The Kingdom of Heaven for Those Who Give

2007-06-30 21:12

The fragrance of love does not come from receiving but from giving. The son of God is not the one who receives but the one who gives.

Anyone who freely received should freely give. The form of Christ is the form of giving. It is written, "to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves." (Ephesians 1:6).

It is written, "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." (John 15:9-11).

Therefore Jesus said, "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28). At last, he gave himself to make us live. It is written, "When he had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.' With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." (John 19:30).

Because he came as such a son, the Bible said, "And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.'" (Matthew 3:17).

Therefore, the Bible said, "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." (Romans 8:29). The children of God conform to the likeness of His Son.

Anyone who merely receives and does not give is like a tree only with dense leaves; he lives richly by the life of seed but does not have fruit to give to others. He will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

The parable of ten thousand talents is for talking about a hundred denarii. Ten thousand talents means the gospel of receiving, and a hundred denarii the gosple of giving. The gospel in which there is the receiving of love but not the giving of love is a different gospel, a different Jesus and a different spirit.

The Bible testifies about not only the gospel of receiving but also the gospel of giving. It is written, "Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?" (Matthew 18:33).

Therefore, the Lord Jesus said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (John 13:34). The kingdom of God which is established in Christ Jesus is not for the receiving of love but for the giving of love.

Wherever brothers love one another, there is the love of the Father, and wherever brothers don't love one another, there is no the love of the Father. The kingdom of God is the kingdom of love. In the kingdom of the world, the older brother strikes down the younger one, but in the kingdom of God, that is, the kingdom of love, the older one lays down his life for the younger one.

The Bible says, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (1 John 3:16). Here is the mystery of eternal life.

Therefore, it is written, "We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death." (1 John 3:14). Salvation is for those who give love, not for those who received it. Thank you, Lord.