Your Daily Devotional for October 9, 2006

 

October 9, 2006

 

 

Expressions of Love

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

“I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”

 

2 Corinthians 8:8-9

 

Amy Carmichael said it best years ago, “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.” In our text we are reminded that grace giving is not motivated by a commandment but is the proof of the sincerity of our love. In the Bible the word love is found 733 times; the word faith is found 246 times; the word hope is found 175 times; but the word give or giving is found 2,285 times. You might ask yourself, “Why?” The answer is simple—giving is our expression of faith, hope, and love.

 

I remember when I fell in love with Terrie; it was about the same time I got my first MasterCard. In those early months of dating, I couldn’t give her enough. Every week I wanted to take her out or to get her something special. My heart was fixed. I was in love and still am. In the same way, when our focus is on the cross of Calvary, our love for Jesus Christ will pour over in our response, “You have given so much to me; I must give something to You.”

 

Love is always expressed through giving. I think of the scene that unfolds in Mark 12. As Jesus overlooks the treasury, the attention is drawn to the big shots and the rich guys who come by and “cast in of their abundance,” but then, unnoticed by many, a poor widow woman slips through and throws in two mites, departing with all she had. Some may ask why she gave. Was she coerced? Was she afraid? As strange as it may seem to the world today, I believe the widow gave her last two mites because she loved the Lord.

 

Are there other reasons to give? Some may give out of self-interest because it makes them feel good. Others may give out of gratitude—like a tip for a waiter, it is a reward for good service. Obedience leads many to give, knowing that the tithe is the Lord’s. Despite all of these reasons, however, love remains the highest motivation.

 

A friend of mine was in Washington D.C. and went to the Vietnam War Memorial. As he was walking along those granite walls and contemplating the thousands of names of soldiers who gave their lives in Vietnam, he came across a man in his 50’s wearing tattered fatigues and holding a bouquet of flowers.

 

The man slowly approached the wall putting his hand against the stone and touching one of the etched names. After a moment, he knelt down and laid the bouquet of flowers below the name. When he stood up and turned around, he caught my friend’s eyes and with tears said, “Twenty-eight years ago, this soldier stepped in the line of fire and saved my life. The least I can do for him is to come by once a year to say thank you.”

 

Over two thousand years ago, our Saviour stepped into the line of sin and voluntarily went to the cross. The least we can do is to give our lives to Him out of a heart of love. Will you express your love for God today?

---

================================================
THIS IS AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE PLEASE DO NOT REPLY
================================================
Manage your online subscriptions at
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-login.aspx

To Unsubscribe from this list please follow this link
http://www.dailyintheword.org/email/user-unsubscribe.aspx?s=4159&l=1