MARCH THEME: Give Every Day

What if everyone accepted the principle of giving, the same as we accept salvation, forgiveness of sins, being born again and having the assurance of eternity in Heaven with Jesus, according to God’s Word? None of us doubts our salvation. With a great sigh of relief we blissfully accept the forgiveness of our sins and rejoice in the lifting of an immense burden, without fully grasping the scope of sacrifice God made of His one and only Son. Our hearts leap at the promise of Heaven and we relish the thought of spending a never-ending eternity with the One who loves us and cares for us more deeply than our closest love-object here on earth.

Missions month is the perfect time to re-think the whole issue of giving, as we reflect on the goodness of God and His Gift to our world. ‘For God so loved the world that He Gave’. We’re not given a choice about tithing; it’s an immutable law of God, just like gravity. It works whether you believe it or not. But giving offerings? Here we have a choice. Fortunately for you and me, God is not asking us to offer up our children in sacrifice so that others may live. But He is asking us to give something and yes, it will require some form of sacrifice.

Think about your life for a moment. Take stock of everything you’ve ever thought, said or done. Now think about God’s perfection; His righteousness and His requirements for entering His eternal kingdom to live with Him. Still with me? How confident are you that, on your own merits, you would ever get a glimpse of Heaven? I had no chance - but I did have a prayer, and I’m eternally grateful that a total stranger asked me, at age 24, if I wanted to receive God’s free gift of salvation. I need to do the same for my neighbour. Freely I received; freely I must give, so that others in Malvern and around the planet will have the same opportunity.

Blessings,

Rev. Ginette Howse

Lead Pastor

Malvern Christian Assembly