Do you hear the ringing bells? If you are anything like me this season brings you so much joy because it is the season of giving. Maybe it’s the perfectly chosen present wrapped under the tree or filling shoeboxes with items to bring smiles to the faces of kids you may never meet. It could be gathering the whole family to serve hot meals to strangers on a cold day. The list can go on and on because the holidays bring us so many opportunities to serve others. As Christ-followers the giving shouldn’t stop when we put the decorations away in the garage for next year, generosity should flow through our lives because we are called to live as Christ lived.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Is it any surprise that the Bible verse that expresses the beauty of the gift we have received through Jesus would also communicate how generous our God is? “Because God so loved the world, He gave.” He gave out of love, it wasn’t anything that we did that allows us to receive it. He loved so He gave. If we are called to live as Christ in our daily lives are we loving those around us? Loving others the way Christ loved blooms into generosity every time.
So what does it mean to love as Christ loved? We have many examples in the gospels of how Jesus lived when he was here on earth. He cared for the poor and widows. He called the children to him. He sat at the table and ate with sinners. He even showed grace to the woman caught in adultery. From his example, we should love those around us and show grace. When we do these things generosity is inevitable.
At our church this month we are doing a miracle box and everyone who participates has the opportunity to be generous in the community around you and the great thing you don’t have to be local to join us! If you would like to join us click this link to download everything you need. https://www.firstcapital.church/christmas2020
I pray that this blog today was an encouragement to you and can help in your daily life. Always know I am available to pray with you or just be someone to talk to when life gets hard. E-mail me at megan@churchanywhere.us if you need prayer!
Talk to you next Monday!