The Reward for Giving to the LordSpeaker: Sis. Stella Dhinakaran Gist: People with negative remarks, after receiving the love of Christ in their hearts, become the children of Jesus and their nature is transformed. There are great rewards when you participate in the Lord's work. Many years ago, when I received Jesus in my heart, my elder brother could not understand what was happening to me. He raised many questions regarding that. But today, in an amazing way, the Lord has transformed each one of his family members to be His beloved children and set them as pillars of the 'Jesus Calls' ministry. That is Christ's love. The joy I found in Jesus did not stop with me and my family. I am overjoyed as I see my own brothers and sisters receiving that joy of the Lord in their hearts and uniting with the 'Jesus Calls' ministry. You too can have that joy by asking the Lord, "Lord Jesus, come into my heart today. Your love should flow out from me to everyone in my home."
Dear friend, avoid gossiping and whiling away your precious time. Shun such vain ways and start to live for Christ. Yearn to receive the fruit of the Spirit as found in Galatians 5:22,23. God gives the blessings of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self- control to the one who accepts Him as Master of one's life. Even those people who are famous for their troublesome nature, after receiving the love of Christ in their hearts, receive the fruit of the Spirit and become the children of Jesus.
Dear friend, God gives this gift so freely to everyone who asks. He gave it to me when I was 16 years old. He came into my heart one day and from that day, He has been my joy.
We read in the Bible that when Jesus was in this world, He visited very few homes. He visited those people who lovingly invited Him to their homes. Peter, John and James were the disciples who were very close to Jesus. One day, Peter and his brother Andrew returned to their home after ministering with the Lord. There, they found Peter's mother-in-law in sick-bed. The Lord palced His hand on her. Immediately, she got up and served Him.
There are many people who are doing the Lord's work so lovingly. You may be one such servant of God. You have a blessing from the Lord for all your services. The Bible says, "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me'" (Matthew 25:40).
The Lord sees the ministry and the servant of God and everyone who upholds the ministry in various ways. And He will definitely bless it for us.
"And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward." (Matthew 10:42)
"God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7)
Dear friend, do what you can do for God and for His servants and their ministries. Train little children to give and to share with others, even while they are young.
"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." (Luke 6:38)
Analyse yourself, dear friend. In what measure are you giving to the Lord today? Not just one tenth (Malachi 3:10), but the more we give to the Lord, the more he will bless us. Therefore let us press, shake and give to the Lord, and let us receive His abundant blessings in return.
The family comprising of Martha, Mary and Lazarus served the Lord and delighted Him (Luke 10:38-42; John 11:1-45). Martha welcomed Jesus lovingly into their house. And Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and heard His word (Luke 10:39,42). Lazarus was a good friend to the Lord. The Lord was pleased with the family and so, they received back Lazarus alive, even four days after he was laid in the tomb. The Lord is no man's debtor. He keeps account of everything that you do for Him. He loves a cheerful giver and rewards the generous soul. He loves you much when you give your time, money, effort or prayer to His servants. He will bless you and give you all that you ask Him.
Prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father,
You have promised to bless everyone who gives to Your ministry and to Your servants. As Your word says, the tithe belongs to the Lord. So, I will be sincere in giving to You. Father, according to Your promise, bless me a hundredfold in return. Bless my job and my sources of income. Take care of all my needs and let there be abundance in my home always. I give You all the glory and pray this prayer in the most precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen. |