This post is Day 13 in a series of studies about “A Living Sacrifice”, I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

Feel free to comment below with your own thoughts about each verse and how you will be acting on each thought. Also, if you haven’t yet signed up to receive the notifications of new studies, you can do that today (the form is at the bottom of the page).

A Living Sacrifice – Day 13

If giving, then give generously. Luke 6:38 tells us to give and we will receive, finishing the verse with this thought-provoking expression. With the measure you give, it will be measured back to you. If we use a teaspoon to give, we cannot expect a truck-load in return!

Romans 12:8

If it is giving, then give generously;

The Thought

We suppose that this giving is financial, but it isn’t obvious. As I think of givers in the Bible, the first that comes to mind is the boy who gave his picnic lunch to Jesus and 5 loaves and 2 fish fed five thousand men, plus women and children!! (Matthew 14:21)

The boy gave all he had, and it went a very long way!

Then there is the man who gave his donkey for Jesus to ride in triumph into Jerusalem. We have no idea if he ever got that animal back, but he certainly gave it willingly. (Matthew 21:1-7)

There was a day when Jesus was in the temple, and he purposely sat down near to where people put their offerings. He wanted to teach the disciples a lesson. Lots of rich people came along and put large sums into the offering, but the widow who came just put a tiny amount in. Sacrificial giving was the object of the lesson! (Mark 12:41-44)

Luke 6:38 tells us to give and we will receive, finishing the verse with this thought-provoking expression. “With the measure you give, it will be measured back to you.” Basically if we use a teaspoon to give, we cannot expect a truck-load in return!

Jesus gave His life for us His followers, and He calls us to be givers, not necessarily of our lives, although many have done that. In some countries of the world still, today people are conscious that being a Christian is dangerous in their country and they risk their lives because they know Jesus is real. They are real Living Sacrifices.

Action

Ask yourself today if you are a giver, be it finance or presents or time.

Do you have faith that Jesus will repay anything you give away?

How ready would you be to be a Christian if you knew the punishment was death in your country? Pray for those who live under that cloud.