Sitting by our friend’s kitchen window and watching the Palomar mountains in the distance, I couldn’t help but remember the account of Jesus up on the mountain with the devil saying to Him, ‘All this I will give You, if You will bow down and worship me.'” Immediately, Jesus countered him saying, ‘Away from Me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the LORD your God, and serve Him only.’ Matthew 4: 9-10 NIV. Jesus put the enemy in his place. God owns everything, He does not have to be given anything. He gives.
We have a giving God. Even from the beginning of time, He made the heavens and the earth and saw that it was good and He gave it to us to enjoy.
He gives…hope
All over the world numerous concerning events are happening. If we constantly tune-in to the news, we can’t help but get anxious. This is why my husband and I decided to cut off our television subscription for several years now. That was the best decision we made in this area of our life. In the eyes of the world, we are in uncertain times. However, for us who have responded to the LORD’s knock and opened the doors of our hearts to Him, we can claim with Moses, ‘Remember this nation is Your people” (Exodus 33:14 NIV) and we can beseech Him for His continued favor. We know He is in control. He controlled the past, is in control of the present and will be in control of our future. And He gives.
He gives…peace
His Word tells us that in this world we will have many trials and sorrows but it also reminds us that our LORD has overcome the world (John 16:33). He forewarned us of this so that in Him we will have peace. When we feel that we no longer could carry the burdens of the world we can claim the promise He gave Moses, ‘My Presence will be with you, and I will give you rest.’
He gives…wisdom and more
Solomon asked God according to what was aligned with God’s character and God gave him what he asked for and more. 1 Kings 3:11-13 (NIV) “So God said to him, ‘Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.’
The more I peruse the pages of Scripture, the more I find illustrations of God’s generosity. Over and over again I see His faithful provision for His people. I have seen His faithfulness and provision in my daily life. He is a giving God. My prayer is that I will give thanks for and celebrate God’s greatest gift to us all, His Son, Jesus Christ not only during this season of giving but throughout all the different seasons of life. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
God gives…my response should be nothing less than what the Psalmist says in Psalm 118: 21 NIV. “I will give You thanks, for You answered me, You have become my salvation.” May this be your response as well. Have a blessed day!
Cecille