A Christian talk show recently spoke of a survey which was conducted. A group of men and women were questioned about their personal knowledge of the Bible. I don’t remember the actual statistics but I found it very interesting that the atheists and agnostics scored higher in their positive responses to the biblical questions. Christians were able to answer a smaller number of the questions correctly in a descending percentage according to their denominations. I find this to be a very sad commentary on us.
As I thought about this survey, I thought about the difference between head knowledge and heart knowledge. An individual, no matter how smart or well read he or she is, cannot logically come to faith in God. Faith is a gift. If one comes to the scriptures with a closed mind and a closed heart, reading the Bible as literature or history, not seeking God, he or she will receive the facts, not the faith. The atheists and agnostics questioned were probably well educated. That they, at present, were unbelievers is not to say that God will not change the circumstances of their lives and open their hearts and minds at a future time. God has said that His word will not return void.
In the survey, why did Christians know less about the scriptures than atheists and agnostics? I think it is because we come to God in faith believing. We receive God into our lives and feel secure in that belief and in our salvation. Many of us stop there and never continue to study and grow in the word. The scriptures say that so many of us stay baby Christians and only get fed milk. God wants us to get into the meat of the word. He wants us to become mature Christians.
Children don’t grow up learning the Bible. The Bible has been taken out of American Schools. I don’t think as many of our children attend Sunday School and Religious Instruction as compared to years ago when I was growing up. Now on Sunday mornings we find parents taking their children to sports practice and games instead of Church or Sunday School. The Bible stories and songs which I learned in Sunday School were the beginning of my faith foundation.
I think that some Christians depend on their pastors or priests to study the word and they never open up their own Bibles. Many people who attend a Christian Church are still only practicing a Religion and have not yet found a personal relationship with God through Christ with the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
Read 1Corinthians chapters 1,2,and 3. It tells us that God’s wisdom is foolishness to the world. Chapter 1, verses 18- 22 says, “For the message about Christ’s death on the cross is nonsense to those who are being lost; but for us who are being saved it is God’s power. The scripture says, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and set aside the understanding of the scholars.’ So then, where does that leave the wise? or the scholars? or the skillful debaters of this world? God has shown that this world’s wisdom is foolishness! For God in His wisdom made it impossible for people to know Him by means of their own wisdom. Instead, by means of the so-called “foolish” message we preach, God decided to save those who believe.”
In 1Corinthians 2:12-14 we read, “We have not received this world’s spirit; instead we have received the Spirit sent by God, so that we may know all that God has given us. So then, we do not speak in words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, as we explain spiritual truths to those who have the Spirit. Whoever does not have the Spirit cannot receive the gifts that come from the Spirit. Such a person really does not understand them; they are nonsense to him, because their value can be judged only on a Spiritual basis”.
The door to God is open to everyone. There is a door in each of our own hearts. He is knocking and wants to come and live within us. The Holy Spirit will convict our heart. We come to Him, believing that He is God. We must ask him to help us turn away from the life and habits that are destructive to us. As He forgives us, we are to forgive others. We then receive Him, His gifts, and His promises. The Holy Spirit indwells in our spirit, and as we study and read the Bible, the Words become alive in our hearts. We now have a heart knowledge of God, not just a head knowledge.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Religion or Relationship?
Throughout the book of Matthew there is a contrast between those who are religious but don’t know God and those who are humble and repentant and do know God.
In Matthew 15 Jesus speaks to The Pharisees and teachers of religious law. Jesus said to them, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was prophesying about you when he said, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away. Their worship is a farce, for they replace God’s commands with their own man- made teachings’.” In Matthew 18:30 Jesus, speaking about eternity, tells His disciples that “But many who seem to be important now will be the least important then, and those who are considered least here will be the greatest then”. The first shall be last, and the last shall be first, as this passage is worded in other Bible translations. God knows our hearts. Outward piousness and ritual have nothing to do with our true relationship with God or our salvation.
