Looking for cheerful givers

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for the Lord loves a cheerful giver.  2 Corinthians 9:7

Interestingly, the word translated, "cheerful," in the Greek could also be translated as "hilarious."  Such a person is happy to be able to give back to the Lord a portion of what the Lord has blessed that person with in the first place.

A college student who went to Africa on a mission trip told of seeing hilarious givers.  In the church where they worshipped, no offering plates were passed.  Instead, a large metal pot was set up in front of the altar.  On the pastor's cue, the people were invited to give their offerings.  The student said, "The people gave with great, great joy.  They danced down the aisles.  Most only had a few coins to give.  Others put vegetables from their garden in the pot.  It didn't matter.  They were excited that they could give something back to God and His church.  It caused myself to ask, "Do I give my offerings with that kind of joy and excitement?"

I guess it depends on how you look at the tithe or offering you give to the Lord's church each Sunday.  Do you place your offering envelope in the plate with an attitude of "have to" instead of "want to?"  A "have to" giver does so reluctantly or under compulsion.  A "want to" giver does so with gratitude for all that has been received from the Lord's hand - forgiveness, salvation, peace and joy.  These are gifts that can't be bought but are given in great abundance by the God who loves and gave His Son to be Savior from sin, death and hell.

May the Lord help us all to be cheerful giver of our gifts every time we worship! 

Spirit, tomorrow write the preached Word in our hearts

 A prayer from the sainted Dr. Luther:

Eternal God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, grant us Your Holy Spirit who writes the preached Word into our hearts. May we receive and believe it and be cheered and comforted by it in eternity.  Glorify Your Word in our hearts and make it so bright and warm that we may find pleasure in it, through Your holy inspiration think what is right, and by Your power fulfill the Word, for the sake of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord.  Amen.

From The Lord Will Answer, page 256

Longing for Jesus

Love these words...they're part of a prayer written by Bo Giertz and found in the book, "To Live with Christ," page 660:

Allow my weakness to become a hand that reaches out for You, an emptiness You can fill, a longing that never stops hoping for You.

God is doing His handy work in us

Creation is God's Word.  This is what we confess in the First Article of the Apostles' Creed - I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

But God's creating work is not limited to this world we live in.  His handy work does not end with fields of beautiful flowers or majestic sunsets.  God is doing His best work in each of us.  He has given us life and everything we need to sustain this life.  He gives us the help and protection we need to keep the old evil foe at bay.  He treats us as a loving father who cares for and nurtures His dear children.

As His children we recognize that we disappoint our heavenly Father.  We sin against Him in our thought life, the words we speak and the things we do.  In repentance and faith we come to our Father and express our sorrow over our sins.  We claim the forgiveness won for us by Christ at Calvary.  We ask the Lord to help us live holy and pleasing lives.  This is the prayer of the psalmist David in 51:10: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Prof. John Burg writes: David is praying for a miraculous act that can be performed by God alone.  His prayer can be answered only through the work of the Holy Spirit, who alone can work repentance, faith and a willing spirit...Because this renewal is never perfect in this life, David prays that the Spirit will keep him steadfast...so he will not fall again.  Let David's prayer be your prayer today. 

What is contentment?

Here's the answer from one of my favorite authors, the sainted Rev. Richard Lauersdorf:

Contentment is not a human production.  It's God's work in us as He keeps our eyes fastened on Jesus.

From As Luther Taught the Word of Truth, page 129 

All this church wants is my money...NOT!

It's a refrain that has been heard through the church ever since there has been a church: all this church is interested in is my money! I don't doubt that there are some churches whose main concern is the almighty dollar.  But that's not the case with many churches and is certainly not the case at the church where I serve.  Not too long ago I came across the following from the great C.S. Lewis.  Read carefully:

The Christian way is different: harder and easier.  Christ says, "Give me all (of you).  I don't want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work - I want you.  No half-measures are any good.  I don't want to cut off a branch here and a branch there, I want to have the whole tree..."

The Lord doesn't want only your money.  That would be too easy.  You could write a check, make a big contribution to the church and be on your way.  No, the Lord wants you! And it's only right that He should feel that way.

Who suffered the punishment for your sins? Who humbled Himself so that you might be saved? Who has removed the shame of your sin and the fear of your death? Who has prepared a place for you in heaven? You know the answer - Jesus!

Jesus wants your heart and your head, your time and attention, your worship and your praise.  When He has you in that way, supporting the ministry of the church will never be a problem...ever. 

God's Great Exchange

 Do you remember these words to one of the great hymns of the church?

Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness
My beauty are, my glorious dress
With these before my God I'll stand
When I shall reach the heavenly land

The hymn writer expresses well the great truth of 2 Corinthians 5:21 - God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Apart from faith in Christ, the only righteousness we can offer before God the Father is our own righteousness and goodness.  But according to Scripture, "all our righteous acts are like filthy rags" before God.  Our good works are not "good enough" to please God.

Where you and I are powerless to save ourselves, God provides the perfect remedy in His Son, our Savior.  Jesus died on the cross, paying the wages of sin in our place.  In exchange, God has credited the perfect life of Jesus and His death to sin to our account.  This is what 2 Corinthians teaches us - God great exchange!  This is God's free, unmerited grace given to us as a gift.  This is what Jesus was willing to do so that you might "be His own and live under Him in His kingdom."  Praise God for the wonderful things He does just for you!