“Freely you have received, freely give!” Matthew 10:8.
Freely receiving the disciples freely give back.
These men are sent out by the Lord to give what they have been given. Firstly, they are served and now they serve in return. For their God is the great giver of all gifts. “You received without payment; give without payment,” Jesus said, perhaps better phrased, “Freely you have received – Freely Give!”
Our Lord reminds us to seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness. When we do this, all the things we need will be added to us. This is perhaps the best way to approach the biblical idea of stewardship, or what we might understand as managing the gifts God has given to us in life. We offer to our Lord our gifts, our time, indeed, our entire lives in faith. When he is first in our hearts and lives, when we worship and seek him freely with faithful devotion, growing in love for the neighbor and sharing the kingdom message then we can trust that the things we need will all be provided.
Our weekend of Stewardship devotion this year will be the weekend of November 23rd and 24th. At both services we will have the opportunity to prayerfully offer our pledges in faith before the Lord. May the Lord bless these intentions, not only to meet earthly needs but spiritual. In other words, may his kingdom come among us!
May we freely and willingly offer ourselves in response to our Lord who has given to us so freely. For freely receiving we freely give!
Pastor
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