Health & Fitness
The "Heart" of Christmas
WAY more than looking at WHAT we do or WHAT we give, God looks at WHY?
“You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." --the Bible
God looks at what’s happening in our heart and in our attitude. More than what we do or give, it’s WHY.
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See, if we are reluctant in the ways we serve others or give, it diminishes the spirit of generosity. If our serving or our loving, or our kindness, or our giving is with gritted teeth and a tightly gripped fist, there doesn’t beat within us a generous heart.
Oh, a deed might be noble and a gift might be large, but if the heart is ignoble and the heart is small, then generosity hasn’t happened.
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Why? Because generosity comes from the heart and God ALWAYS looks at the heart.
When actions and giving emerge from the heart, then it becomes generosity which moves the actions and giving from something that you DO to who you ARE.
That’s why Jesus said,
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Why? Because it changes you, it transforms you and makes you new.
Why? Because your will heart grow.
You’ll recall Dr. Suess’ famous Christmas character, Grinch. He thought Christmas was about presents given and thought he could stop Christmas if he removed the gifts. Do you remember what happened?
“And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?
It came without ribbons! It came without tags!
"It came without packages, boxes or bags!"
And he puzzled three hours, `till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.
"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"
And what happened then...?
Well...in Who-ville they say
That the Grinch's small heart
Grew three sizes that day!
And then - the true meaning of Christmas came through, and the Grinch found the strength of *ten* Grinches, plus two!”
--How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Suess
Christmas isn’t ribbons or tags or boxes or packages or bags.
It’s the story of a generous God who gave Heaven’s best gift and He wants our hearts transformed to be like HIS heart.
Brad Johnson is Pastor of California Community Church of Agoura Hills, CA, meeting in the Sheraton Hotel Ballroom at 9:30 and 11:00 each Sunday.