Raising the Value
Every day we are filled with opportunities to add value to whatever is
around us or we can diminish it. In particular, this applies to people. Either
we can build them up or we can tear them down. In a world where people fight
for position, importance, titles, and power, the tactic is typically for one
person to tear the other person down so that they can be the
"important" or more "powerful" person. This is the exact
opposite of the approach that our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ took. From the
onset, He placed value on us by leaving Heaven's glory to save us. He paid the
highest price by laying down His life so that we could be seated
"with Him" in heavenly places.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God
did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world
through Him might be saved." (John 3:16-17)
God created us after His image, in His likeness, and we are designed to
walk like Jesus in every aspect of life. He places a high value upon us. He saw
that we were worth giving up the life of His only Son for us so that we could
be a part of His family.
When we tear other people down or devalue them, what is being revealed is
just how much we don't value ourselves – not seeing the power of who God has
created us to be.
Be an Encourager
We need to be as encouraging as possible to others, building them up to see
their full potential in the Lord. God gave us His Spirit, a spirit of
encouragement, to help others be all that they were created to be. When
we strip people of their value we are revealing that we are in a spiritual
deficit. It shows that our spiritual bank account is empty.
Pride causes people to devalue others. Lucifer became jealous with envy
railing against God, boasting of what he was going to do, and even gossiping
about it, bringing other angels down with him. How important it is that we have
a humble heart that speaks life over others, realizes their potential in Christ
and helps them grow in God's grace.
Receiving from the Father of Lights
"Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every
perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom
there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth
by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His
creatures." (James 1:16-18)
Work is good, but what we
receive from God are "gifts." When you get a gift you just receive
it; you don't work for it. Salvation is a gift. The Holy Spirit is a gift.
Blessings are gifts. Favor is a gift. Anything you can name that comes from God
is a "gift"! God loves pouring out His gifts upon us!
Works vs Gift
Jesus tried to wash Peter's feet; Peter said, "No! You will NEVER wash
my feet!" He was saying, "I work for You, Jesus. I serve YOU, Jesus, and
You will never serve me!"
"Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, 'Lord, are You
washing my feet?' Jesus answered and said to him, 'What I am doing you do not
understand now, but you will know after this.' Peter said to Him, 'You shall
never wash my feet!' Jesus answered him, 'If I do not wash you, you have no
part with Me.' Simon Peter said to Him, 'Lord, not my feet only, but also my
hands and my head!'" (John 13:6-9)
Jesus told Peter that if he wouldn't let Him wash his feet he couldn't be
His disciple. Of course, when Peter heard that from the Lord He was ready for
an entire spa experience with the Lord, saying, "Then
don't just wash my feet, but my head and hands too!" Knowing he would
change his mind, Jesus gently reassured Peter, saying, "All is good – the
feet will cover it, Peter" (John 13:10).
It's so important that we learn to receive from the Lord, and also from
others. If you are ALWAYS the one giving, buying, and doing everything because
you have made it your standard, then you're missing it. There is a time to give
and a time to RECEIVE. Here's the deal: If you don't receive, you can't
give. God is the Source of all things, and if all you do is give, then
you are essentially taking God's place.
God wants us to give generously and receive abundantly! Why? Because He
doesn't want us taking all the credit and glory for everything we give. There
should be a supernatural element where God is very apparently blessing us. In
that, we give from the overflow of what we receive from the Lord.
Participants in Blessings
The Lord blesses us in so many ways. Some things come directly through Him
and other things don't. God likes to use people so that they can participate as
a conduit in the blessing and get blessed in the process. God loves a cheerful,
giving heart.
"So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or
of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7)
God loves givers but we also have to learn how to receive. You may say,
"Come on! Everyone knows how to do that!" Not really. Many people
have a hard time receiving from God because of self-sufficiency and pride.
Lucifer, which means the morning star, didn't receive God's given gift of
position, glory, and service to the Lord. Because of this he was cast down and
received the downgraded name "Satan," which means "opposer or
adversary." He became the enemy of God and all His creation.
We don't want to oppose God but we want to receive and value the gifts that
He freely gives. It does not matter what it is. It can be salvation, the Holy
Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit (prophecy, tongues, healing, etc.), favor, open
doors, finances, and more.
Worthy of Gifts
Here's the thing,
if we don't think we are worthy of gifts we will be stuck with an impoverished
mindset, be spiritually bankrupt, and never receive the blessings that God wants
to pour out upon our lives. Not only that, we will project that same spirit and
mindset on others that would believe and receive from the Lord. It
never stops with you. Whatever you believe overflows to others – whether good
or bad. Jesus called the Pharisees "blind guides" using the
example of leading others into a ditch. They were proud of their
"religious false humility" because it was all about them.
If you live under condemnation you cannot give freedom. If you live to feel unworthy of God's gifts you will have nothing to give.
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ
Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the
Spirit." (Romans 8:1)
If you don't feel you are worthy to receive gifts from God or others then
you are cutting off His blessings and promises for your life. It is a mindset cloaked in false humility. It makes it hard to
receive from God or others.
"...giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers
of the inheritance of the saints in the light." (Colossians 1:12)
Understand the cycle of giving and receiving. Paul released spiritual gifts
through the laying on of hands. He was a participant in the blessing of God
being transmitted to others. We also have opportunities to give and
receive. The good news is JESUS has made us WORTHY to participate. We
partner and participate in His goodness being released to others as those who
bear His gifts.
Kick the Habit
"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might
become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians
5:21)
People are caught in chains of sin because they have not learned to receive
from God. Only His power can set you free from sin and break the chain – so you
have to receive His Spirit to break that chain. The Kingdom of God
works from the inside out.
Today, set your heart to be a giver and a receiver realizing that the Blood
of Jesus Christ, through His sacrifice, has made you worthy of every gift the
Father wants to pour upon your life!
Δεν υπάρχουν σχόλια:
Δημοσίευση σχολίου