Give or take

“Since God did not spare even his own Son but GAVE him up for us all, won’t God, who GAVE us Christ, also GIVE us everything else? Romans 8:32

Do you find yourself giving or taking more? This is the question the Lord asked me this morning that has haunted me. In a good and bad way, the good way is I asked Him to search me. The bad way, my eyes have been opened to the tough reality of what He has found, and that is, there is much needed change to take place. It’s a hard change too that comes with some tough questions.

Am I taking more from my marriage than I am giving?

Am I taking more from my job than I am giving?

 Am I taking more from my boys than I am giving?

Do I take more from my friendships than I give?

The toughest question-am I taking more from the Lord than I am giving?

That question alone leaves me broken, do I want the blessings, the fire insurance, the capability of using Him to better me ,  the help when needed, all while giving nothing in return?

We do that you know, you and I. We do it without even realizing how bad we do it. We take and even at times demand more from Him than we are even willing to give.

We get caught up in the rush of our days, making excuses for the little time we have, yet when we need something we stop not to give Him more but to ask more from Him.

Because I am guilty of doing that, I have found how much I do it in other areas of my life.  I don’t want my life to consist of; well if I do this I will GET this. Instead I want it to be, if I GIVE this, Jesus will receive this. It all comes down to remembering what Christ GAVE for me.

His life!

Not only did He give His life for me, but He took my shame and my sin upon Him, knowing full well that once it was placed on Him, His Father would not be able to look at Him. He took that period of separation from His Father all for ME and YOU. But before all of that, He left His Father in Heaven, He left His home, to come down here to earth to walk and die for me and for you.

 He deserves my life, my everything, I must put aside self, pick up my cross and give.

Oh, Father I asked for You to search me, it is just so hard to take at times the reality of what You see, but Lord no hindrances that is our deal, we want no hindrances to separate us, because the intimacy You and I have is just too good to miss. I know that You are doing Your part and I thank You for that, help me do mine. Forgive me for taking more than I give. Forgive me for even demanding it at times. I never want to take more from You than what I give in return. I want to give You all that You ask, my heart, soul, mind, and strength. You deserve that love! This is not about what I get when I do give; it is about giving because YOU GAVE! It is hard Father, putting aside the nagging of my needs that are relentless and giving anyway. I am just not capable of doing it alone. Holy Spirit help me, change me and transform me to become more of a giver! Jesus I know that when my eyes are set on You and my mind and heart is set on giving to You, that it will be displayed through what I give in my marriage, in the lives of my boys, my friendships, and my job. Doing those things is not for my satisfaction but for Yours. It is about what You get when I do out of love and not what I will receive for doing it. I lose sight of that way too quickly. Rescue me Jesus from “me” the me is a taker, but the You in me is a giver, make me like You today. Amen

Are You a giver or a taker?