Unlimited Supply

Suppose you were commencing a building project and you were told that you would have an unlimited supply of materials for the project. How would that knowledge change your approach to the project? Maybe you wouldn’t change a thing because you you would always do your best and be efficient with whatever resources you had. But perhaps you would expand the project for greater benefits to yourself and others.

John 1:16 says, “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” God’s grace to us never expires, ends or runs out, because it comes from the fullness of God. Therefore, we can draw upon His grace to extend grace to others.

Gifted to Serve

We tend to glorify the gifted person. The athlete who is extremely talented and successful is honored with accolades and awards, along with large sums of money. The talented actor or actress is wooed by an adoring public. The successful businessperson is honored in a variety of venues. But all these honors and most of these people are only gathering the rewards for their own prideful intentions.

I Peter 4:10-11 says, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace; whoever speaks, as one who speaks the oracles of God; whoever serves; as one who serves by the strength that God supplies – in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” God has given you gifts or abilities not to become boastful in them, but rather to serve others and glorify His name. Use these gifts in the power of God to build the body of God.

Changes Everything

When we fill a clear glass with orange juice, it changes the appearance of the glass. When we fill our car with gasoline, we enhance the power of the car to go farther. When we fill our minds with good thoughts our perspective changes. The process of filling changes things.

Ephesians 5:18-21 says, “but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” God gives His Holy Spirit to dwell within believers, which gives them power. This power is experienced and displayed by surrendering to the Spirit, which will result in boldly speaking the gospel message to others, encouraging others, and the continual joyful expression of thanksgiving to God. Becoming filled with the Holy Spirit of God, changes how we act, think, respond to others and what we can give to a hurting world around us.

Regifting

Some people are avid regifters. They may need very little themselves, so they get joy out of giving what they have received to others. Many just see regifting as an opportunity to offload something that they didn’t really want in the first place. White elephant gift exchanges are a prime example of the downside of regifting. What if we found a way to give to others the good and desired things we received?

II Corinthians 1:3-4 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” God has never faced a situation in any person’s life that He could not and would not provide comfort. Having received comfort from God, we have the responsibility to share this comfort with others in similar afflictions that we have faced.

They Cry, “Peace”

In the news, we see and hear scores of people crying out for peace. In the name of peace, they are taking over college campuses, stopping traffic, and condemning everyone on the other side of the political spectrum. At the same time, families are being destroyed and angry people dominate social media and oftentimes the news. How can we cry out for national peace, when we don’t have any idea how to obtain peace on an individual personal level?

Isaiah 26:3 says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” God promises to give us peace, perfect peace, when we keep our minds on him, trusting in Him fully. Then we can be an instrument of peace to our hurting world.