A Box of Chocolates

A Box of Chocolates

Imagine that someone has given you a big box of chocolates!  What is the first thing you do?  Most would probably say Thank you, open the box, and graciously offer the first piece to the giver of this scrumptious gift.  Would you begrudge giving that first piece of chocolate to the person who gave you the whole box?  No, of course not, for the rest of the candy would be yours to enjoy—to eat, to save for another day, or to share with others.  I think this is the attitude God had in mind when he commanded us to tithe.  He has created the world and all that is in it; everything is a gift from Him.  He has given us a gigantic box of chocolates.  He would be pleased if we would, with cheerful hearts, say Thank you, and offer Him the first piece.

Shouldn’t this also be the attitude we exhibit when we serve God and others?  All our gifts are God given:  intelligence, work, compassion.   Our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual box is filled with delicious chocolates.  Let’s remember to graciously and humbly thank God for them and offer Him the first piece.

II Corinthians 9:6-11 “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Oh God, we thank you for giving us many good gifts.  May we cheerfully offer a portion back to you.

Happy Valentine’s Day, friends! May you graciously receive God’s spiritual blessings and be willing to share with others.

Expand the Vision

Expand the Vision

In Mark 11:22-24, Jesus speaks about faith to his disciples.  “Have faith in God….I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.  Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” 

Does this mean I can ask for a million dollars and a trip around the world?  Of course not.  John 14:13-14 clarifies this issue.  “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.  You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”  The key here is “so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.”  If I ask for somethingin order to glorifyGod, my prayer will be answered.  So, if I ask for a revival in my church, will that request be honored?  Sounds like it to me.  Does it mean that I will need to have a personal revival first?  Probably.  Does it mean that I will need to do some work to help create the revival?  Most likely.  A revival in the church would definitely bring glory to God; therefore, God will give revival in our church if, in faith, we ask for it.

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever youwish, and it will be given you.  This is to my father’s glory, that you bear muchfruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:7-8).  If I remain In Christ and let the words of scripture abide in me, am I more likely to ask for gifts that will glorify God?  I think so.  God desires each of us to bear “much fruit” for His kingdom, illustrating that we are His disciples. 

If he promises those who abide in Him and in His words will be given whatever they ask, shouldn’t we be asking?  The promise is for whatever we ask, so we should ask BIG.  We need to expand our vision!  Too often we limit what God does for us because we don’t ask for enough.  His promise is to give us whatever we ask.  Why aren’t we asking for many new converts?  Why aren’t we asking for wisdom to speak with our unsaved friends?  Why aren’t we asking how we may use our gifts and talents to further His kingdom?  Maybe our churches and our spirits don’t grow because our vision is too small.  He promises that whatever we ask, He will give, in order to bring gloryto God.  But first, we must ask, and we must ask big.  Expand the vision!

Oh God, there are so many needs in this world.  There are so many people who do not know your saving grace.  There are so many people struggling.  Show us how to boldly pray for those things that will truly glorify you.

James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

Prayer for Love

Philippians 1:9-11
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”
~Philippians 1:9-11

Father, I pray this prayer from Philippians for myself and for all who are reading this. Give us the love that learns and understands You. Give us eyes to see Your “pure and blameless” will here on earth. Fill us with the fruits of Your Spirit, that we may minister to others, share Your glory, and give praise to our almighty God.

The Unopened Gift

Remember the last time you received a gift-wrapped package from someone?  Picture the box, wrapped in iridescent white paper, and tied with a beautiful bow. When you were handed this gift, what did you do?  Did you open it immediately, eager to see what was inside?  Did you want to personally thank the one who gave you such a gift?  I suspect that most would open the gift right away so the giver of the gift could see the pleasure on your face as you received this present. But did you ever take a beautifully gift-wrapped package, put it on a shelf or in the closet, and leave it there unopened?  I can’t imagine doing such a thing, can you?

After you gave a gift to a loved one, would you be offended if that person never opened it?  Would it bother you if you paid a good deal of money to purchase this gift, only to have it sit, unopened, on the shelf?  Or what if you hand-made a gift, and spent countless hours laboring, in love, to create something special?  Would you be upset if the recipient of this gift didn’t even open it?

The one who longs to give us good gifts is God, our heavenly father. We are quickly able to receive His gifts of love and peace. We may at times neglect to use these gifts, but we have opened them and have expressed our gratitude to God for His generosity.

There is one gift from God, however, that we often find difficult to open:  the gift of forgiveness. Psalm 86:5 (NKJ) says, “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.”  Unfortunately, many of us believe that our sins are just too terrible, so we cling to them. We know God forgives sins, but He surely won’t forgive this?   We just can’t force ourselves to untie the bow and tear open the paper to receive the gift of forgiveness. Sometimes the problem is that we can’t forgive ourselves. “How could I have ever done that horrible thing?” we might wonder, and the beautifully wrapped package stays on the shelf, untouched.

God paid a great deal to give each of us this gift of forgiveness. For thirty-three years God’s son lived as a man on this earth, away from His home in heaven. That’s a long time to work on a gift of love. And He paid a high cost for this gift, too: He paid with His life. Don’t you think He would want us to open this gift?

Father God, forgive me. Forgive my many sins, both those I have recently committed and those of long ago that I harbor in my heart. Help me accept Your gift, wrapped in love and the sacrifice of Your son. Help me take it off the shelf, unwrap it and accept the forgiveness inside.

I John 1: 8-9 “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Prayer from Scripture

Ephesians 1:17-19

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pry also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparable great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength….”

What a beautiful prayer from scripture. This is my prayer for you. Read it again. Perhaps we should all be praying it for one another. Will you pray with me?