Daily Bread_June 17, 2013

Title: You Are Closer to Happiness than You Think

Text:

Luke 6:38 (ESV)
³⁸ give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."

Observation:

One of the things I have learned from the word of God, and experienced in life is that you can't beat God giving no matter how hard you try.

I remember a former pastor saying it similar to this: "We give to God with a shovel, and He gives to us with a wheel barrel". – Kip McConnell

One of the more difficult truths to implement in our life is the grace to be able to give to others unconditionally. When we give in this fashion we resemble most the example of Jesus.

Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV)
⁵ Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

The result of Jesus' humility, sacrificial giving, and love is shown in this verse. The example of Jesus reminds us that the way to ascend is to first descend.

Philippians 2:9-11 (ESV)
⁹ Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

One of the greatest joys in my life is to be able to make deposits in the lives of others that will add value to their life. If I can help somebody become who God wants them to be, then my living will not have been without purpose.

You are one choice from happiness; make a deposit in the life of someone today. Be a giver not a taker, and receive your blessing with a grateful heart.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I ask that you would form in my heart a burning desire to align my priorities with those that would resemble Jesus.

Father God, in my daily living I long to be able to put Jesus first, others second, and self last. Father, I want to realize the blessing of experiencing the joy of receiving because of my decision to be a giver first. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/