For years, I did not feel blessed but burdened when I thought about giving, and I was a pastor! Why? Because I viewed it through the lens of law instead of grace. So, when God began to reveal to me the freedom of living by grace, I found myself wrestling with how giving works. Ultimately, I began to preach “grace giving”. To be honest, I was very nervous that the church’s giving would decrease so much they would be unable to pay me but something amazing happened instead. The church’s giving actually and significantly increased! Here is why.
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- We have a new, good heart. Ezekiel 36:25 says, “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” This new tender, responsive heart is good because it desires to do what God wants. Why? Because your new heart lives in union with God and His desires are now your deepest desires. This new heart has replaced the stubborn, stony heart also known as the old self (old nature) that desired to always do the opposite of God’s desires.
- Our new heart wants to give. 2 Corinthians 9:7 tells us about “grace giving”. “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” It plainly says that we are not to give “under compulsion”, meaning out of obligation or pressure. Our God is a generous God by nature. Being united with Him in our new heart means that we are also generous by nature. We now want to give without obligation and with joy. This is how the Spirit leads us in our giving.
- God, in His grace, took what we would humanly call a big gamble. That “gamble” was that the internal new heart’s grace-living would be much better in every area of life, including our generosity, rather than external rule-keeping.
Though Grace Life International is not a church, we ask people who believe in what Jesus is doing through us, to pray about giving from the desires of their new hearts. This is because we know Jesus wants more and more people to experience the grace of who He is in them. That is why we ask friends like you to consider giving a year-end gift to help us prepare for the coming year.
Would you please ask Jesus about giving to Grace Life International? We believe Jesus has given us is a year-end faith goal of $25,000. Since this is our 25th Anniversary year, would you pray about giving an amount that has the numbers 25 in it or that is a multiple of 25? Of course, any amount will be great! Your gift will be an investment in the freedom of other brothers and sisters in Christ. Here are two ways you can give a gift. Online by clicking Here or by check payable to Grace Life International and mailing to Grace Life International, 1337 Hundred Oaks Drive, Suite EE, Charlotte, NC 28217. All gifts are tax-deductible.
(*If you already financially support one of our staff who lives on support, please give to them instead by clicking here or by sending a check to the same address above.)
From my new heart to your new heart, grace to you!
