Daily Archive

Acts 20:35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ 

This scripture shows up often around the holidays encouraging people to give. It is more of a blessing to give than to receive. Although it’s more of a blessing to give than to receive, we still have to learn how to receive.

Receiving may not come easy to everyone. Several factors get in the way that prevent us from being good receivers. Some of those factors include, pride, fear, or obligation. Some have too much pride to take handouts from anyone. Some fear being in debt to someone else. Some don’t want to obligate themselves to give back to the person who gave to them. 

There’s one thing we must remember. It’s not the person who is giving to us. It’s God working through the person to give to us. If we don’t realize this, we’ll turn down blessings God’s attempting to give to us simply because it’s coming through a person. 

So, remove all the pride and fear and become better receivers. 

If someone, you didn’t really know said, “there’s just something I like about you.” They then proceeded to pay all your student loans, car note, and mortgage. We may respond by asking if there’s anything we could do for them as a token of our appreciation. The person only says, freely receive my gift to you. By the person declining any labor intensive offer from us should compel most of us to ask if there’s anything we could do again. 

This is what Jesus did for us. He paid ALL of our debts and He didn’t require any labor intensive chore from us. All He asks is that we believe that He paid all of our debts and receive the gifts He’s made available to us through His sacrifice. 

Some may say, “doesn’t God require obedience, tithing, prayer, and church attendance?” The answer to that question is no. If He required service for salvation that wouldn’t be considered The FREE gift of grace. God’s freely given goodness and grace should eventually compel us to obey, tithe, pray and attend church, but just know, it’s not a requirement for salvation. 

Thank God for His goodness and mercy He’s shown through Jesus. It can compel anyone to do better. 

Romans 2:4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not byworks, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

Psalms 59:16 But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.

Anyone can praise God when things are going well in their lives.

Got a new job…Praise God!

Got married…Praise God!

Got a raise…Praise God!

But what about praising Him in the times of pressure? How often are we praising Him when things are not looking so good? 

Are we praising Him when our house gets foreclosed? Are we genuinely praising God when a loved one passes away? Are we praising God when things don’t seem like they’re getting better? 

We should. The same God who blessed us with good and prosperous things is the same God that can cause our seemingly negative situations to work out for our good.

So wherever you are in life. Give God the praise.