TSP DAILY DEVOTIONAL
GIVEN TO GIVE
14th January 2020
Dr. Phil Ransom-Bello
KEY SCRIPTURE/MEMORY VERSE: 2 Corinthians 9:8 (AMPC)
And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing)come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need, be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].
Are there days you wake up and don’t feel particularly manly or womanly? On those days when you don’t feel like it, does it mean you cease to be a man or woman? The answer would be a No.
When we declare and start to express certain truths about our identity in Christ or the new man we have become, it’s not pretense even when we don’t feel like it because this is who we are in Christ.
In fact, very often, the process of transformation in the area of giving or loving for example, will start out from the point where you feel like it to the point where you don’t feel like it and finally to where it becomes normal, a spontaneous action even. This thing is practical.
You see, this living out our Christ life is a full circle because it starts at what Christ did for you and then it comes to the point where you do this to others because of what Christ did for you.
So why then do we give? Because there’s nothing we have that He didn’t give us! Romans 8:32 says He gave Jesus and can also give us all things freely.
The Christ way gives bountifully. There was no guarantee that after Jesus gave His life and took our place that we would love Him back. Yet He did it anyway. Romans 3:24 says He freely gives away Is righteousness.
According to scripture, the unit measurement for giving bountifully or sparingly is not in the amount. So one person can give N500 and it is bountiful giving and another gives the same N500 and it is sparingly.
In Luke 21:1-4, Jesus spoke about the widow who gave her mite and He praised her giving above those who gave a larger amount. So according to the scheme of heaven, it’s not the amount that qualifies your giving to be bountiful or sparing.
Giving bountifully is a state of your heart. Giving bountifully is giving cheerfully and not as though something is leaving you or you are at a loss. (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).
Just as the ATM is programmed to give because funds have been supplied, your giving is a deliberate response to the revelation of how much God has already given you.
Last week, we said that having the mind of Christ is having His perception. This applies to giving too. You give bountifully when you respond to the pull in your heart towards needs He wants you to meet, so you don’t wait till someone asks.
When you begin to practice and exercise in the area of giving, the Spirit of Christ will lead you. You’ll know what to give and how to give. Paul calls it the ministry of giving (2 Corinthians 9:1)
It won’t even be about the resources you think you have but you will realize that you are breaking certain limits of what you thought you could give because He is your sufficiency.
If you catch the revelation that your giving actually pales in comparison to God’s gift in the person of Christ, you will give in a different light. Your giving will become a response to the fact that you know you are blessed and that you understand how much you are loved.
And if God would not give anything less than Christ because Christ is a representation of Him, you should rise to give from the place of value.
REFLECTION
How can my giving reflect the mind of Christ that I now have?
DECLARATION
-I declare today that my life is hid in Christ and Christ in God. Therefore, I am blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places.
-I have all that pertains to life and godliness, I stay in the supply.
-I am a channel to reach others. I am blessed to be a blessing.
-I have stepped into the million flow.
-I am a solution that nations await. I lend to nations.
-Out of me flows rivers of living waters.
-There is a mighty supply!
-I give because my supply never runs dry.
-Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive riches for me.
-I have riches untold.
-My wealth amplifies Christ.
-My wealth will make the kingdom known.
-Glory! Hallelujah!
HEARING BY THE WORD
(Recommended Listening)
Listen to The Mind of Christ >> Dr. Phil by The StandPoint Church on #SoundCloud
