“Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.””
Luke 6:38
Frost was predicted.
It was time.
To pick grapes, that is. With frost comes damage to precious fruit and veggie crops, so with temperatures dipping, gardeners are forced to either cover said fruits and veggies, or pick them.
I chose to pick.
I had spied some grapes earlier in the season, so I knew there were some waiting for me.
I just didn’t know how many.
I selected a small box. This should be sufficient, I thought on the way out to the grape vines.
Oh me of little faith.
I picked. And picked. And picked some more. Every leaf I lifted, every dip of the knee, every reach brought forth more and more.
Best. Crop. Ever.
I had enough for not one but two batches of grape jelly. Some years I need to supplement the precious purple liquid with apple juice or there isn’t enough to bother with.
My gift was ‘returned in full – pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and poured into [my] lap’.
Grace is like that.
God’s gifts are like that.
Any small step of faith, any attempt to do something of value for the kingdom, and He out-gives it.
It’s astonishing, really. One simple act of faith in planting grapes has been repaid many times over. In the same way, one act of kindness, one donation of time or money, one unselfish gesture is multiplied by a God who delights – delights in loving His children well.
What can you give?
A talent? A meal shared? An evening of your time?
Nothing spent on the kingdom is ever wasted. No gift will ever fall to the wayside or be overlooked by your Father, who designed you to do that something that you just did.
Now, we don’t give to receive.
But our giving is richly repaid nonetheless, in precious, personalized, and generous abundance.
So I’ll ask again.
What can you give?
Be proactive. Be intentional. Dream big – because God’s blessing will be bigger!
Get out there.
You can’t even imagine what’s around the next grapevine – er, corner!
Give big this week with me?
Father, thank You for Your generosity toward Your children! Remind us that we ought to mimic Your character in our giving. Show us how to give – time, finances, talents, compassion, energy, resources – so that we are practicing to be generous like You. Amen.
Growing in Grace 