Righteousness, not religiousness, will bring us into The Kingdom of God. How can that be? Romans 3:10 says, “None are righteous, no not one”. So how can we be righteous or right with God? God gives us directions in His Word. Matthew 5:6 says that if you hunger for righteousness you will be fed or satisfied. In and of our own selves, in our own flesh, we cannot satisfy. Romans:3 tells us that all people are sinners. It then says that Christ took our punishment. Verses 21-23 say, “But now God has shown us a different way of being right in His sight – not by obeying the law but by the way promised in the scriptures long ago. We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”. Our acquittal is not based on our good deeds. It is based on our faith. We are made right with God through our faith, not by obeying the law. We are justified by faith and because of our faith we want to follow the laws of God. We follow the law because we believe. We don’t follow the law to be saved. There is only one God and one way to be accepted by Him. The plan of salvation is found throughout the Bible’s Old and New Testament. If you don’t believe this, search the entire scriptures for yourself. God will make His words and His plan come alive in your life. Romans:4 tells us about Abrahams faith.
God’s plan to make us righteous in His sight, to save us, is given to everyone. No one is born a Christian. To become a believer, a Christ follower, is a decision that is open for anyone to make. The Messiah, The Christ, has become alive in the hearts of people from all backgrounds; Gentile, Jew, Muslims, and all other peoples and races. As individuals seek the truth they will find it. Religions and doctrinal differences within religions cause strife and dissention. Knowing God, as He wants us to know Him, in a personal relationship, brings us into His will and makes us like minded with each other. God has a perfect plan. We certainly won’t always understand His ways, but by faith we can become united with Him and each other. God uses the foolish to confound the wise. Let us keep seeking for truth, the way, and life in a personal relationship with God through Christ.
We must all ask ourselves, “Do I have religion? or a personal relationship with The One and Only Living God?”
In Matthew 15 Jesus speaks to The Pharisees and teachers of religious law. Jesus said to them, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was prophesying about you when he said, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away. Their worship is a farce, for they replace God’s commands with their own man- made teachings’.” In Matthew 18:30 Jesus, speaking about eternity, tells His disciples that “But many who seem to be important now will be the least important then, and those who are considered least here will be the greatest then”. The first shall be last, and the last shall be first, as this passage is worded in other Bible translations. God knows our hearts. Outward piousness and ritual have nothing to do with our true relationship with God or our salvation.
Righteousness, not religiousness, will bring us into The Kingdom of God. How can that be? Romans 3:10 says, “None are righteous, no not one”. So how can we be righteous or right with God? God gives us directions in His Word. Matthew 5:6 says that if you hunger for righteousness you will be fed or satisfied. In and of our own selves, in our own flesh, we cannot satisfy. Romans:3 tells us that all people are sinners. It then says that Christ took our punishment. Verses 21-23 say, “But now God has shown us a different way of being right in His sight – not by obeying the law but by the way promised in the scriptures long ago. We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”. Our acquittal is not based on our good deeds. It is based on our faith. We are made right with God through our faith, not by obeying the law. We are justified by faith and because of our faith we want to follow the laws of God. We follow the law because we believe. We don’t follow the law to be saved. There is only one God and one way to be accepted by Him. The plan of salvation is found throughout the Bible’s Old and New Testament. If you don’t believe this, search the entire scriptures for yourself. God will make His words and His plan come alive in your life. Romans:4 tells us about Abrahams faith.
God’s plan to make us righteous in His sight, to save us, is given to everyone. No one is born a Christian. To become a believer, a Christ follower, is a decision that is open for anyone to make. The Messiah, The Christ, has become alive in the hearts of people from all backgrounds; Gentile, Jew, Muslims, and all other peoples and races. As individuals seek the truth they will find it. Religions and doctrinal differences within religions cause strife and dissention. Knowing God, as He wants us to know Him, in a personal relationship, brings us into His will and makes us like minded with each other. God has a perfect plan. We certainly won’t always understand His ways, but by faith we can become united with Him and each other. God uses the foolish to confound the wise. Let us keep seeking for truth, the way, and life in a personal relationship with God through Christ.
