Get it not by your own works... Simply ask!
haha, I read a verse in Acts and found it to be really interesting...Acts 7:41 (NKJV)
And they made a calf in those days, offered sacrifices to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
I think it's really interesting that the phrase saying they "rejoiced in the works of their own hands" were mentioned in line with the calf they made. The idol here = the works of their own hands.
How often do we rejoice/ glory in the purity of our hands or actions? How often do we glory in our own commitments or even our attendance in church? ;)
I totally agree that grace enables and empowers us to labor more abundantly but may we never forget the first Love - the Grace who first enabled and empowered.... :)
Rejoicing in the works of their (our) own hands in comparison to the one work of Jesus...
1 Corinthians 1:30-31
30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption- 31 that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."
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Was really blessed by the session with Pastor Keith on Thursday! I love the part being shared - with the little we have, God can use. Just show up and Jesus would be there. The best place to sharpen and hone our gift is in the house of God - as we start using what we have, the gifting and calling in our lives would become evident.
Don't wait till the day YOU THINK the gift or basically a simple skill you have to be perfect then start using it in the house of God; just start using and it would be sharpen... :)
Anyway, on Friday I was listening to the sermon titled - What do you have in the house? by Pastor Prince on 28 Nov 04. And the one thing that caught me then was the part that Pastor said he is going to share the cycle of grace - where many of us come to church and keep receiving but we need an outlet!! haha.
Do you know what is the difference between the sea of Galilee and the dead sea?
The sea of Galilee has inlet and outlet but the dead sea only has inlet and no outlet. If you are being filled constantly but no place to output the grace that has been bestowed upon you, you would be frustrated on the inside! haha.
Pastor mentioned that in the relation with Daddy God, it is more blessed to receive than to give... Come to Him and TAKE! Whereas in relation to men, it is more blessed to give than to receive. Therefore, come to God to take and give to men - that's the equation I got. Then a question popped up - WHAT ABOUT MEEEE???!!
haha. And the immediate response was the reminder of the feeding of the five thousand men not counting women and children - there would be 12 baskets full leftover... :) Many times we feel that if I were to serve or give, I would be depleted - I would have no more! But it's really not true because when you show up, Jesus is there to multiply.
The people had as much as THEY wanted but still, there were 12 baskets leftover!
John 6:11-13 (NKJV)
11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, "Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost." 13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten.
Oh yah! I also like the part about not being satisfied with just enough for yourself! Ask Daddy God for more! More than enough so that you can be a blessing to others too! May the day come for us all that we need not "worry" about the little we have but about the abundance we have and where to give!? haha...
We are blessed to be a blessing - it is always in relations to someone else. In order for you to be a blessing, someone has to be blessed... Even the gifting we have, it is for the glory of Jesus and for the good of HIS Church - made up of people. Be daring to ask for more! :)
MORE LORD! All that You wanna give Your children but they don't want - too busy earning it by their own works, give me! heh heh.
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