Welcome to my Priority One blog series. I am choosing to start my week on Active Rain on Sunday with a post about something from the Word of God or the Christian walkthat has been encouragement to me.
I just read an Active Rain post by Judi Barrett about Graciously receiving. Judi spoke about how we often make a joke or negative or self-deprecating comment when someone pays us a compliment, or wants to give us a gift. Judy reminds us to just say, "Thank You". It hit a chord with me because I have recently been in a position to receive someone else's generous giving. Not a token gift, but a sacrificial gift.
We need to receive from others in humility (being courteously respectful; not proud or arrogant; unpretentious). When someone has made a sacrificial gift, it is because they want you to RECEIVE it. Anything other than a heartfelt "Thank you" takes away from what the gift is meant to accomplish.
If someone gives you a gift from their heart, they either want to bring you joy, or they want to fill a need. If you receive this gift with guilt or hesitancy, you refused some of what the person wanted to give you in giving the gift.
Proverbs 27:21 says, "The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives." I think we are also tested not just by the praise we receive, but by the gifts we receive and how we receive them.
The biggest and most sacrificial gift ever given was God's gift of his son Jesus to mankind. He gave His son to die for us on the cross in order to give us a restored relationship with Him. In doing this, we also received freedom from the penalty, power, and presence of sin, and eternal life in heaven with Him when our time here is done. How are we to receive this gift? Simply with a heart full of thanksgiving.
If we should receive this wth anything less; because we do not believe we deserve it; we are actually being arrogant against God. This is the plan of the Almighty God, who gave everything up for YOU! Jesus died on the cross so that we each could live with Him forever. If you have not received His gift, receive it now, with thanksgiving.
And then share the gift of your salvation in Jesus Christ with someone else. Freely you have received; now freely give...Romans 10:8
Have a great Sunday, and join me as I put God first in everything...He is my Priority One!
See also: Romans 8:32, 1 Corinthians 2:12, Revelation 21:6
Be Blessed!
Join me during the week as I share information about the real estate market and life and living around Windsor and its surrounding towns in Hartford County, Connecticut.
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