Share Generously

Stingy. It is a bad word. We see it a lot in children on the playground. That is because it is all about self. Small children are born this way. Many don’t grow out of it! They may be taught to share but it is difficult to let go. The letting go is not just stuff. It is letting go of self. The giving up of our own way is a lifetime lesson. No one is born with this selfless mentality.

The God of the universe is the most benevolent Being. He didn’t create us because He needed us. He needs nothing and no one. He didn’t create us because He was bored. The Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit [all Persons that are unified] have eternal community and family together as One. God does not get bored or lonely. As a side note, wouldn’t it make all of us bitterly entitled and self-centered to be taught that the most powerful Person in the universe made us because He needed us and was lonely without us? Hmmm. If you follow that line of thinking, it would make you and me the center of the universe. That seems to be the problem because the common denominator is us.

So why create us and everything that we know of? Love. Generosity. Fun. It is the character of God. He has so much to offer. There was a vacuum to be filled. There is an enormous amount of love to go around. He created vessels to pour into and display this fun, this benevolence, and this relationship. Billions of people have the opportunity to reflect back to God and others His goodness. It is like going from one moon reflecting the light of the sun to billions. Yet, how many sit in the dark, eclipsing the possibility of a glorious ray of charity?

An individual that gives their life to Jesus Christ is trading their will for His. They are letting go of their greedy traits to take on His extravagant heart. They give because He gives. They liberate because He liberates. They sacrifice because He sacrifices.

The Gospel literally means good news. It is the good news that God the Father sent His Son Jesus Christ to liberate us from ourselves. Instead of pouring His wrath out on us He is pleased to pour it out on His own Son as a substitute that we may be free. Instead of allowing us to continue down a dark, hard-hearted road, He brings us light and a change of heart that steers us to walk on the path He is taking. If it is true that we are born with the guilt of offense against our Divine Maker, then it is wonderful news that He had sought to take the penalty upon Himself. It is a great love indeed.

We desire to proclaim this good news to all that would listen. We hope to extend this love to anyone that would accept it. Jesus Christ exemplified sacrificial love through reaching those rejected in society, providing for and healing the marginalized, and literally dying for the people of this world. As the City of Refuge, we commit to love each other and others as Christ loved us. We SHARE because God is that way. Have you accepted the free gift of the Gospel and God’s eternal love? Let us know if you would like to learn more.