The Gift Giver
Freely we have received blessing from God, freely we should give.
"Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau was coming, and with him four hundred men...He himself passed over in front of them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, fell on his neck, kissed him, and they wept. He lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, “Who are these with you?” He said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.,,Please take the gift that I brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me."
Genesis 33:1, 3-5, 8, 11-12
When we read the Bible quickly we can miss all of the tension and emotion the people must have felt. Imagine how Jacob was feeling when the brother he betrayed was heading straight for him with four hundred men. The last thing he had heard from his brother was that he was going to kill him. Look at how serving God and learning what mattered in life changed Jacob's perspective. He went from stealing Esau's blessing to giving him one with a humble heart.
God desires that we all experience this transformation. From a mindset of getting to a grateful heart that recognizes how God has been generous to us and in turn gives to others. How has God blessed you?
“Sing to him a new song. Play skillfully with a shout of joy! For Yahweh’s word is right. All his work is done in faithfulness...The earth is full of the loving kindness of Yahweh. For he spoke, and it was done. He commanded, and it stood firm. For our heart rejoices in him, because we have trusted in his holy name"
Psalms 33:3-5, 9, 21-22
The original song we sing is one that is all about what we want from God. The new song is a song of praise and thanksgiving where we rejoice in all that we have been given. Have you ever considered writing God a love song? What words would you write as you tell the story of how you rejoice in Him for all He has done?
“Then I looked at all the works that my hands had worked, and at the labor that I had labored to do; and behold, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was no profit under the sun. There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God."
Ecclesiastes 2:10-11, 24, 26
Do you like what you do every day? Do you feel your life is meaningful or meaningless? We were designed by God to live with purpose and make an impact based on the strengths we have been given. Following Jesus is about answer the individual call on your life not comparison with others. Where do you need to let go of comparison?
“He who walks righteously and speaks blamelessly...he will dwell on high. His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks. His bread will be supplied. His waters will be sure. Your eyes will see the king in his beauty. They will see a distant land. For Yahweh is our judge. Yahweh is our lawgiver. Yahweh is our king. He will save us.”
Isaiah 33:2, 6, 13-17, 22
The order in which you list what you are thankful for says a lot about your heart. Do we start by listing our physical blessings, friends or family, the gift of order and structure in our world, or our salvation? What does the order you list of your blessings say about what matters to you?
“As he was entering into the boat, he who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. He didn’t allow him, but said to him, “Go to your house, to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you and how he had mercy on you.” He went his way, and began to proclaim in Decapolis how Jesus had done great things for him, and everyone marveled.”
Mark 5:18-20
What does this story teach us about how to respond to the healing Jesus has brought to our own lives? How He has blessed us? Is our response to share the gratitude we have with those around us so that they too can find the healing and hope of Jesus? Is it not fascinating that Jesus did not allow the man who had been set free to follow Him, but instead told the man he had a different calling?
We live a world that loves to sell one size fits all. Jesus teaches that the world may have 8 billion people, but that no two callings are the same, just as no two people are the same. Give thanks to the Lord for all He has done then avoid just doing what others do. Ask Jesus when, where and what He wants to do in and through you to help you become the blessing you were made to be to others.