Giving to Get

Guilty. Convicted. Pardoned.

A few years ago, God gave me a sneak preview of his plan for my life. It was puzzling at the time. But, I began giving and doing for the sake of this vision.

Prayer a passion of mine. I desire to teach others to pray because of the experiences I’ve had. However, at the Moms in Touch Rally this weekend, God showed me how my heart is often giving so that I can get to be the speaker God told me I would one day be. Ouch.

This morning I read Luke 22:19-20. Jesus is having the Passover meal with his disciples “and he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’”

Then I looked at Leviticus 17:11-12. “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life. Therefore I say to the Israelites, ‘None of you may eat blood, nor may an alien living among you eat blood.’”

Why were the Israelites not to drink the blood of the animal but we are to drink from the cup which represents the blood of Christ? I’ll give you my thoughts.

The animal was certainly a sacrifice. It was to be without blemish and valuable. It was a sign of surrender to God. It was giving to get forgiveness.

Jesus brought us a new covenant. The old covenant showed what God has for us and how to get it – forgiveness through surrender. The new covenant added how to give out of what we have been given.

Jesus had everything. There was nothing for him to get. His body was broken and distributed to those who accept the new covenant – total surrender for the purpose of giving to others.

Jesus poured out his life source – the Holy Spirit. The only thing I can compare with this is donating blood. Many people give blood without getting much in return. But how many would be willing to empty out their life source so that others – including enemies - could have life?

If my life source is wholey from Christ, then there is nothing greater to gain. I can give for the sole purpose of giving.

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.”
Luke 12:48

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?”
Romans 12:1