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It’s more blessed to do this!

I remember a commercial quite a while ago where the actor was asked for help and he responded: “What’s my motivation? What will it do for me?” In other words, he was more interested in what he could get out of the situation versus how could he help. In Acts 20:35, the Apostle Paul echoed the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, who said: “‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.” The Greek word for blessed is multifaceted. It means: supremely fortunate, happier, Part of the nature of being blessed is that it is of the highest good.” So   Jesus revealed that is is more blessed, (more fortunate, happier, it is of the highest good) to give than to receive. Consider how happy we are when we give gifts to our children or to a loved one. I don’t know who is happier; the one receiving the gift, or the one who has given the gift? I remember on Christmas Day, I would be so excited to see my children open their gifts. I could hardly contain myself! As the giver, it gave me great joy to give something to my loved ones that I knew was going to make them happy! In actuality, mankind is at his highest joy when he/she is helping others. Part of our DNA is to give to others. God is the greatest giver. He gave us the greatest gift on the cross! Reject this culture of selfishness and become a great giver. Give love, joy, grace, patience, kind words, forgiveness, revelation, affirmation, help among other things. Remember: it is more blessed to give than to receive!

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Take His yoke instead!

We all have burdens that we carry. Some burdens are so heavy that they tend to overwhelm and weaken whoever is carrying them. Our Lord Jesus understands that, so in Matthew 11: 28-30,  He said this: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” He instructs us to take His yoke upon us instead of whatever we are currently carrying. His yoke is saving, healing and restoring mankind to fellowship with the Father. In other words, when we put aside our issues and instead help others get connected with God, that is where we begin to experience rest for our souls. Something happens when we become selfless like Jesus. Most people are selfish and are only interested in what they could get from others. However, when we take on Jesus’ yoke, and begin to minister to others, even when we are experiencing issues of our own, we will see how God will set others free through our sacrifice of service, and in the process, God will give us the peace that passes understanding. We will begin to experience rest from our issues and challenges. The joy of the Lord will well up within us as we see others helped and delivered through our actions and prayers. Take His yoke upon you. Learn from Him, and watch how divine rest, peace and joy will fill your soul.