My Brother’s/Sister’s Keeper-MBSK

Prayer for the day:

For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night...But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 1 Thessalonians 5:2,4–5, NIV

Lord our God, we hold to you and to your promise. Though much is hidden from us, your voice comes clearly to us proclaiming, "Watch and pray. You are to await the day of Jesus Christ your Lord, and you can rejoice now in the midst of strife, distress, fear, and need." We thank you for your powerful Word. However long the time of waiting may be, your Word remains eternally and will be fulfilled. Your name shall be honored in the proclamation of your Word, your kingdom shall come, and your will shall be done on earth as in heaven. Amen.

Devotion for the day:

God Blesses You So You Can Bless Others

“All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.”

Acts 2:44-45 (NIV)

No one sacrificed like the early church. The Bible says in Acts 2:44-45, “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need” (NIV). These early Christians didn’t give just their money. They were generous with everything they had. They were radically generous.

God doesn’t just give you resources for your own enjoyment but to make a difference in the world around you. God never blesses you just so you can sit on what you have. He blesses you so you can bless others.

Here are four things you need to remember as you use your blessings as God intended.

Your blessings should flow to others.

“Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand” (Philippians 2:4 The Message). This is the first law of blessing: It must flow outwardly.

How do you bless others? By meeting a need, whether it is for physical or emotional support, financial help, or practical advice.

When you bless others, God takes care of your needs.

Luke 18:29-30 says, “I can guarantee this truth: Anyone who gave up his home, wife, brothers, parents, or children because of God’s kingdom will certainly receive many times as much in this life and will receive eternal life in the world to come” (GW).

When you focus on helping other people, God assumes responsibility for your problems. And that’s a real blessing, because he’s much better at handling your difficulties than you are.

Your blessings to others will come back to you.

The more you bless and help others, the more God blesses your life. Luke 6:38 says, “Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing” (The Message).

You cannot out-give God. I sometimes imagine God saying: “We’ll play a little game here. Let’s see who can give the most. But I’m always going to win! Because the more you bless others, the more I’m going to bless you in return.”

The more you’re blessed by God, the more he expects you to help others.

Jesus said it this way in Luke 12:48: “Much is required from the person to whom much is given; much more is required from the person to whom much more is given” (GNT).

You are blessed to be a blessing. That’s a hopeful, encouraging truth to remember. In a world that urges you to just look out for yourself, find ways to be radically generous to the people God has placed in your life.

Talk It Over

1. How would your life change if you were radically generous? What would that look like?
2. How have you seen God provide for your needs as you’ve given generously to others?
3. Now that you know that God blesses you so you can bless others, what is one step you can take today toward radical generosity?

Verse of the day: Colossians 3:2

Verse of the day: 1 Peter 4:10

Prayer for the day:

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. Exodus 20:2–4, NIV

Lord our God, we come to you, the source of all being. You have said to us, "I am your God. You shall have no other gods besides me. Honor none but me, your God." We thank you for this wonderful message. Help us to recognize you more and more, so that our hearts are full of the goodness and blessing we already have on earth, so that we hear you, the mighty One, say, "Stop, O people. Make peace. No one of you is more important than any other. Remember that I am God of all, in south and north, in west and east, on the oceans and everywhere. I am the one God, and through Jesus Christ I am now your Father." Amen.

Devotion for the day:

Joy Comes From Generosity

“There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.”

Acts 20:35 (GNT)

When it comes to generosity, one of the best ways to learn is from the examples of others.

I learned how to be generous from my parents. I grew up watching them give away so many things in life. They gave away hospitality, income, and food. They gave away time, energy, and effort. They held out their gifts and resources with an open hand, and they were some of the most joyful people I ever knew.

The Bible offers another great model of generosity: the church in Macedonia. Here’s what the apostle Paul said about them: “We want you to know what God’s grace has accomplished in the churches in Macedonia. They have been severely tested by the troubles they went through; but their joy was so great that they were extremely generous in their giving, even though they are very poor” (2 Corinthians 8:1-2 GNT).

