The joy of receiving

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Living with joy”

Our Bible verse for today: “But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided – a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” Philippians 4:18 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “The joy of receiving”

Do you like to receive gifts? I like to receive gifts. We all like to receive gifts. But which do you enjoy more, giving a gift or receiving one? And which is easier for you, to be the giver or the receiver?

Many years ago, when I was first starting out in ministry at Hilltop Baptist Church in Chula, Vista, CA., people in the congregation would sometimes give me little gifts of various types, and it always made me uncomfortable. Mostly it was a pride thing on my part but I had great difficulty receiving the gifts. I wanted to be the giver of gifts not the recipient of them.

Finally, one day the pastor’s wife came up and in her gentle grandmotherly way, and with a warm smile on her face, she put her hand on my shoulder and said, “Jim, there is the grace of giving and there is also the grace of receiving. You are a wonderful giver Jim, but you’re a lousy receiver. You have to learn to let people bless you.” And she was right. There is the grace of giving, but there is also the grace of receiving.

That’s what Paul was demonstrating in Philippians 4:18 – the grace of receiving. Whether he felt he needed the gift or not, he simply and graciously received it – and with great thanksgiving. We must learn to do that too.

The other lesson Paul reinforces here is the one we thought about in the previous devotional – the benefit and blessings to the giver of gifts. Paul knew that it was good for them, and it was to their benefit, to be the givers of gifts. That’s true, but in order for there to be givers, there must also be receivers. So as an act of ministry to them, Paul graciously became the receiver so they could reap the benefits of being givers.

There is great joy to be found in the giving of gifts, but for there to be a giver there must also be a receiver, and receiving should be done with graciousness and joy.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville)

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