Today's Devotional

Give, and it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over. ~Luke 6:38 NASB

Thoughts on today's verse...

Much of our day is spent in 'getting'. We get up in the morning in order to get a good breakfast before we get a ride to work. We get in gear and get the job done so we can get a paycheck that will pay for a weekend getaway so we might get rest to get a jump on the coming week!

Yet the Gospel encourages us to become a people who are more concerned with giving rather than getting. Giving sounds so noble, and we know in our hearts it's the "right thing to do," but in practice, giving is difficult. Genuine giving involves concern for others, and ultimately it requires the demolition of pride and self-centeredness. Giving is a sacrifice, letting go of at least part of that which we believe to be "ours."

The greatest mystery is that in giving, we get. What we get may not be what we had originally intended to get. Yet those who are generous in their giving repeatedly say what they get in return is always far more valuable and meaningful than what they gave or what they had originally intended to get.

One of the most giving persons I've ever known was a little widow named Mary Castor. I used to call her "Camel Knees" as she was such a prayer warrior. She was not wealthy in the sense of having money, but when you were with this woman you felt as if you were in the presence of the Lord. In her poverty (and she didn't know she was poor) she supported several missionaries besides tithing to her church. I learned much from Mary early on in my Christian walk.

So, today I'd like to challenge you. Find a way to give something to someone in need, whether of your money, time, talent, effort, service, tears, laughter, ideas, or possessions. Give freely and generously, not motivated by a payback. Oh, the payback will come, but let its arrival be a joyful surprise in your day!

My prayer...

My Lord and my God! You have blessed us with so very much in this nation, in this country. Now, may we attempt to be Your messengers in this world and to bless others as You have so generously blessed us. May we give not out of our surplus but of that which is sacrificial. Fill us with Your Spirit so that we may discern rightly where it is You desire us to give. In Jesus' name ~Amen!

Yours, because we're His,

Tamara