Blessing
Questions:
Have you found ministering to the poor in your life a hard thing and a
burden or has it been a joy and a delight and made you feel free? Why or why
not?
Reading:
In Acts 20, Paul leaves this thought to those he
has ministered among, “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in
this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he
himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
God has promised a blessing to those who serve others in Christ. Those who get
this are generous in their service and giving. They get that the things of this
world are wearing away like an old cloth, but the things of the Kingdom and its
treasures never fade away. God offers us life and life abundantly. He offers us
joy to the full. He offers us the desires of our hearts. As we surrender our
lives and our hearts and our minds into His loving care, we are blessed. Jesus
doesn’t promise a fantasy world. He doesn’t promise homes or comfort. His
commands may seem hard in our flesh, but His commands are always for our good
and for our blessing and to increase our joy in Him. He offers something so
much more valuable than worldly possessions. Do we trust Him, who feeds the
ravens and clothes the lilies of the field? Do we trust His love? Are we
willing to step out in the adventure that He has laid before us? Do we trust
His embrace and His love for us? He is God and He is mighty. He will not let us
down. He will not choose second best for us.
Paul did not have
easy. He suffered. He had the burden of loving the churches he had helped to
start. But Paul had joy and he had it immensely. And he daily was ready to pour
out his life for the Gospel. Paul before His death wrote, “For I am already
being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I
have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord,
the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also
to all who have loved his appearing.” Paul didn’t just see this just as a
future blessing, but it was a part of what God was doing in His life day to
day. He knew he was loved by God.
We are caught up in the most romantic love story – the
Gospel. It is a part of our day to day life. It is a joy and a blessing to be a
part of it. It is a joy and a blessing to be able to pour our lives out daily
as a drink offering as we follow Christ, our Beloved. . . .
Scripture reading:
Read these verses and discuss what they mean to you and in regards to
ministering to the poor.
Acts 20:35
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must
help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Proverbs 14:21b
blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
Questions:
Jesus didn’t do anything without the Father, where is God going in your
environment? What are the blessings of following Jesus?
Do you believe ministering to the poor is a blessing, or is it a
burden?
How is the interaction between the poor and rich a blessing?
In what ways is ministering to the poor a blessing for us for you?
Resources:
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