Become a gracious receiver
Become a gracious receiver
"Freely you have received, freely give."
Mt 10:8 NKJV
Jesus commanded us to give and receive. There must be a healthy balance between both. His command to give challenges our innate selfishness. His command to receive keeps us realistic about our personal limitations, our dependence on God-and others.
For some of us, receiving is harder than giving. We have no trouble giving insight, giving hope, giving encouragement, giving advice, giving support, giving money, even giving ourselves. No, our greatest challenge is learning to become gracious receivers. By receiving, we acknowledge our need of others and that's hard on our ego. Yet it's in receiving that we show the giver they have something worth giving; we add value to their lives. It's in the eyes of the receiver that the giver discovers their worth. For example, when somebody gives us a watch but we never wear it, is that watch really received? When they offer us an idea and we don't even consider it, is that idea genuinely appreciated? When they introduce us to a friend but we ignore them, is that friend truly accepted?
Receiving is an art, one that requires grace on our part. It allows others to become part of our lives, even to become dependent on them in certain areas. It requires of us the humility to say, "I need you; you make me a better person; without you I wouldn't be who I am." Receiving from the heart requires us to grow in grace. Too many people are wounded and never reach out again because their gifts aren't valued. So today, ask God to help you become a gracious receiver.
:)
From Jentezen Franklin's blog
"Freely you have received, freely give."
Mt 10:8 NKJV
Jesus commanded us to give and receive. There must be a healthy balance between both. His command to give challenges our innate selfishness. His command to receive keeps us realistic about our personal limitations, our dependence on God-and others.
For some of us, receiving is harder than giving. We have no trouble giving insight, giving hope, giving encouragement, giving advice, giving support, giving money, even giving ourselves. No, our greatest challenge is learning to become gracious receivers. By receiving, we acknowledge our need of others and that's hard on our ego. Yet it's in receiving that we show the giver they have something worth giving; we add value to their lives. It's in the eyes of the receiver that the giver discovers their worth. For example, when somebody gives us a watch but we never wear it, is that watch really received? When they offer us an idea and we don't even consider it, is that idea genuinely appreciated? When they introduce us to a friend but we ignore them, is that friend truly accepted?
Receiving is an art, one that requires grace on our part. It allows others to become part of our lives, even to become dependent on them in certain areas. It requires of us the humility to say, "I need you; you make me a better person; without you I wouldn't be who I am." Receiving from the heart requires us to grow in grace. Too many people are wounded and never reach out again because their gifts aren't valued. So today, ask God to help you become a gracious receiver.
:)
From Jentezen Franklin's blog
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