Apr 26 2024 9 mins 1
We live in a world full of takers. We honor those who have the most money, fame, power or prestige. God’s kingdom is just the opposite. God rewards givers. Givers receive from God when they give with all their heart.
00:00 Take a Step and God Will Meet You With What You Need
4:07 Give and it Shall Be Given to You, Pressed Down, Shaken Together and Running Over
6:66 Activation: Apply this Spiritual Principle to Your Life
I share a story about being badly hurt by the betrayal of a friend and how I couldn’t forgive that friend until he “gave” an act of forgiveness to the friend.
Luke 6:37-38 says:
37Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 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 back to you.”
“Give” it says in Luke 6:38. I needed to give something. So, I called my friend. I called and acted as if the betrayal had never happened. We talked about everyday things – just small talk.
As I talked with my friend, the forgiveness I was still struggling to find, suddenly dropped into my heart. I remembered all the years of our friendship, the memories we have together, and I remembered why I love this guy. And then it was easy to forgive.
Forgiveness is not an emotion. It’s a decision followed by an action. Act first, and the emotion will follow. We step out in faith, and God gives us what we need, to do what is right. I gave my friend a second chance and God restored our friendship and gave me peace, forgiveness, and love for my friend.
Before I took a step, I was unable to forgive, even though I was trying. After I acted, taking just one step toward forgiveness, God flooded my heart with forgiveness.
There is a powerful spiritual principle at work in Luke 6:38. We give to God and he gives more to us. Much more. I took one small step toward forgiveness, a phone call reaching out to my friend. God ran to me and filled my heart with memories of a long friendship and filled my heart with the forgiveness I had been trying to get on my own. It was an amazing experience.
Give and it Shall Be Given to You, Pressed Down, Shaken Together and Running Over
This principle is proven true in many contexts in scripture.
In finances, in relationship with God and in relationship with others.
I share several stories of God’s supernatural provision during the 12 years we lived in Hong Kong.
2 Corinthians 9:6 says:
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
Activation: How to Apply this Spiritual Principle to Your Life