We must all ask ourselves, “Do I have religion? or a personal relationship with The One and Only Living God?”
Monday, September 20, 2010
Friend
During worship on Sunday we praised our Lord by lifting up to Him, the song, “I Have a Friend in God”. God is my Lord and Savior but He is also my friend. I have known and have felt His presence and friendship with me since childhood.
My friend Heidi, was brought up knowing God as a punishing, strict, and authoritarian God. She never thought of Him as her friend. Before her death in February of 2009, we had many conversations about God’s love and His personal friendship with each of His children. She did meet Him as her friend and their relationship changed. She always knew that He was there for her but now they could have genuine, earnest, and honest conversations. When we know God as our friend we don’t loose our Holy fear or respect for Him but we are no longer afraid to come to Him with the big things, or the little things, in our lives. He is always there for us, a true friend. She is with her Lord, her friend, now. I miss her but the love and relationship of a friend lasts forever. This I will always have.
Jesus is speaking to his disciples and to us in John 15:9-17. This is what He said, “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in His love. I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. And here is how to measure it - the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends. You are my friends if you obey me. I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn’t confide in His servants. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you what ever you ask for, using my name. I command you to love one another”. Jesus was preparing His disciples for what was to come. He was going to be obedient to God and lay down His life for them and for you and me, His friends.
My grandson Trevor at 7 years of age has a very special friend, Jack. Their moms were friends and introduced these children to each other while in the womb. They were born a few weeks apart. They played together, went to nursery school together, and developed a very special bond. I have never heard them argue. They both love Legos and Wii and are experts at both. They defend each other and stick up for each other. This past summer, Trevor chided a group of peers for laughing at his friend because Jack was upset and crying. Now, each having started first grade in different schools, time and the busyness of schedules have kept them apart. Erica came downstairs this morning before they were to leave for school. She found Trevor sitting on the couch with Jack’s picture in his hand. He started to cry and express how much he misses his friend. Erica comforted him and told him that they would call Jack on the cell phone as they drove to school. He ate breakfast with Jack’s picture at his side and on the way to school, Jack was called. The moms made arrangements for all of them to get together that day after school. I am glad that Trevor, at such an early age, has developed such a true and deep friendship. A special friend is a gift that will last a lifetime. Whether near or far or whether here or in eternity, the bond of friendship can never be broken. We must love each other, forgive each other, and care for each other as Christ has done for us.
In 1855, Joseph Screven wrote the poem, “What a Friend we Have in Jesus”. In 1868 it was put to music by Charles Converse. The words speak to our hearts about the wonderful personal friendship of our personal friend and Savior, Jesus. Jesus is Lord, The Messiah, The Christ, The Son of God. He is our friend.
“What a Friend we Have in Jesus”
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.
My friend Heidi, was brought up knowing God as a punishing, strict, and authoritarian God. She never thought of Him as her friend. Before her death in February of 2009, we had many conversations about God’s love and His personal friendship with each of His children. She did meet Him as her friend and their relationship changed. She always knew that He was there for her but now they could have genuine, earnest, and honest conversations. When we know God as our friend we don’t loose our Holy fear or respect for Him but we are no longer afraid to come to Him with the big things, or the little things, in our lives. He is always there for us, a true friend. She is with her Lord, her friend, now. I miss her but the love and relationship of a friend lasts forever. This I will always have.
Jesus is speaking to his disciples and to us in John 15:9-17. This is what He said, “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in His love. I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. And here is how to measure it - the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends. You are my friends if you obey me. I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn’t confide in His servants. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you what ever you ask for, using my name. I command you to love one another”. Jesus was preparing His disciples for what was to come. He was going to be obedient to God and lay down His life for them and for you and me, His friends.
