God is not stingy; generosity is one of his characteristics.
We will see this on Sunday as we look at Jesus miracle of turning water into wine. He doesn't produce cheap cask booze but the finest of wine for the guests of the wedding.
God's greatest and most generous gift towards us is the death of his own Son on our behalf. This mercy and grace is where Jesus takes the penalty we deserve for our sin and rebellion.
Yet that's not all!
His amazing generosity goes on and on. He gifts us his Spirit who dwells inside us. He gifts his us with people who will equip us for the work of building his church and furthering his Kingdom.
Ephesians lists of some of these people who are given by God - apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. They're gifted to us not to be the ones who build and grow the church but to equip the people of God for the task.
'So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up' .
Even today God generously gifts to us what we need for the task of building his church. Around our church there are people with extraordinary gifts thanks to the generosity of God. These abilities are not self-generated accomplishments but are God's generous gifts.
I think this will mean at least two things for us. First, as we think about how God has gifted us, we'r to use them to serve the body not ourselves. God's gifts are not for private hoarding or personal advancement but given for the common good of building the church.
Secondly, we should thank God for the people he has blessed us with and the gifts that he has given. He is a good and generous God and those around us are one of the most precious blessings that his gives us as his people.
Grace & peace,
Andrew
eNews - 16th February 2024