philippians 4.18 (ms), and now i have it all—and keep getting more! the gifts you sent with epaphroditus were more than enough, like a sweet-smelling sacrifice roasting on the altar, filling the air with fragrance, pleasing GOD no end.
the most pleasing thing you can do for GOD is sacrificial giving. it is done in faith and without faith it is impossible to please GOD. JESUS CHRIST was a total sacrificial giver. when you are most like CHRIST, you are sacrificial in your giving, generous, sharing. and it pleases GOD.
it says it's a sweet-smelling sacrifice. this refers back to leviticus 7 which talks about a thank offering. in the old testament they would lay an offering on the altar, pour it out and it would create steam that the whole community could smell. a sacrificial giver is a beautiful person, you love to be around them. giving is an act of worship. that's why it's a part of the worship service. it's just as important as singing, praying or teaching. paul says the gift the philippians sent to him is a sweet-smelling sacrifice, an acceptable sacrifice to GOD.
and it is a gift to GOD. how could you say that? because JESUS said it. i'm telling the solemn truth: whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me. matthew 25.40 (ms)
it's just like doing it to GOD. every act of generosity in your life can be done as a sacrifice to GOD. anytime you have a spirit of generosity, the spirit of giving, it is an encouragement to others. it is an investment in eternity and it is a sacrifice pleasing to GOD. that's why paul said it's so important to become a giver.
just a thought from the front porch…
1 comment:
Oh... this is SO important. A great message to read and meditate on over and over again. Thank you!
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