Recently, I went about creating some wall posters with varied writings. Some were scriptures I wanted to have before me to read and declare throughout the day. Then I had others with some words of wisdom and inspiration of my own. I want to share one of those with you today.
This one has three short sentences upon which I will elaborate.
1. Never give up.
2. Sometimes give in.
We covered these in the past two weeks. You can find them in our blog at www.purposeministriesinc.com.
We continue with the third item.
3. Always give out.
The Scriptures declare:
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38.
And again:
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 2 Corinthians 9:6.
Paul was in agreement with Jesus.
Giving is necessary. Giving is profitable. Without worrying too much about the obvious benefits of giving, we want to just deal with the act of giving.
The injunction is to give. The classic admonition is to give of our time, our treasure, and our talent.
That covers a lot of territory. I’d like to offer some specific direction for your ministry of giving. Let us consider the five D’s of giving.
1. Donate Grace.
Let us not be so judgmental and uglily self-righteous. Glass house dwellers that we all are we must put the stones away. Stone throwing may cause one much shoulder pain. Some have that muscle well exercised and no longer are affected.
Heard about a fallen saint lately? He has not fallen from grace. That refers to those who deny Christ and return to Judaism, or convert to some other Christless dogma. (Galatians 5:4) There is little hope for those who willfully remove themselves from the source of grace, Jesus the Son of God. Ignorant news people like to use that term, “fell from grace,” for a Christian that has had a moral failure. They do not understand the Cross.
Those among us with lapses of judgement, are not far from grace. They can actually be closest to it and enjoy the rich benefit of it as they repent and are forgiven. Read the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15.
We can stand in Christ’s stead and donate the much-needed kindness of grace rather than kick a person when they are down. Whose sins ye remit they will be remitted. (John 20:23) Restoration is our responsibility. Donate grace. God does.
2. Dispense Mercy.
They are different, grace and mercy. At the mercy seat we do not get what we deserve. At the throne of grace, we are given what we do not deserve or merit. Sinners deserve hell. Mercy gives them heaven. Sinners do not deserve to occupy the place of the righteous, but because of grace they are called out and are seated in heavenly places.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Dispense mercy to the fallen, grant a full pardon, and let them sit among the redeemed.
I did not finish this today. By grace and mercy, I will be granted another opportunity to do so next week. -PJF-
Purpose! Ministries
A Praying Church - A Healing Church - A Holy Spirit Church - A Preaching Church
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