[“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). “The
Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us” (Gal. 1:3–4). “Thanks
be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15).]
Message on Giving
Jesus Christ puts the liberality and generosity of God on continuous
display. It is not just at the Cross, or even in the Resurrection, that Jesus
represents the grace, the gift-giving-ness, of God to us, we still experience
the same in our daily life His
immense grace and mercy that sustains us and our families. If you have noticed, in every
miracle, every parable—simply
by being in the world at all—Jesus is proclaiming, “God is good and He loves giving."
I like the way Andrew Wilson, author and Pastor at King’s Church,
London connects the parables to the core message of giving: “Many parables in the
Gospels present God as an irrepressible giver, even when the parable has other
goals. Once there was a farmer who scattered seed so liberally that most of it
didn’t take root. Once there was a king who forgave a debt of 10,000 talents
(millions of dollars today). Once there was a vineyard owner who gave people
far more than their work was worth. Once there was a father who gave away half
his estate to his rebellious son—and then gave him a feast when he came
crawling back, having wasted it all. Once there was a nobleman who gave three
months’ wages to all his employees, and then went on a foreign trip. Once there
was a landowner who gave his vineyard over to tenants. Once there was a king
who gave wedding invitations to every undesirable in the county.”
When all Christ's teachings and the demonstration is about giving,
then don’t we think we share the same responsibility as well? We are supposed
to reach out and demonstrate Christ's love by giving too. Taking the gospel to
the un-reached is not by word alone. It is the message with love, deeds and
sign. Let us consciously follow His footsteps and make a difference in our
society and nation.
The purpose behind Suffering
According to the Book of Hebrews, God is restoring his
original design for creation through the death of his Son, who was
"crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death" (2:9). From the bruised heel of Genesis 3:15 to the reigning lamb of
Revelation 22, the Bible tells the story of a crucified Messiah who is
glorified through suffering. The promise of victory includes the price of
suffering. From here on, a pattern emerges: Victory comes through suffering,
exaltation through humiliation, and, ultimately, the kingdom through the Cross. "Glory is the
dazzling, jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring showcase of God's character to a world
darkened by sin. It is the explosive radiance produced by his holiness, love,
mercy, justice, wisdom, and power—all of which come together in the most
fitting way in the death of Christ." Andrew Wilson.
Blessings.
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