What We Receive From God Is Not Ours To Keep

When in Christ, we are a vessel being filled and overflowing with what is God’s.  As the Lord pours into us, so do we pour out all that the Spirit has given.  Do not worry nor be stingy, you cannot empty what God has to give! 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our troubles,
so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 
For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives,
so also through Christ our comfort overflows. ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

In your worst times Christ has lifted you up, in another’s worst time, we are to pour out that same gift to encourage another.  God’s children have by grace and mercy received His Spirit, which fills us with “all comfort” now and for eternity.  The Spirit of God manifests in each believer a bounty of wonderful spiritual gifts (cf., 1 Cor. 12:1-11) that reveal God’s power – His bestowal exceeds what we as a vessel are willing to use. 

 

To those who have been freely given much, to them comes great responsibility, Jesus reminds you and I that, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded” (Luke 12:48).  In our life, full of His Spirit, Jesus reminds us, that “as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew10:7-8 NKJV).

 

Are you only a receiver – a taker – or are you a giver, one overflowing of Christ’s Spirit?  Being crucified to Christ is not being dead, but resurrected to life, and in power having Christ flow over into our lives then, flooded with Christ, we “freely give!”

 

Overflowing,

Owen <><