9/23/07 - Life Journal - Re-gifting is Biblical

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Luke 6:32-36

This chapter is jam-packed with knowledge and would take a lot of room to write up everything that grabbed me but these verses in particular stood out. It is a basic premise of living missionally. How can the love of Jesus through His Gospel be spread if it's stored up within us and only shared with other Christ followers?

Too many churches are like this. Members invite each other over, help with others daily needs, celebrate in times of joy and comfort each other in times of sorrow. This does nothing but confirm the suspicions of the non-believers! For the most part we already look like some exclusive fraternity with our own music, language and God. Sequestering ourselves like this helps nobody. We must love the unloved, bless the cursed, give without reservation and bring Jesus to the lost.

Lord thank you for all your blessings and my salvation through the death of Your Son. Let me be a messenger for you, pouring out your love and blessings to others as it flows into me.