OPEN-HANDED

Dining with Jesus Christian Episodes

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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What do you think of when you hear the idea that we are to be “open-handed” with the blessings that the Lord has provided us in this life? Hopefully, you are able to see the embarrassing riches of God’s mercy, grace, love, and blessing that have already been given to us through the work of Jesus Christ, the person and presence of the Holy Spirit, and the joy of being united with God’s people. The more that we are aware of the blessings of the Lord, the more willing we are to open our hands and allow the Lord to have access to that which he has given us. 

To be open-handed as a follower of Jesus is to present your time, energy, presence, and treasure to the Lord for his use. In the passage that follows, we hear a calling given by God through the Apostle Paul that speaks to our need to live in a spirit of generosity toward the Lord and his people.  

9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

(Galatians 6:9-10 NIV11)

Weary

I am glad that the Lord gave us this message. It is good for me to hear that the Lord knows that I can from time to time feel wiped out as I seek to serve the Lord. It is also good for me to hear the Lord’s clear call to not allow these times of weariness to overwhelm me and lead me to quit my service and generosity to the Lord. 

Jesus

Sometimes we forget that Jesus too grew weary in his service to the Heavenly Father. He routinely needed to pull away from the crowds and the demands of his disciples so that he could reconnect with God. 

When Jesus Christ stepped aside to reconnect and recharge, he did so, for the purpose of getting back about the business of accomplishing the will of God. 

He did not quit. He did not step away from serving the Lord for selfish reasons. He knew that his service to the Lord would be made greater if he would take the time to rest in the Father. 

Similar

In verse 9, we hear a similar message. If we do not quit, we too will be recharged by the Lord as we see how God uses our generosity and sharing of his blessings with others. 

When you have the joy of helping someone else grow in their faith, or connect with Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, the weariness leaves you and you are filled with the joy of the Lord. This is why the Lord calls us to seek to do good for those around us and to not give in to the temptation to give up. 

Examples

  •   When I know that God is using me to accomplish his will, I forget about the cost that I paid to be in the place where the Lord could use me. 
  •   When I hear the Holy Spirit speak through me and bring hope and life to another person, I do not think about the loss of time and energy that came from that conversation.
  •   When I see the Lord use my treasure to build his church, bring new life to his people, I do not miss the money and wish for it to back in my account. I am thrilled to have been a part of what God wanted to do in my church. 

Questions

  •   What has God placed in your hands (time, resources, talents, opportunities) that you could hold more loosely and share more generously with others?
  •   Where do you feel tired and weary in your pursuit of God’s goodness? 
  •   How are you following the example of Jesus Christ as you seek times of reconnection and recharge with the Lord?

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for your incredible generosity toward me. Help me to have the same open-handed spirit that you have shown me. Show me where I have been holding too tightly to the things you have entrusted me. Give me eyes to see needs around me and a heart that responds with joy, not obligation. Let your generous Spirit flow through me to bless others.

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Senior Pastor at PARK HILL BAPTIST CHURCH


Worked at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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