“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38 NIV)
Good morning my friend! Just a quick word on the verse above. Note that this verse is not restricted to being a Scripture to admonish us to give of our treasures, time, and talent. And it is certainly not limited to leading you to bring ye all your tithes unto the storehouse. You do all that anyway, right? You are good stewards anyway, right? Well, not canceling the appropriate use of the verse in the ways I just described, know that you need to add to its application to your life. Take note! It can be applied to relationships. I’ll say it again! “It can be applied to relationships. Let me give you an example that might be of value to you.
While what I have written so far may not seem to be connected in any form or fashion with the title of today’s meditation, let me assure you it does. I spent this past Wednesday to Friday in the hospital. During that time I received texts, calls, emails, and messages; communications to lift my spirit from First Lady, family, friends, church members (really, they are my family and friends too), and former students from decades ago. Such caring communication would not have taken place if I had not tried to give of myself from a parental, pastoral, personal, or in some professional capacity. Listen! Give – in terms of your relationships – and you will be greatly blessed at some time in the future. You just have to wait for it.
Case in point. On June 21, years ago, a baby boy came into this world. He is my oldest son of whom I have always been thankful for and well pleased with his development and accomplishments. I have always thanked God for his work ethic, his willingness to help others, and his watchfulness of what was happening so that he could learn about human behavior. From infancy to adulthood, as I do for all my children, I thank God for him. I thanked God for saving Him. I thanked God for taking him through things, things where only God Himself knew that it was for my son’s good, as well as those he would impact. But there were two reasons to thank God that I had to “wait for it” to materialize in my eyes. God’s eyes already had seen it. What was it I had to wait to specifically thank God for? I had to wait for this son to be in the position where I could call him my son in the ministry. I had to wait until these recent days where I lay in the hospital bed; wait to thank God for sending me a Joshua as he did with Moses, an Elisha as He did with Elijah, and a Timothy as God did with the Apostle Paul. So, on this day, I now can thank God that He is able to serve as my interim while I recover fully. I can thank God that He is able to work with the leadership of the church effectively, utilizing a style that makes following easy and where there seems to be no break in the flow of the life of the church. I had to wait for it, but I can now thank God that he is able to work with the Deacons, the Trustees, and other leaders specifically, and do so earning their confidence in him. Today is March 27, 2022, years from my son’s birthdate, and all these things to give thanks for today, well, I had to wait for them. Give and it shall be given unto you, from a relationship point of view. Wait for it! And then praise God for it!
Know this my friend, God is doing something wonderful for you that your eyes cannot see right now. An unfolding is happening that you are not aware of, much like Joseph in The Book of Genesis. Now I don’t want to be like one of those people that tell you about the end of the movie before you have viewed it, but I just have to perk your anticipation by giving you a preview, “it” will be a blessing! “Wait for it!” And while you wait, keep giving you love, keep sharing what you have learned through your experiences in life – good and bad, and keep interacting with others in a positive way. Look you can praise God in advance because your blessing is coming. You may have a glimpse of it now or maybe you cannot see it at all, but keep giving in your relationships! Follow the example of Christ’s examples and teachings as it relates to your relationships. And then, just wait for your blessing! Enjoy your worship experience today in the sanctuary! Follow the words of the Psalmist below! Be blessed!
“Come, let’s shout praises to GOD, raise the roof for the Rock who saved us! Let’s march into his presence singing praises, lifting the rafters with our hymns! And why? Because GOD is the best, High King over all the gods. In one hand he holds deep caves and caverns, in the other hand grasps the high mountains. He made Ocean—he owns it! His hands sculpted Earth! So come, let us worship: bow before him, on your knees before GOD, who made us! Oh yes, he’s our God, and we’re the people he pastures, the flock he feeds.” (Psalm 95:1-7 The Message Bible)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King