My grandson Trevor at 7 years of age has a very special friend, Jack. Their moms were friends and introduced these children to each other while in the womb. They were born a few weeks apart. They played together, went to nursery school together, and developed a very special bond. I have never heard them argue. They both love Legos and Wii and are experts at both. They defend each other and stick up for each other. This past summer, Trevor chided a group of peers for laughing at his friend because Jack was upset and crying. Now, each having started first grade in different schools, time and the busyness of schedules have kept them apart. Erica came downstairs this morning before they were to leave for school. She found Trevor sitting on the couch with Jack’s picture in his hand. He started to cry and express how much he misses his friend. Erica comforted him and told him that they would call Jack on the cell phone as they drove to school. He ate breakfast with Jack’s picture at his side and on the way to school, Jack was called. The moms made arrangements for all of them to get together that day after school. I am glad that Trevor, at such an early age, has developed such a true and deep friendship. A special friend is a gift that will last a lifetime. Whether near or far or whether here or in eternity, the bond of friendship can never be broken. We must love each other, forgive each other, and care for each other as Christ has done for us.
In 1855, Joseph Screven wrote the poem, “What a Friend we Have in Jesus”. In 1868 it was put to music by Charles Converse. The words speak to our hearts about the wonderful personal friendship of our personal friend and Savior, Jesus. Jesus is Lord, The Messiah, The Christ, The Son of God. He is our friend.
“What a Friend we Have in Jesus”
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The Bible
The Bible is the most controversial book in history. People have tried to destroy it through the ages. It is the Living Word of God and cannot be destroyed. The Holy Spirit makes it come alive when you read it with your heart. Even when you only read it with your mind, it is full of history, poetry, and wisdom. As such, it should never have been abolished from our schools. It comes alive when you read it in faith, believing that through His words, God is able to speak to you and change your life. Isaiah 55:11 says that God’s word will not return void. This means that when you read or hear the Word of God, the words will come alive and God will begin to do a work in you. Read the entire chapter of Isaiah 55 and see if God speaks to your heart. Isaiah 55:8 says, “My thoughts are completely different than yours,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine”. Check out the truth for yourself. Seek and read the Bible with an open heart and mind. God won’t force himself on you, but He will prove himself to you. God’s living words can and will change your life. It is a miraculous book. The words tell us about God’s character and His plan of salvation. It is a guidebook. It instructs us and gives us direction. It is also a love letter from God to each of His children. We should read the Bible, study it, and hide the Word in our hearts (Psalm 119:11). We can go directly to God through prayer and The Word. He is waiting for us to find Him and then to keep growing in our walk with Him as we travel the road of our spiritual journey.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Dry Bones
As God instructed Ezekiel about the people of Israel, Ezekiel 37 speaks to us today about our dry spirits. God promised to breathe life back into His people. He reminds Israel that He is The Sovereign Lord. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. When He breathed his Spirit into them, He restored peace and hope into their lives and led them out of captivity. He is waiting to do the same for us. We just have to let him into our lives and when we do we have to allow Him to take over more and more of us. God wants to be Lord Of All, not just of pieces of our life, or only for an hour on a Sunday morning.
I feel dry when I am not spending enough time with Him. When I feel empty, I have nothing to give anyone else. When I am not feeding my spirit, I feel dry and empty. During these barren times I lack the inspiration needed to share my faith with you. Just living life and handling its busyness redirects my focus. Traveling from Florida and caring for the needs of my family cause my schedule and priorities to change. We all have these dry times but we cannot stay in the desert.
How can these dry bones become alive again? God said to Ezekiel, “Speak to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! This is what the sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to breathe into you and make you live again! I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). We will experience God’s power as the Holy Spirit breathes life into our spirits.
Meditating on God and His word refreshes and renews my mind. As I praise Him and talk to Him he is able to talk to me and somehow I just know what I should share before sitting down to type. Worshiping with others, singing hymns, reading the word, personal and group bible studies, listening to Christian radio and TV, and spending quiet time talking to and praising God are all ways in which my spirit is instructed and renewed by God.
