Day 81 - Open Your Hands

Today's Reading: Deut. 15-16 and Ps. 34

Even as Christian's we tend to be tight fisted. "That's mine, that's mine, that's mine. I'm saving that for hard times. That is mine!" But I love the fresh reminders in today's reading to open our hands wide to those in need. In steading of grabbing, we should be giving. Instead of borrowing, we should be the ones lending. Instead of holding tight, we should be letting go.

Again and again the Bible reminds us:

"If there is poor among you, don't harden your heart. Instead open your hands."

"Don't give grudgingly. God will bless!"

"Open your hands wide to the poor and needy."

"Every person shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you."

"Give and it shall be given unto you!" Luke 6:38

"It is more blessed to give than it is to receive." Acts 20:35

If we remember, God so loved that He GAVE! And He asks us to give as well... And in case we are ever afraid that we might run out of supply, we serve the God of infinite resources, of infinite blessings, of infinite supply. Most of all we serve the God of inexhaustible grace. And the grace He has given, we should extend to others! He opened His hands wide for us. How come we are so resistant to open our hands wide for others.

I love this passage from Christ Object Lessons:

"Our prayers are not to be a selfish asking, merely for our own benefit. We are to ask that we may give. The principle of Christ’s life must be the principle of our lives. “For their sakes,” He said, speaking of His disciples, “I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified.” John 17:19. The same devotion, the same self-sacrifice, the same subjection to the claims of the word of God, that were manifest in Christ, must be seen in His servants. Our mission to the world is not to serve or please ourselves; we are to glorify God by co-operating with Him to save sinners. We are to ask blessings from God that we may communicate to others. The capacity for receiving is preserved only by imparting. We cannot continue to receive heavenly treasure without communicating to those around us." Christ Object Lessons, p. 142

Wow! Our capacity for receiving is preserved by imparting! Profound lesson for our self-centered selfish generation. Lord forgive us for holding on when You've asked us to let go!

Tomorrow's Reading: Deut. 17-18 and Romans 3