“Jesus is the model for sacrificial giving…if you stare long enough at Him, you’ll become a giver, and if you give long enough, you’ll become more like Him. Giving is an act of God’s grace, and it is His Spirit that changes a self-centered man into a grace-centered, joyful giver for the sake of the Gospel.”
Randy Alcorn as quoted by Patrick Johnson in “The Story of One Little Book” located on the Generous Giving website.
We’ve been on a journey of letting go of that which this world offers and growing in the grace of giving. Without Jesus as our model, we would be lost! As we “stare” at Him, we find Him having fun with people, even tax collectors and sinners. We see Him touching the untouchables and caring for those the world does not care about. We see him emptying Himself so that others may be filled and never running dry in so doing because the source of the abundant life He offered was and still is the Father in Heaven. All this inspires us to be conduits of divine blessings like Him.
Today’s meditation comes with a prayer for friends like Randy Alcorn, Patrick Johnson, Wes Willmer, Scott Rodin, and others reading this who are fellow pilgrims on the journey. It’s hard because it’s so counter cultural, and it’s so different from how most Christians live their lives. It ultimately boils down to where we place our trust, security, and identity. Wherever you find yourself, just look to Jesus as your model for giving and get ready for an adventure of a lifetime.