by Rev Steve Nickodemus

The Joy of Giving

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“Give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.”
Matthew 8:38a

Zabdi and Eric pose with Glenn on a recent hop tour at Glenn’s family farm.  They hold handfuls of hops, fresh from the dryer, scooped up from literally mountains of the pungent smelling blossoms.  The hops, used in the making of beer, were described enthusiastically by Eric as “handfuls of pure gold!”

What cannot be pictured is Glenn’s joy in sharing this abundant harvest with friends and neighbors.  He truly sees that God has blessed him with this rich bounty and rejoices to not only show off the hop harvesting process, but share a good harvest dinner, and some good German beer, with an abundance of people.

Glenn has learned what Jesus is saying in the verse above from Matthew.  As God has given to you, so share it generously and joyfully with others, and the Lord will pour out into your hands and your lap an abundance of great blessings. More abundant than you can imagine.

What great joy, what pure riches has God given you?  He has poured out into your heart the love of God in Christ Jesus, the pure grace of God that comes directly from our Lord’s sacrifice upon the cross, the love and mercy of God that washes away my sin and pours out the joy that cannot be taken away from me, and the joy that comes from knowing my Savior.

You and I are exhorted to share that grace, love, and mercy of Jesus with all who come with open and outstretched hands, those needing the forgiveness and healing that comes from the blood of Jesus.  This is pure gold!  God’s goodness poured out into our hands,  that we might pour His grace into every heart we meet.

Lord God, give me a generous heart that shares your riches as you have so generously shared with me.  Give me great joy in sharing your grace in our Lord Jesus. Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado