Good day
In the previous message we took the time to reflect and acknowledge God for all that He has done, for having mercy on us, for choosing to love us the way He does. For everything that He has blessed us with and purposed for us to have and enjoy; and more so, because He made the decision/He made the choice! To be that way towards us! We never came up with the idea, nor could we earn or deserve the love that He so freely gives and bestows upon us. Therefore we can take no credit as though through our own merit or efforts, have we deserved His goodness towards us. It's a wonderful and precious love, one that we should hold onto and cherish for the rest of our lives. A love that we can always turn to and run towards. A love to be upheld and honoured above all. A love that must get the top spot in your lives, in our pursuits, in our hopes or ambitions. A love we must never let go of or allow ourselves to drift away from ... it truly is the greatest gift of all.
Then recently, the following two phrases came up:
"Give, and it will be given to you"
"Freely you have received, freely give"
While reflecting on this, and reading the passages where these are taken from, I can see that God wants to build on last week's message.
The first passage is found in Luke 6:27-38
“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
The second is found in Matthew 10:7,8
"And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give."
The first passage deals with the state of our character and conduct/how we treat others, by challenging our intent and motives towards those around us, while the second passage is an instruction to be a vessel through whom God can work. In both cases, the reason why this expectation can so easily be placed upon us is because of what we acknowledged in last week's message ...
Freely we have received God's love, freely we must share that love and seek to love others the same way that He loves us. 💗
Freely we have received God's peace, freely we must be instruments of peace. 💗
Freely we receive the knowledge and revelation of God's word, freely we must share these truths with others. 💗
Freely we experience His acceptance, not holding our wrongdoings against us, freely we must accept others and not keep record of their sins against us or others. 💗
Freely we have received His mercy and forgiveness, freely forgive and show mercy to others. 💗
Freely we have received His patience towards us, freely be patient towards others. 💗
Freely we have received His encouragement, freely encourage. 💗
Freely we have received His attention, freely open your calendar up to others. 💗
Freely we have been provided for, freely seek ways to provide for the needs of others. 💗
Freely we have been healed, freely heal. 💗
Freely we have received the gifts of the Spirit towards us, freely be a vessel through whom He can share His gifts with others. 💗
Freely we have received the blessings that came from the obedience of others, freely be obedient so that you may be a blessing to others. 💗
Freely you have been receiving these emails ... Freely send them on to others who may be in need of some encouragement as well.
John 4:11
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.