Generosity is an essential activity this year. Is your joy meter low? Are you tired and weary?
Me too. We just went through a global pandemic and while there are promising vaccinations, it feels like we are on mile 21 of a marathon. Just far enough from the finish line to need some encouragement.
As we wrap this year, I invite you to reflect on some beautiful truths that ground us when we are weary.
God sees you—While we may be secluded in our homes, I’m reminded of the story of Hagar in the bible. Scorned by her master and shamed for doing what she was told, Hagar runs away into the dessert. It’s there that God meets her. In the lonely place, when she has lost hope, God is there. She refers to Him as “El Roi” or the God who sees me. Being seen is intimate and personal. No matter where you are God sees you and knows you.
God is not like you—While being seen is transformative, knowing that God is not like us brings great relief. He is not limited like us. He is the author of generosity. Scripture says that He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. In Psalm 50 God’s making it clear that while he accepts our offerings He needs none of it. He wants us. He has unlimited resources and desires to meet our needs. He knows we need to give so He invites us to relationship with Him and others around us.
God is with you—This season we hear a lot about Emmanuel—God with us. Christmas is the clearest picture of God being near to us. He actually left the riches and perfection of Heaven to make restored relationship with us possible. His generosity is relational and costly. In Hebrews 12:2 it says, “For the joy set before Him he endured the cross.” We were the joy that helped him endure. The journey to us started that first Christmas through the messy, smelly birth of a the God-man, a baby born of a virgin in a small, stable in the middle of nowhere.
While you may feel you are going now where fast, know that God is at work. The famous carol, “Oh Holy Night,” captures the feelings well for then and now.
“Long lay the world in sin and erring pinning,
til He appeared and soul felt its worth.
The thrill of hope a weary world rejoices,
for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.”
As we wait for a new and glorious morn, I believe God is inviting us deeper still into community with Him and each other. We are here for you should you want to start your wholehearted generosity journey.
