(A devotion shared by Lesley Knudsen-DeWitt)
Definitions of Generous:
Adjective – willing to give and share unstintingly
Synonyms: charitable – full of love and generosity, benevolent, freehearted – generous in providing aid to others, bighearted, bounteous, bountiful, freehanded, giving, openhanded – given or giving freely
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The Bible tells us that God is love. And that He expresses that love in many ways. I was thinking about the words Jesus spoke in Matthew 10:42 “And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.” This small gesture does not go unnoticed in the sight of our Lord. And my mind turned to His great generosity in all the blessings He gives because He loves. He doesn’t just give enough to get by, but He gives bountifully in all ways. And we know that we don’t earn or deserve any effort of His generosity and benevolence toward us, yet He chooses to pour out untold blessings toward His loved ones.
Thinking about different scriptures from the perspective of the freely given generosity because of His love was refreshing and meaningful in understanding His heart a little more.
Some examples:
In salvation – 1 John 4:9-10 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
In peace – John 14:27-28 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again.
In assurance – Romans 8:31-35 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?
In eternity – Revelation 21:2-4 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
In rewards – Matthew 10:40-42 “Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me. If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs. And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”
Matthew 20:8-14
“That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’ “He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’
Matthew 25:34-39
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
Psalm 103 speaks much about the whole-hearted generosity of the love of God.
Psalm 103
A psalm of David.
1 Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
2 Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things he does for me.
3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
4 He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
5 He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
6 The LORD gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly.
7 He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel.
8 The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry, and filled with unfailing love.
9 He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever.
10 He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.
13 The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
14 For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.
15 Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
16 The wind blows, and we are gone— as if we had never been here.
17 But the love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children
18 of those who are faithful to his covenant and obey his commandments!
19 The LORD has made the heavens his throne; he rules over everything from there.
20 Praise the LORD, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands.
21 Yes, praise the LORD, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will!
22 Praise the LORD, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom.
Let all that I am praise the LORD.
