Daily Devotional
The Daily Devotional from The Upper Room in Nashville Tennessee United States for Sunday, 21 January 2018 "To Give and Receive" by Katherine Rice (Oregon) - Galatians 6:9-10
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Luke 6:38 (NIV))
My husband, John, is a window washer and was finishing his last job before a holiday weekend. Then I got a call from him. “I need you to come and get me. I’ve fallen, and I’m hurt.”
In the ER we talked about our faith in God. We began to plan how we would survive, since his business provided our family’s sole income. We listed the small luxuries we could relinquish and recounted all the blessings that remained. Doctors confirmed that John had crushed his heel bone. Surgery and a long recovery lay ahead, with no guarantee of returning to work. Although the future was uncertain, our trust remained.
In the weeks that followed, God taught us how to receive. Our church members generously paid our bills. Some of our customers paid us even though we could not serve them.
Many of us are devoted to looking for ways to give, but for some the more challenging lesson is to receive. We may be troubled by doubts of whether we are worthy of the gift or feel like we should repay it in some way. But receiving gifts with no strings attached teaches us about God’s grace. We cannot earn it, and we cannot repay it. We can only receive that grace — which is the essence of the gospel.
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TODAY'S PRAYER:
Dear God, help us to be generous in giving and gracious in receiving. Amen.
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TODAY'S READING: Galatians 6:9-10
My husband, John, is a window washer and was finishing his last job before a holiday weekend. Then I got a call from him. “I need you to come and get me. I’ve fallen, and I’m hurt.”
In the ER we talked about our faith in God. We began to plan how we would survive, since his business provided our family’s sole income. We listed the small luxuries we could relinquish and recounted all the blessings that remained. Doctors confirmed that John had crushed his heel bone. Surgery and a long recovery lay ahead, with no guarantee of returning to work. Although the future was uncertain, our trust remained.
In the weeks that followed, God taught us how to receive. Our church members generously paid our bills. Some of our customers paid us even though we could not serve them.
Many of us are devoted to looking for ways to give, but for some the more challenging lesson is to receive. We may be troubled by doubts of whether we are worthy of the gift or feel like we should repay it in some way. But receiving gifts with no strings attached teaches us about God’s grace. We cannot earn it, and we cannot repay it. We can only receive that grace — which is the essence of the gospel.
***
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Dear God, help us to be generous in giving and gracious in receiving. Amen.
***
TODAY'S READING: Galatians 6:9-10
Galatians 6:9 So let us not grow weary of doing what is good; for if we don’t give up, we will in due time reap the harvest. 10 Therefore, as the opportunity arises, let us do what is good to everyone, and especially to the family of those who are trustingly faithful.
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
God calls us to give and teaches us to receive.
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PRAYER FOCUS:
Window washers
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READ MORE:
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
God calls us to give and teaches us to receive.
***
PRAYER FOCUS:
Window washers
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READ MORE:
Katherine with her husband, John
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The Upper Room
1908 Grand Avenue
Nashville, Tennessee 37212, United States
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God bless you. Pray he's back at work now.
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