“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Jesus makes a stunning promise here in Luke 6.  It’s one that hits home.  For the past 17 years, we’ve raised support as faith-based missionaries, depending upon the generosity of others.

I love the picture Jesus paints here.  At harvest time, a long robe was used to carry the overflow of grain.  God wants to pour abundance into the lap of those who are generous.

Even the picture of being “pressed down and shaken together” resonates.  Think about buying something that must fit in a certain sized container or bag…  you know, fill this bag with candy for $4.99.  What do we do?  We fill the bag, and when it’s full, we shake it so the candy will settle in the bag and make more room.  Then we add more.  And we shake it again.  And then we add more.  And we press the candy down to squeeze in even more.  And then we fill the bag so full that the candy is spilling over the top.  We want to get as much as possible.

Shouldn’t that be our approach with the blessings God wants to give?  “Father, keep pouring it on.  Let me make room in my life for even more of your blessings.”

How do we make room in our life for more of God’s blessings?  How do we press down and shake together?  We give.  We just keep on giving.  We use the measure of generosity.  Am I giving generously?  Am I giving liberally, freely, joyfully?  Am I giving sacrificially?  Am I giving abundantly enough to create room in my life for God to bless me even more?

Many Christians operate from a scarcity mindset.  They are struggling financially.  Things are tight.  They are in debt or they are living paycheck to paycheck…  so they feel like they can’t afford to be generous.

I want to live with an abundance mindset.  I have a generous Father who loves to bless, so I’m going to press down and shake together.  I’m going be generous with His abundance.  I’m going to make room for my Daddy to pour an overwhelming, ridiculous abundance of blessing on my life.  Blessed to be a blessing!

To learn more about Walking As Jesus Walked and Discipling As Jesus Discipled, visit:  SONLIFE.COM