Joyful Givers 3-25-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You here in my heart and my home and every area of my life. … “All who saw it began to grumble and said, ‘He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.’ Zachaeus stood there and said to the Lord, ‘Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost’ ” (Luke 19:7-10). You love it when we seek You. But You are also a God who seeks us. You loved telling the story about the prodigal son running to the father, but You also loved telling the part of the story about the father running to the prodigal son (Luke 15:20). You are not a passive God. And You are not passive about our salvation. You’re passionate to seek us out and to save us—every last one of us. “Which one you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices!” (Luke 15:4-5) You are the God who is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9, KJV). And when we do, You rejoice! That day You called out to Zachaeus and he “hurried down and was happy to welcome (You)” Zachaeus was happy and full of joy for the day of his salvation, but so were You. You didn’t just check his name off Your list, You celebrated with him (Luke 19:5). And the celebration was just beginning, because not only did Zacahaeus’ heart toward You change that day, so did his heart toward others. He became a giver, a joyful giver! And he not only gave out of his excess, he gave in abundance (Luke 19:8). And how that again stirred Your heart with joy for the joy that rose up in Zachaeus’ heart to give. “For God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every abundance, so that always having enough for everything, you may share abundantly in every good work…. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God…. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:7-15) Those with religious hearts will “grumble” and complain, trying to justify the hardness of their hearts and the self-centeredness of their souls (Luke 19:7). They’ll judge us for what we’ve done and what we deserve instead of rejoicing for what You’ve done despite how none of us deserve anything. Your salvation is Your indescribable gift. And when we’re truly saved by the power of the grace of God, we can’t help but be joyful givers too. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe by email to Tommy Hays at Messiah Ministries: MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" To order my books and our ministry resources or contribute on-line: www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502