Remember the words the Lord Jesus himself who said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” - Acts 20:35
The generosity of God knows no bounds, he supplies all our needs and even empowers us to be generous. What does human generosity empowered by the Spirit of God look like? Jesus, being fully God and fully human, is our example of divine generosity, which we could call “Jesus Generosity” (possessive apostrophe left out on purpose). Consider these examples from Jesus’ life. Jesus was generous with his time… In John 4 Jesus took time out of a road trip to have a conversation with a woman no one else would talk to. You can sense the irritation of the disciples who just want to get back on the road. Jesus teaches us that people, even unwanted people, are more important than our plans and destinations. Jesus was generous with forgiveness… You may recall that after Jesus was arrested his “friend” Peter emphatically denied knowing him. Luke 22 tells us after the third time Peter denied Jesus, Jesus turned and looked at him. This means Jesus was likely in earshot of all of Peter’s denials. So when we read John 21.15-17, we are amazed to see Jesus forgiving the remorseful Peter and reconciling their friendship. To whom do you need to show generous forgiveness? Jesus was generous in his provision... In Matthew 14, after a long day of ministering to a large crowd, the disciples asked Jesus to send the people to the nearest restaurant row. Jesus asked the disciples, “What do we have?” They replied, “We have time to send them to the food court.” Jesus asked again, “What are we having for dinner?” They reluctantly answered, 5 loaves of bread and two fish.” “Perfect,” Jesus said, “Tell everyone to stay for supper.” Matthew tells us everyone ate and was satisfied. Being generous with what we have, even if it isn’t much, has miraculous results. One more...Jesus and his followers were generous with their attention... Jesus noticed and paid attention to the people ignored by their community. At a dinner in Luke 7 when the Pharisees saw only a sinner washing Jesus’ feet, Jesus asked his host, “Simon, do you see this woman?” He then looked at the woman and encouraged her. In Luke 18 everyone was trying to get the shouting blind man to shut up. Jesus stopped and called the man over asking him, “What would you like me to do for you?” In Acts 3, on their way to the temple to pray, Peter and John looked directly at the beggar who was lame from birth. All the other worshippers that day ignored the man. Jesus and his followers give generously of their attention to who are not part of our immediate family, outside our circle of friends, and those who are used to being ignored. Let’s go and be generous like Jesus.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
I can plod. I can persevere in any definite pursuit. To this I owe everything.
- William Carey AuthorMy name is Tim Kirkes. I am honored to be the a child of my heavenly Father, the husband of Lisa, the father of two boys and the pastor of San Dimas Wesleyan church. Archives
March 2019
Categories
All
|