Watch for opportunities today to touch those who are wounded, encourage those who are helpless, and strengthen those who are weak. Give freely and richly because it’s what Jesus has done for you.
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with a word from Matthew 10.
Matthew 10:8 says, "Freely you have received, freely give." The other night while lying in bed, I was thinking about this wonderful verse, because it not only tells us what to do [freely give], but it describes what Jesus has done. Because if anyone freely gives, it’s him. 1 Timothy 6:17 says that our Savior "gives us richly all things to enjoy." He gives freely and he gives richly. And it’s just in the nature of our wonderful Lord to do that, isn’t it?
Because look back on the way God did things in the Old Testament. God's hand of blessing often stopped and started depending on how the Israelites obeyed or did not obey. God kind of measured out his blessings by the measure they sinned or did not sin. But look at the way God does things in the New Testament. When Jesus ushered in the age of grace, there was no more stopping or starting. Under the new covenant, God is always blessing; always giving, and always richly giving us all things to enjoy. Jesus is the manna always falling on the camp. He is the rock in the desert, ever sending out streams of life. He is the bronze serpent, lifted high, always healing. He is the sun always shining. He is the well of grace constantly overflowing. And Jesus is the mercy seat always pouring out his mercy. He is the lamp stand always shining his light. Whoever returned from his door unblessed? Whoever rose from his table unsatisfied? Psalm 103 says, "Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." Oh, friend, can you see how freely and richly Jesus gives? The Lord is so good. Taste and see how really good he is. Drink deeply from the Living Water today and feed on the Bread of Heaven, for he has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing.
And this is our basis for glorifying his wonderful name. What does that mean to glorify the Lord? Well, it means showing off Jesus and his generous nature! Talking about him, thinking about him, singing about his goodness, pointing people to him, letting all his attributes and character qualities shine through your life. That's what it means to glorify him. But I think we glorify the Lord best when we freely and richly give to others. By God's grace, you are his manna to your neighbors and friends. You are his light shining in our dark world. You are the vessel through which his grace overflows to your spouse or your children or grandchildren. And out of you flow streams, even rivers of life touching a desperately thirsty world around you. God’s charge today to you and to me is to freely and richly give all things for others to enjoy.
So if you love Christ – and I think you do – watch for opportunities today to touch those who are wounded, encourage those who are helpless, strengthen those who are weak, bless those who are hopeless, and help those who are faltering, because you were once wounded and helpless, weak, and hopeless and faltering. But you have been saved by a generous God whose blessings do not stop and start based on your performance. No. John 1:16 says, “From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.” And it’s all so that you might extend those mercies to others in need. Give freely and richly today because it’s what Jesus has done for you.
© Joni and Friends