Category Archives: Oveflowing

Abundance, Bible, Blessing, Caregiver, Direction, Giving, Kindness, Money, Oveflowing, Scripture

REMEMBER THE POOR

GALATIANS 2:10

“They only asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do.”

My wife and I love to give to others as the Lord leads us. Recently, we were at a restaurant and heard of a need from our server. We agreed almost instantly that the Lord would have us help meet that need. We like to bless our servers in restaurants. We have gotten to know a few through repeated visits. These individuals basically work for tips since their hourly wage is very low. God has so richly blessed us. We know He would have us share that when needed.

Paul mentions in today’s verse that the apostles in Jerusalem instructed them to “remember the poor.” These were probably those Judean believers who were suffering because of their conversion to Christ. They may have lost jobs and families because of their new faith. They had needs which Paul was glad to help meet. This was not the only time he did this. We’ll look at some of those efforts below.

APPLICATION

You may be led to help take up a collection to help someone or a group. In Romans 15:25-27 we see Paul doing that for the Judean believers. “25 but now, I am going to Jerusalem, serving the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to do them a service also in material things.”

Paul tells the Corinthian church to do the same. 1 Corinthians 16:1 says, “1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you are to do as well.” Giving to others is something that has been seen all through Scripture. We see it in the Old and New Testaments.

I particularly like the way James puts this in James 2:15-16. “15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,’ yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?” Is that crystal clear? I think so. Ask the Lord if there is a need around you that you could meet. I promise you will be blessed as much if not more than the person who help.

God, direct me to those who You would have me bless and meet a need.

Standard
Abiding, Abundance, Bible, Blessing, Favor, Home, Oveflowing, Promises, Scripture

LET US GO WITH YOU

ZECHARIAH 8:23

“‘The LORD of armies says this: “In those days ten people from all the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”’”

I have seen many a child tug on their mother’s dress or coat as they are left in the church nursery. They cried out to them, “Please, let me go with you.” My own children did that. They did not like the nursery. They wanted to stay with us. Mind you, it wasn’t that they wanted to go to “Big Church” with us. It was more about just being with their parents.

In today’s verse, the last verse of chapter 8, the Lord closes out His blessing statements by saying that the Jews are going to be begged by others to take them along back to Israel. They had heard how God had defeated Israel’s enemies and had brought His people home. They wanted to be a part of that. They wanted whatever the Jewish people had.

APPLICATION

We should spread such a sweet fragrance of Christ wherever we go that those we pass will turn and say, “Boy, I want whatever they have.” Can that be said about you? Do people want to follow you? If you are following Christ, they will. Actually, they will be following Christ in you. There’s a big difference.

Why do I differentiate? Because we can become men followers instead of Christ followers. Christ says, “‘If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’” Whew! Who wants to do that? Well, I do. I want to follow wherever He goes. Just like the people coming from the other nations to Israel, I want to be where God is doing something.

If no one is following you in your Christian walk, maybe you need to examine your walk. Ouch, Carl, that hurt. Well, I ask myself that question quite often. Does my aroma smell like Jesus? Does my walk imitate His walk? Would people want to follow me if I did this or that? Good questions to ponder, huh?

Lord, allow me to be more and more like You so others can be led to You.

Standard
Abundance, Bible, Blessing, Encouragement, Filled, Oveflowing, Promises, Scripture

OVERFLOWING

ZECHARIAH 2:4

“And he said to him, ‘Run, speak to that young man there, saying, “Jerusalem will be inhabited as open country because of the multitude of people and cattle within it.”’”

I remember years ago attending a church that was busting at the seams. It had to change to multiple services on Sunday and still had to bring extra chairs into the sanctuary to give everyone a seat. We needed to knock down the walls to open up the area for more seats but couldn’t. What a fun time that was. How exciting to be part of such growth.

The angel gives Zechariah a message about Jerusalem. He tells him that it is going to be so populated that there won’t be a need for walls. The people and cattle are going to spill over the whole area. After years of exile and returning to a diminished number in the land, this was exciting news. The Lord is promising to repopulate the nation to overflowing.

APPLICATION

I have this song going through my mind right now that says, “And now I’m filled to overflowing. I don’t mind the whole world knowing. Yes, I’m filled to overflowing with His soul-supplying, satisfying love.” Gary McSpadden sang that song back in 1979. I loved his music.

Doesn’t God fill us to overflowing with His love? You have been filled to overflowing with His Holy Spirit. As you study His Word, it fills your heart and mind to overflowing. Colossians 2:7 tells us that we are also overflowing with gratitude. “…having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.”

I personally like 2 Corinthians 1:5. In the CSV it reads, “For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.” Sufferings? Really? Yes, but they are in order for us to receive His comfort so that we in turn can overflow that comfort to others. What a beautiful concept. We are allowed to suffer to receive God’s comfort so that we can comfort others who are suffering. Will you overflow today in some way?

Lord, I’m filled to overflowing. I don’t mind the whole world knowing. I’m filled to overflowing with Your soul-supplying, satisfying love

Standard