out all of the details. RJ
—–My beloved younger sister, Shari, died unexpectedly the night of Nov. 19/20th in her home. She had pneumonia, but had been released from the hospital earlier Wednesday afternoon. My brother-in-law, John was very near but heard no sound of distress or call for help. It is so hard to realize that we will no longer have her with us until Jesus comes again! Please pray for all of the members of our family who are and will be missing her so greatly! Her husband is brokenhearted! Please especially hold him up in prayer. LaRae
—–Prayers, please, for Madison’s safe travels. She’s flying out here today, but has a layover & must change planes. She is too old for an airline escort. Melissa
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Dear Friends,
Esther looked out the window one day where she was working and saw this teenage boy in a tree. He was about 20 feet from the ground and was sawing off a large limb. The only trouble was he was sitting on the limb! Esther thought he was just playing around until she saw how far he had cut through the branch. She went outside and alerted him of his danger.
How often we see someone who is in a more dangerous situation than just a bad fall. How often we see those around us who are making decisions that have eternal consequences, yet we say nothing. How often we see those we love being snared by the evil one, yet we are silent. We don’t want to offend.
God’s Word says, “I have made thee a watchman…therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.” Eze 3:17-19 Our Redeemer has made us watchmen to alert others to their danger. We are to “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet.” Isa 58:1 Yet how often we are silent.
God pleads, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die.” Eze 33:11 He desires us to help those in danger to turn from that danger before it is too late. He wants us to be partners with Him saving souls from destruction.
Paul says, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Tim 2:3,4 “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.” 1 Thess 5:14,15 “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification.” 4:3
John adds, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2;15-17
Let us set aside our fears and allow the Holy Spirit to speak through us. Let us save others “with fear, pulling them out of the fire;(so to speak) hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” Jude 23 Let us “make (our) calling and election sure: for if (we) do these things, (we) shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto (us)abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:10,11
Rose