Here is the revelation that is shaping my life today- how deceived I can become and how deception shapes my life. The simplicity of nine words can transform me.
Acts 20:35 NLT
Remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”
Observation
In a culture of consumerism, this upside-down thinking sounds absurd. Consumerism tells me I am in lack and must have. God wants me always to see how blessed I am so that generosity can find hands, and gratitude a voice. The small life of consumerism is a self-focused life, whereas we were all by created for a greater, larger life of others. Imagine a world where these words of Jesus were foundational and shaping. Where everyone lived from gratitude and looked to see what they could give to others. Don’t most of our wars and fighting come from wanting what someone else has? In 9 words of direction, our lives and our world would be transformed.
The core of love is giving. This is what love is, it is givenness. We have corrupt love to be something we try and get from others. But love is a give story. God loves us, He gives his love, his life, his image, himself to me, it’s all give. Love does not hold a ledger that must be balanced, it’s all in the red for all it does is give. Imagine our relationships if we applied Jesus’ words to them, we would become great lovers. How often do I think of an opportunity to give to my wife and ‘me’ pipes up with something self-focused that robs us both of the opportunity? If I followed these nine words of Jesus what greater depths of love could we explore together?
Application
Take these nine words and declare them as my shaping truth. Allow new neural pathways to be formed where this story becomes shaping in my life. Expose the subtle deceptive consumerism story as the fraud it is. Live the bigger life of “others.” Become more present to the presence of generosity and love.
Response
Thank you that your words hold such wisdom and power and when spoken by you come with your empowerment to walk in them. Thank you that you are love and all that flows from you releases me further to be loved and the lover made in your image. This is a rich life, a life lived in love being love.
Meditation
Meditation truth – It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Consider:
How can I give myself without the measure of return?
Do gratitude and generosity shape my life?
How ensnared in the trap of consumerism am I?
JOURNEY DEEPER
