Quote from Forum Archives on September 10, 2010, 1:13 am

Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>

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The Burning Bush websites have received visits from more than 170 countries.
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Burning Bush Devotional has been spreading the truth of God's Word to more
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The Burning Bush Devotional
Welcome to the 1276 new subscribers since January 1, 2010!!
There were 1367 new subscribers during 2009!!

09.09.10

Sharing the Love

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. - John 3:16.

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall
He not with Him also freely give us all things? - Romans 8:32.

For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink;
I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was
sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me. - Matthew
25:35-36.

In the German town of Aschaffenburg the unexpected occurred. Someone began
giving away money. Now we are used to seeing people standing at
intersections with signs asking for money in some way or the other but this
time the man had a sign saying, "I am not unemployed or homeless. I have a
wife. I am well. That's why I'd like to give you a Euro." It was still a
fearful sight for some who called the police thinking it was a scam of some
kind. When the police questioned the man they found out that he had recently
retired and was celebrating by giving away some of his money. He simply
wanted to share his happiness with others.

It is such a rare thing for anyone to give anyone anything that it is at
times shocking and almost frightening. However, for Christians it should not
be that way. We ought to be the most giving of all peoples in every way. God
has given us the ultimate example of love and the ultimate example of
giving. Prior to Jesus being born as a tiny human baby upon this earth,
there was something that preceded that event. That something was love. "God
so loved the world.." God so loved this world that Jesus left the glories
and comforts of Heaven to come to this earth and live as a human being. In
love, God gave the greatest gift of all. In love, Jesus walked upon this
earth and suffered and died upon that cruel Roman cross. In love, Jesus is
today at the right hand of the Father interceding for us.

Did you notice in John 3:16, in describing the greatest of all acts of
giving, that there is not a single mention of money? To follow the example
of Jesus in giving it is usually not necessary to give money. It is expected
that you will, but the greatest acts of giving are not necessarily monetary.

Jesus was given in love. There is another word that describes this act of
giving and that word is, sacrificially. Jesus was given as a sacrifice for
all sins, once for all (Romans 6:10). It is an example for us that when we
give, we should give sacrificially. It should cost us something, again not
necessarily money, but it should be of value to us to be of a sacrificial
nature.

There is at least one more word that describes the great gift of Jesus and
that word is, willingly. Jesus willingly was given, and willingly went
through the agonies of death on the cross. That should be our attitude as we
follow the example of Jesus in giving. In 2 Corinthians 9:7 we are told, "So
let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of
necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." The context of the verse is
about the giving of money. However, it is a spiritual principle that we can
see demonstrated in the life and death of Jesus. That attitude of
willingness must be present, whenever we give anything if we want to please
God with our gifts.

As Christians if we want to follow in the steps of our Lord Jesus, we must
be giving people. We must also give lovingly, sacrificially, and willingly.

Copyright © 2010. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
on a non-profit basis with source credited. The Burning Bush website has
been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998 the email version of the
Burning Bush Devotional was first sent. Ed Wrather began writing devotionals
in the early 1990s. The distribution of these first devotionals was
primarily through the Burning Bush Newsletter sent to prison facilities
throughout the United States and Canada.

Many prayer needs are posted at the Burning Bush website on the Prayer
Request page. You can also post your prayer requests there and they will be
forwarded to the Burning Bush Prayer Group (Of course, I am always in need
of prayer - please pray for me.).

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Two videos of my sermons are posted on GodTube (now Tangle) at:
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Church of Broken Bow, Oklahoma) live on Sunday mornings at 10:55am CST
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There is a complete devotional archive at the old Burning Bush website. Here
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