In the New Testament God speaks to the followers of Jesus on the day of Pentecost. The Christ followers felt lost and empty after His death, burial, and resurrection. In obedience to God they waited in Jerusalem as instructed. God proved His Sovereignty as the Holy Spirit fell on them, breathed life into them, gave them power, and increased their faith and witness.
The people of Israel survived their exile in Babylon, the followers of Jesus survived His crucifixion, and with God, we will survive anything which we are facing in our present lives. God is searching, waiting, and always ready to breathe life into us. He will bring us into a deeper walk when we come to Him open, believing, and seeking His presence and power in our lives.
Praise be to God!
I feel dry when I am not spending enough time with Him. When I feel empty, I have nothing to give anyone else. When I am not feeding my spirit, I feel dry and empty. During these barren times I lack the inspiration needed to share my faith with you. Just living life and handling its busyness redirects my focus. Traveling from Florida and caring for the needs of my family cause my schedule and priorities to change. We all have these dry times but we cannot stay in the desert.
How can these dry bones become alive again? God said to Ezekiel, “Speak to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! This is what the sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to breathe into you and make you live again! I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). We will experience God’s power as the Holy Spirit breathes life into our spirits.
Meditating on God and His word refreshes and renews my mind. As I praise Him and talk to Him he is able to talk to me and somehow I just know what I should share before sitting down to type. Worshiping with others, singing hymns, reading the word, personal and group bible studies, listening to Christian radio and TV, and spending quiet time talking to and praising God are all ways in which my spirit is instructed and renewed by God.
In the New Testament God speaks to the followers of Jesus on the day of Pentecost. The Christ followers felt lost and empty after His death, burial, and resurrection. In obedience to God they waited in Jerusalem as instructed. God proved His Sovereignty as the Holy Spirit fell on them, breathed life into them, gave them power, and increased their faith and witness.
The people of Israel survived their exile in Babylon, the followers of Jesus survived His crucifixion, and with God, we will survive anything which we are facing in our present lives. God is searching, waiting, and always ready to breathe life into us. He will bring us into a deeper walk when we come to Him open, believing, and seeking His presence and power in our lives.
Praise be to God!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
A Generous Heart
My daughter and her children just began their new school year. She is teaching at the same school in which the boys attend. They had a busy but happy beginning.
At the end of Trevor’s first full day he spent some time with his mom. Erica was straightening her classroom and preparing for the next day. He went with her to a storage room used for teachers to recycle extra articles. The things in this room would not be needed for their new school year classrooms. The toys, puzzles, shelves, etc. could be taken by any one else on staff to be used in their current classroom. They were excesses and placed in this common room after last term. All summer long, as teachers set up their new classrooms, they added to and subtracted from this stash.
Erica and Trevor went there to get an unclaimed bookshelf. At this time, they were told that any article left in the room would be thrown away. Trevor looked at the untaken toys and said, “some child would love to have these”. They both agreed and proceeded to ask if it would be permissible for them to bring some of the remaining toys to Good Will. Both Erica and Trevor were weary after a long day but could not envision the tool bench, doll house, and many puzzles etc. being thrown into a garbage truck.
This is when a minivan comes in handy. They transported what they could carry and what the minivan could carry to the nearest Good Will store just before it closed.
Now, they headed for home after an extra long day. Trevor, tired but happy, said to his mom, “Mom, I’m just picturing the smile on the little girl’s face who gets that doll house”. God loves a generous heart. Trevor’s giving spirit came back to him in the sense of the happiness and satisfaction which he felt after his kind, and charitable action. His mom was, and should be, very proud of her 7 year old. She is teaching him well and going the extra mile to let him learn for himself to be as openhanded as she is.
When this account was related to the head of the school, he called Trevor’s insight and verbal expressions, “emotional intelligence”. Trevor was able to see outside of his own little world.
