No Half Measures
Psalm 86:5 (New International Version)
5 You are forgiving and good, O Lord,
abounding in love to all who call to you.
Psalm 86:15 (New International Version)
15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
I looked out one recent morning at the field of corn that is planted below the stand of maples on the hill. From the green leaves of thousands of young corn plants--wet from the rain that had come in the night, light was reflecting--silver. As I gazed on the shimmering field, it looked like a massed medieval army of soldiers with light reflecting from shields locked above their heads as they advanced into battle.
To the side of the corn field lay the alder grove and there the trees waved their arms at the sky in the morning breeze, the leaves dancing opalescent--simply beautiful--not caring if anyone noticed or not, it seemed.
I thought of how God made the world so beautiful, as if he loved to do it--as if he delighted in the exquisite craftsmanship of a feather or a leaf.
Yet his beautiful things aren't stored in galleries, protected by alarm systems--viewed from a distance. We can hold them, handle them and know that tomorrow though these are gone, there will be more--there will be another splendid sunset--another hushed twilight--just as breathtaking as those that were before.
God gives from a store of abundance and with seeming abandonment and if we would be like him, surely we must do the same. Can we give, confident that there is more?
Luke 6:38 (New International Version) 38 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."
Malachi 3:10-12 (New International Version)
10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.
5 You are forgiving and good, O Lord,
abounding in love to all who call to you.
Psalm 86:15 (New International Version)
15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
I looked out one recent morning at the field of corn that is planted below the stand of maples on the hill. From the green leaves of thousands of young corn plants--wet from the rain that had come in the night, light was reflecting--silver. As I gazed on the shimmering field, it looked like a massed medieval army of soldiers with light reflecting from shields locked above their heads as they advanced into battle.
To the side of the corn field lay the alder grove and there the trees waved their arms at the sky in the morning breeze, the leaves dancing opalescent--simply beautiful--not caring if anyone noticed or not, it seemed.
I thought of how God made the world so beautiful, as if he loved to do it--as if he delighted in the exquisite craftsmanship of a feather or a leaf.
Yet his beautiful things aren't stored in galleries, protected by alarm systems--viewed from a distance. We can hold them, handle them and know that tomorrow though these are gone, there will be more--there will be another splendid sunset--another hushed twilight--just as breathtaking as those that were before.
God gives from a store of abundance and with seeming abandonment and if we would be like him, surely we must do the same. Can we give, confident that there is more?
Luke 6:38 (New International Version) 38 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."
Malachi 3:10-12 (New International Version)
10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.
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