WITHIN MINISTRY



  ​Devotionals to draw us
  closer to the
​  ONE Who is devoted to us.

   
​

       ***If you are interested in receiving these devotionals, please
​           subscribe under our Connect page.***

  • Home
  • Intimacy. Identity. Impact.
  • Weekly Devotional
    • Devotional Contributors
  • WITHIN His Word
    • Resources
    • WITHIN His Word Workshop >
      • Within His Word Survey
    • WITHIN His Word 1-on-1 Online Sessions
  • Come Away Retreats
    • Come Away Prayer Journey
  • Connect
  • Contact
  • What we Believe
  • Called to the Ones
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might ​not sin against you. -Psalm 119:11​

11/12/2018

withholding nothing

0 Comments

Read Now
 
​“ My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue,
but in deed and in truth."

(1 John 3:18)
 
Every once in a while, there is something I read that deeply impacts me. And I feel obligated to share it with everyone I know. May this short but powerful devotional encourage you to ask the right questions and respond in the right way:
 
1 John 3:16-18 By this we know love of God, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

In Israel we have an interesting geographical phenomenon – there are two landlocked seas. One is alive and one is dead. The sea full of life is the Kinneret, better known as the Sea of Galilee. The dead sea is.......you guessed it, the Dead Sea. Now the Kinneret is constantly emptying as it flows through the Jordan River valley.... into the Dead Sea. But the Dead Sea does not empty its water at all. Instead, the Dead Sea is continually shrinking, because the intense heat at this lowest place on Earth actually evaporates more water than is flowing in. Do you see a parable here?

The Sea that is alive is the one that gives. The more of yourself, of your life, of your love, that you pour out, the more alive, filled up, and refreshed you will become. The Lord Yeshua (Jesus) exemplified this to the greatest extent ever, by giving all He was and all He had, even to those who hated Him and were His bitter enemies. And the love that He gave was returned to Him by His Father in the resurrection, and by all the multitude of His redeemed people throughout all ages and into eternity. Could it possibly be any different for those of us who live lives of giving and loving? No. We will continue to be filled by the Lord's infinite abundance no matter how much we pour ourselves out. Of course, if we hold back, keeping all we have to ourselves, we will begin to evaporate and die...

Give and you will live. Love, and you will be filled with God’s love. Hold back, and even that which you have will vanish away. A friend of mine shares this limerick:

There once was a sea that was dead
It was, 'cause it only got fed
And never gave up
Not one single cup
Now that's something to keep in your head 

Women of God, let's be givers. Let's be lovers. Empty ourselves into His Kingdom, into His work, and be constantly refilled with His love, power and peace. With so much work to be done, I'm choosing the Sea of Life!

 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The weekly devotionals seek to encourage you to dig deeper into Scripture as you take the time to daily read, meditate, and internalize the verses in the devotional, along with the passages provided below to give greater context. Take the time to read them throughout the week (repetition is important) and ask the Holy Spirit to help you grasp what God is showing you about Himself, about you, and how to live in light of these truths. 

Passages to read/memorize/meditate:
Psalm 104:28
Matthew 25:35-46
Luke 6:38
Luke 17:33
Acts 3:6
2 Corinthians 9:7

 
Questions to reflect on:
  1. What do you have in your hands that you are we withholding?
  2. Is there fear in you heart that if you give of yourself too much, people will take advantage?
  3. Where does that fear come from?
  4. Do you trust that God can provide everything you need in your life?
  5. What has this devotional shown you about God? About yourself?

Share

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

Details

    Archives

    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • Intimacy. Identity. Impact.
  • Weekly Devotional
    • Devotional Contributors
  • WITHIN His Word
    • Resources
    • WITHIN His Word Workshop >
      • Within His Word Survey
    • WITHIN His Word 1-on-1 Online Sessions
  • Come Away Retreats
    • Come Away Prayer Journey
  • Connect
  • Contact
  • What we Believe
  • Called to the Ones