We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19
Many different reasons prompt people to share their blessings with others: a lifeless habit; a means to impress others; a way to save on income tax; or even an effort to earn heaven. While we may at times be prompted, at least in part, to respond to such motives, they are not pleasing or acceptable to God. They are all devices of selfishness.
When God created everything, He used His unlimited power and boundless wisdom, but He was moved by His infinite love. That's where everything worthwhile begins: the love of God.
This great love of God must not flow into us as into a dead-end street. By the Spirit's power it flows through us and is reflected in our lives. Our love for God and for others, strengthened by gratitude for all God has done for us, especially for His gift of forgiveness and eternal salvation in Christ, is the dynamics, the driving power, behind the stewardship of our life.
We cannot possibly earn anything from God, nor can we pay Him for anything He has given us. All we want is an opportunity to show our love for Him and our gratitude. Stewardship is a wonderful way to do just that.
PRAYER: May our stewardship, O God, be a "thank You," spoken in a loud and clear way; in Jesus' name. Amen.
(Devotions from "The Abundant Life" copyright 1998, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time e-mailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)
Today's Bible Readings: Psalms 52 Psalms 57 Psalms 142 Luke 22:24-46
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