When we give, it comes back to us. The following are some verses from scripture which teach this principle:
Luke 6:38 “If you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give- large or small- will be used to measure what is given back to you.”
(note: you don’t give to get, you get because you have openhandedly given)
Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”
Proverbs 19:17 “When you help the poor you are lending to the Lord- and He pays wonderful interest on your loan.”
Proverbs 28:27 “If you give to the poor, your needs will be supplied!”
Matthew 25:40 “When you did it to these my brothers, you were doing it to me.”
Mark 9:41 “If anyone so much as gives you a cup of water because you are Christ’s- I say solemnly- he won’t lose his reward.”
Isaiah 58:10 “If you give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness, and your gloom will become like mid-day.”
(note: The best way to lift yourself out of depression is to do something good for someone else.)
Proverbs 11:21 “The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered.”
2Corinthians 9:6 “If you give little, you will get little. A farmer who plants just a few seeds will get only a small crop, but if he plants much, he will reap much.”
2Corinthians 9:7 “Every one must make up his own mind as to how much he should give. Don’t force anyone to give more than he really wants to, for cheerful givers are the ones God prizes.”
At the end of Trevor’s first full day he spent some time with his mom. Erica was straightening her classroom and preparing for the next day. He went with her to a storage room used for teachers to recycle extra articles. The things in this room would not be needed for their new school year classrooms. The toys, puzzles, shelves, etc. could be taken by any one else on staff to be used in their current classroom. They were excesses and placed in this common room after last term. All summer long, as teachers set up their new classrooms, they added to and subtracted from this stash.
Erica and Trevor went there to get an unclaimed bookshelf. At this time, they were told that any article left in the room would be thrown away. Trevor looked at the untaken toys and said, “some child would love to have these”. They both agreed and proceeded to ask if it would be permissible for them to bring some of the remaining toys to Good Will. Both Erica and Trevor were weary after a long day but could not envision the tool bench, doll house, and many puzzles etc. being thrown into a garbage truck.
This is when a minivan comes in handy. They transported what they could carry and what the minivan could carry to the nearest Good Will store just before it closed.
Now, they headed for home after an extra long day. Trevor, tired but happy, said to his mom, “Mom, I’m just picturing the smile on the little girl’s face who gets that doll house”. God loves a generous heart. Trevor’s giving spirit came back to him in the sense of the happiness and satisfaction which he felt after his kind, and charitable action. His mom was, and should be, very proud of her 7 year old. She is teaching him well and going the extra mile to let him learn for himself to be as openhanded as she is.
When this account was related to the head of the school, he called Trevor’s insight and verbal expressions, “emotional intelligence”. Trevor was able to see outside of his own little world.
When we give, it comes back to us. The following are some verses from scripture which teach this principle:
Luke 6:38 “If you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give- large or small- will be used to measure what is given back to you.”
(note: you don’t give to get, you get because you have openhandedly given)
Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”
Proverbs 19:17 “When you help the poor you are lending to the Lord- and He pays wonderful interest on your loan.”
Proverbs 28:27 “If you give to the poor, your needs will be supplied!”
Matthew 25:40 “When you did it to these my brothers, you were doing it to me.”
Mark 9:41 “If anyone so much as gives you a cup of water because you are Christ’s- I say solemnly- he won’t lose his reward.”
Isaiah 58:10 “If you give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness, and your gloom will become like mid-day.”
(note: The best way to lift yourself out of depression is to do something good for someone else.)
Proverbs 11:21 “The generous man will be prosperous, and he who waters will himself be watered.”
2Corinthians 9:6 “If you give little, you will get little. A farmer who plants just a few seeds will get only a small crop, but if he plants much, he will reap much.”
2Corinthians 9:7 “Every one must make up his own mind as to how much he should give. Don’t force anyone to give more than he really wants to, for cheerful givers are the ones God prizes.”
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