Notice how the church in Macedonia had their own problems to deal with. They were “severely tested” because they lived during the Roman Empire, when Nero was emperor. It was a time when being a Christian could lead to a death sentence. The Macedonians were not only being persecuted for their faith, but they were also extremely poor and maybe in need of financial assistance themselves.

But because “their joy was so great,” their difficult circumstances didn’t stop them from being “extremely generous in their giving.” They didn’t give out of duty or obligation. They gave out of joy.

The Bible says, “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving” (Acts 20:35 GNT).

When I was a kid, I didn’t believe that verse. I was immature and thought it was more fun to get than to give. And Christmas was always about me: “What am I going to get?”

But as my parents taught me the value of generosity, I began to experience the joy that comes from giving. I slowly began to mature and understand there really is more joy in giving than receiving.

Maybe you find yourself giving out of pressure or compulsion—and you’re miserable. Try this instead: Give out of joy, knowing that God is always generous in providing for your needs. After all, he’s already given you the greatest gift of all, the gift of salvation through his Son, Jesus Christ.

Talk It Over

1. Who has modeled generosity for you? How has their influence affected your desire to be generous to others?
2. The happiest people in the world are givers. The unhappiest people in the world are takers. Give an example of each type of person.
3. What can you give out of joy this week?

Verse of the day: Psalm 34:4-5

Prayer for the day:

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 1:8, NIV

Lord our God, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, who was and is and is to come, the Almighty, we thank you for this wonderful message, which is meant for us too, even though our lives often seem empty and sad. But behold, you make all things new for each one of us. Even though we have long tormented ourselves, the light of life will dawn at last and we will be able to rejoice. Continue to protect us and our community. Wake us to new life, for you have called us to believe and to endure to the end. Whatever sorrows and hardships may come, we will remain faithful, O Lord our God. This is our promise to you. We will persevere and say joyfully, "Jesus Christ is coming to make all things new." Amen.

Verse of the day: Isaiah 26:3

Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. John 5:24, NIV

Lord our God, we thank you for giving us Jesus Christ, whose words remain living to this very day. You will make his words continually alive so that in the name of Jesus Christ joyful praises are sung to you, Almighty God and Father in heaven. Remember us all. Remember the particular needs of each one of us. Come to the world through the words of Jesus Christ. May his words come as your strong angels to the hearts of many to comfort and restore, to help and do miracles for those in need. May your name be praised through the great and mighty Word, Jesus Christ! Amen.

Devotion for the day:

Generosity Is an Attitude, Not an Amount

“If you are really eager to give, then it isn’t important how much you have to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you haven’t.”

2 Corinthians 8:12 (TLB)

Generosity is about far more than giving money. It’s about living generously in every area of your life.

The Bible says this about generosity: “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion” (2 Corinthians 9:11 NIV).

What does it look like to “be generous on every occasion”? It means being generous with your time, praise, sympathy, forgiveness, love, compliments, and kindness. It means being generous with your listening so that you can seek to understand others. And it means being generous with your attention so that you can be aware of the needs of people.

But God isn’t interested in how much you give in life. He cares about why you give and how you give. He cares about your motivation—your heart. That’s the difference between normal generosity and radical generosity.

Radical generosity is an attitude, not an amount.

The Bible says it this way: “If you are really eager to give, then it isn’t important how much you have to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you haven’t” (2 Corinthians 8:12 TLB).

God doesn’t need your money, talent, or time. In truth, he really doesn’t need anything from you. But what he wants from you is your heart. What he wants is your love. The Bible says, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21 NIV). When you give your life to Christ, your heart will be with him.

No matter what you do or what you give, it’s important to check your motivation. Why? Because God wants you to “do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17 NIV). He wants you to be radically generous.

Over the next few days, we’re going to look at the impact radical generosity can have on your life. It will change you and the people around you!

Talk It Over

1. How has today’s Daily Hope devotional expanded your idea of what it means to be generous?
2. There are lots of ways to be generous—with your time, your money, your talents, and more. In what ways do you enjoy being generous? In what areas do you find it difficult to be generous?
3. Other than giving money, what are some specific ways you can be generous this week?