Here is a very familiar verse of scripture: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 KJV)
God’s love for the world motivated Him to give. Jesus Christ was God’s gift to the world. During December, we celebrate the birth of Christ by exchanging gifts as an expression of our love and appreciation. God gave His Son as an exchange for many sons. Making an exchange can be costly.
Jesus was God’s only “begotten” son. He was not God’s only son because Adam, which means mankind, was His “created” son. The Bible calls Jesus the last Adam. He was God’s exchange for the redemption of mankind.
The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. When we give our hearts to Christ, we gain eternal life. Our exchange is to give our lives as an offering of worship and service. A personal covenant is formed when we receive Christ as lord and savior. We must learn the art of giving.
I believe there are three essential elements needed to make believers into strong, effective and mature Christians. We should worship God with our time, our tithe and our talent.
The first essential element, time, means making time for personal devotion, community involvement and church attendance. Going to church will keep you connected to other believers and it also helps us to develop accountability and availability to church leadership. I have personally never met a strong and effective Christian who did not or would not regularly attend church services.
We should also tithe, give monetary gifts to God. Jesus said that where your treasure is, there your heart also will be. Becoming a giver will bind your heart to the things of God. I am blessed as the director of the Manna House, so I know people in this community who give freely to help the poor. These gifts are given out of the same kind of love that motivated God to give His Son so that we would not perish.
Last, but not least, Christians should also offer their talents to God. We are all gifted in some special way and we should never hide our talents or refuse to use them as a form of worship. Everyone has something special that they are called to do. It pleases God when we serve Him by serving others. The only way to be really blessed is to be a blessing. Celebrate this Christmas by giving of your time, your tithe and your talent.
Deason is the director at Liberty County Manna House and the senior pastor at Liberty Prayer Chapel.
God’s love for the world motivated Him to give. Jesus Christ was God’s gift to the world. During December, we celebrate the birth of Christ by exchanging gifts as an expression of our love and appreciation. God gave His Son as an exchange for many sons. Making an exchange can be costly.
Jesus was God’s only “begotten” son. He was not God’s only son because Adam, which means mankind, was His “created” son. The Bible calls Jesus the last Adam. He was God’s exchange for the redemption of mankind.
The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. When we give our hearts to Christ, we gain eternal life. Our exchange is to give our lives as an offering of worship and service. A personal covenant is formed when we receive Christ as lord and savior. We must learn the art of giving.
I believe there are three essential elements needed to make believers into strong, effective and mature Christians. We should worship God with our time, our tithe and our talent.
The first essential element, time, means making time for personal devotion, community involvement and church attendance. Going to church will keep you connected to other believers and it also helps us to develop accountability and availability to church leadership. I have personally never met a strong and effective Christian who did not or would not regularly attend church services.
We should also tithe, give monetary gifts to God. Jesus said that where your treasure is, there your heart also will be. Becoming a giver will bind your heart to the things of God. I am blessed as the director of the Manna House, so I know people in this community who give freely to help the poor. These gifts are given out of the same kind of love that motivated God to give His Son so that we would not perish.
Last, but not least, Christians should also offer their talents to God. We are all gifted in some special way and we should never hide our talents or refuse to use them as a form of worship. Everyone has something special that they are called to do. It pleases God when we serve Him by serving others. The only way to be really blessed is to be a blessing. Celebrate this Christmas by giving of your time, your tithe and your talent.
Deason is the director at Liberty County Manna House and the senior pastor at Liberty Prayer Chapel.