October 17 - October 2009
Greetings Friends:
PLEASE READ: Acts 20:35
"I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
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I have preached and written often that our growth as disciples of Christ is our responding to life as God would have us. As we bless God, God blesses us, and the overflow is blessings to many others. Friends, the Bible clearly states that God blesses us so that we might be able to bless others. In our growth as disciples, we must be collaborators, we need to be partners with God and instruments of God while we sojourn here on earth. In Matthew 10:8 Jesus offers these words to His disciples, "Freely you have received, freely give." We must remember that it is not always the gift we have received which brings us great joy; it is the blessing we give that truly blesses others. Simply stated, it is the gifts we pass on that can bring us the most joy. Isn't that what biblical stewardship truly is?
Stewardship is about each of us being able to let go and give freely of that which God has given to us freely. To be sure, God loves us and wants us to prosper and enjoy "abundant life" (John 10:10). And to be sure, God blesses as us we praise Him, give Him glory, and acknowledge Him as the source of every "good and perfect gift" (James 1:17). But beyond this, God asks us to pass on what we have been given. God provides for all of us and asks us to join with Him in spreading the Good News and telling others about HIM and His amazing love. As we give freely and generously of our finances, our time, our resources, and our abilities to the church, we pass on the message of God's love for all. What a blessing we can be to so many others. What a blessing we can be to God when we give Him our very best!
Shalom,
Pastor Jim
Web site created by: Doug Jones