More Blessed!

John recorded many marvelous events and words of Jesus in the 21 chapters that compose his Gospel. However, note what he stated as he was bringing his record of the life of Jesus to a close.

We read. . .
“(25) Now there are ALSO MANY OTHER THINGS that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” ( John 21:25 ESV)

What has been written was for the purpose of helping us believe ( John 20:30-31). All that has been written has proved enough to do just that for those who are willing to accept what God has revealed. However, there is a statement Jesus made that was not recorded in either of the four Gospel accounts. It is a statement Paul mentioned in his farewell address to the Ephesians elders.

Paul stated. . .
“(35) In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE.’” ( Acts 20:35 ESV)

Doesn’t it feel good when we have SOMETHING TO GIVE to others. As we GIVE we realize how blessed we are to be able to GIVE. In GIVING there is benefit for ourselves in praising God to be in a position to GIVE and there is benefit to the one receiving as they thank God for those who have given.

As my son, Charles, and I [back when this focus was originally written in 1998] were checking e-mail the other night we both chimed in together saying: “It is more blessed to SEND THAN TO RECEIVE.” He then said, “There’s a ‘teEn-MAIL’ focus!” We discussed how we can SEND a kind word. We also noted how we can SEND encouragement to others. We can SEND prayer requests along as well, to help in the strengthening of others. Just think what it means to you when you receive encouragement via e-mail. Keep it going. Send it on to others. Utilize, to the glory of God, this wonderful means He has given us to touch the lives of others. I have been blessed. I hope I can bring the blessing of encouragement and support to others. I receive blessing in the sending of these daily focuses, because as I seek to encourage I am also uplifting my own focus each day. It is marvelous how God works things, isn’t it?

Have a great day ALLOWING GOD TO SEND BLESSINGS THROUGH YOU!
Carl

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[This focus was originally sent 12/11/1998 (Edited some with passages changed to ESV)]

See other teEn-MAIL on Giving