Yesterday, after returning from our daughter’s wedding venue and planning the decorations, my husband and I were in a joyful mood, thanking the Lord for her new family and husband-to-be. We were also excitedly in-route to my mother-in-law’s birthday party. Then something changed my mood all of a sudden. We were at a long stoplight that had me gazing around outside. On the grass outside our car was an empty plastic cup, a sign that said, ‘Anything Helps’ and some price tags with strings on them. I felt sad instantly . I understood what the cup and the sign were for, but not the price tags. Someone had been asking for help, but they were gone now.
Did they get help? Were they one of those people who stand on the corner regularly and depend on what everyone else gives them? Would I have given that person money if I saw them standing there? Did they get what they needed? What experiences brought them to where they stood on a corner like that? All of these questions weighed me down as we continued to drive.
Even this morning, the image of the cup, sign and price tags is staying with me. It reminds me of how we come to Jesus over and over, needy. Our cup is empty and we need to be refilled. “Anything helps.” We may come to Him every day and ask for help and He always does. He does not give to us because we are worthy. He gives to us because HE is worthy. Only He can fill any emptiness we feel or take away the heaviness we feel. Not only do we come to Him constantly, we SHOULD come to Him constantly. He is worthy of our adoration, glory, honor and service.
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. 2 Corinthians 9:8
Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. Psalm 145:3 NIV
About the price tags on the ground? I have no way to know for sure, but maybe someone had bought him something. Maybe they thought he was worth it. All I know is that Jesus thought our salvation was worth the price of death on a cross. He paid, even though we didn’t deserve it and did nothing to earn it and may not accept the gift. For all that Jesus has done, maybe we can give more of ourselves. Because Jesus lives in our hearts to be given away to others, let’s do it! Let’s not take the gift and example of Jesus and walk away content, but use Jesus’ example to meet someone else’s need. Let us, with grace, deem others worthy of what we can give. It is easy to give out of our abundance, but maybe sweeter to give out of our sacrifice so we really feel it. Like the widow’s mite in the Bible. Definitely, this is a good matter for prayer and growth, as Jesus tells us to give sacrificially.
And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” Luke 21:1-4 KJV
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:16 ESV
Dear Jesus,
You sacrificed all You had to give. You could not have given more. We can, though. We have extras and stored up things that someone else can use. Will You please speak to us individually about what You would like us to give away? Humble our hearts, Lord and make us re-live the day we realized we needed You desperately and You gave us all that You had. We will always need You. As You have blessed us, make opportunities for us to bless others, even if we have to sacrifice to do it. Thank You for being our provider, caretaker and shepherd of our souls. Thank You for sacrificing for us .We love You so much that we will do whatever You ask. You are worthy of any and all glory. Amen
Love and prayers to all. Have a great day!
Just me. Nothing without Him. Just His.
Tina
Glory in the Morning 