Sowing & Reaping

Sowing Generously

My son picked me up for Bible study at his church last night. It was a good 35 minute ride from my house. We talked about "giving" and I was sharing with him about memorizing this first verse from Luke. After I stumbled through quoting it to him he reminded me that it is not only with the positive things but also with things like mercy and judgment. He said, we also will be measured by the measure we use for those two things as well. That opened my heart and mind even more. God is so merciful and He is just - yet He chose to redeem sinners. How awesome! I need to show mercy more times than I do - just like Jesus. How generous will I be with that?

Luke 6:38 (Jesus speaking…)

“Give, and it will be given to you.
A good measure,
pressed down, shaken together and running over,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure you use, will be measured to you.”

We went on to discuss some of this passage on sowing and reaping. Do you realize that everything that God does involves sowing and reaping? Think about it... everything! This passage shows the "why" as to our giving generously - it is the overflow of thanks to God. Others will praise God because of it. If our goal in life is to bring glory to God by enjoying Him
forever - what better way to do that than to put these two passages into practice? Not out of our love for the world but simply out of our love for God and His Word.

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge
the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in
thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! [emphasis mine]

Was God generous with us when He provided the way or restoration to Himself? It all comes down to the cross and God's grace - bottom line! Nothing more, nothing less, nothing else!

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie