Covington's Calvary

The Joy of Giving

Tabitha . . . was always doing good and helping the poor. Acts 9:36

READ Acts 9:36-43

On a five-hour flight, a woman vigorously crocheted a sweater. As she moved her hook in and out of her yarn, she noticed a five-month-old baby who was mesmerized by her motions. Then the woman got an idea: instead of finishing the sweater she was working on; she would make a hat for her little admirer. She had to finish the hat in the remaining time of the flight, however—just one hour! When the woman presented the child’s mom with the little hat, the whole family accepted it with joy while the other passengers smiled and applauded.
Surprise gifts are often received with joy. Whether they’re gifts we need or simply want, through them the giver may also show us the kindness of Christ. In the early church, Tabitha was known for sharing clothes and “always doing good and helping the poor” (Acts 9:36). When she died, her beneficiaries displayed “the robes and other clothing that [she] had made . . . them” (v. 39). They testified about her kindness and how she’d touched their lives.
In a dramatic turn of events, Peter, through the Holy Spirit’s power, brought Tabitha back to life (v. 40). His actions filled those who loved her with joy—and led many others to believe in Christ (v. 42).
Our actions of kindness can be some of the most memorable testifying we do. As God provides, let’s share some surprise gifts with others today.
By Katara Patton

REFLECT & PRAY
What gifts can you share with others? What has it meant for you to receive gifts of kindness?

Heavenly Father, please remind me to be kind to others—sharing my gifts and treasures.

Responding to Generosity

Give, and it will be given to you. Luke 6:38

READ Luke 6:31-38

When Lydia was gifted $10,000 by anonymous donors, she spent little of it on herself. Instead, she gave generous gifts to coworkers, family, flood victims, and charities. Lydia, unbeknownst to her, was part of a study following how two hundred people responded to a no-strings-attached gift of $10,000 through a bank transfer. That study found that more than two-thirds of that gifted money was given away. Sharing this story, Chris Anderson, head of the TED nonprofit media organization, reflected, “It turns out that . . . we human beings are wired to respond to generosity with generosity.”
In Scripture, we find that when people live generously, they reflect the heart of the God who made them. God is generous, merciful, and kind, not just to some but to all—even “to the ungrateful and wicked” (Luke 6:35). So Jesus instructed those who desire to reflect God’s character to “love,” “do good to,” and “lend to” even enemies “without expecting to get anything back” (vv. 32-35).
When we give without expecting anything back, we’ll find that it’s never a way of life that harms us. Jesus pointed this out too, saying, “Give, and it will be given to you. . . . With the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (v. 38). When we respond to God’s generosity by living generously, we find we’re enriched in countless ways.
By Monica La Rose

REFLECT & PRAY
How have you found joy through giving? How have the gifts of others enriched your life?

Gracious God, thank You for the joy of giving.

Rainbows and God’s Promises

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Genesis 9:13

READ Genesis 9:8-17

While I stood watching the amazing power of Niagara Falls, I noticed that other tourists suddenly began taking photos. Looking in the same direction, I saw a rainbow had appeared—arching across the river. It seemed to begin at the base of the Horseshoe Falls, ending at the base of the American Falls.
In reality, there’s no end to a rainbow. A rainbow is a full circle, something I’ve seen only once. I was gazing out an airplane window when the sun—shining in just the right direction—revealed a full-circle rainbow in the distance above the clouds. I sat enthralled with the sight until the plane turned and the circle disappeared.
That rainbow gave me much to consider—how God has no beginning or end, and that He reveals His promises to us no matter where we are. Our never-ending, eternal God “set [His] rainbow in the clouds” (Genesis 9:13) as a promise to never flood the earth again “to destroy all life” (v. 15). Even today, our Creator shares His reminder of that promise with us, His creation (vv. 13-16).
Isaiah 40:28 says, “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. . . . No one can measure the depths of his understanding” (nlt). What an amazing thought! We will have eternity to learn about our promise keeper, and we’ll never reach the ultimate depth of His understanding.
By Brent Hackett

REFLECT & PRAY
What attributes of God do you think about when you see a rainbow? How do His promises encourage you?

Thank You, Father, for creating rainbows and revealing them to me as confirmation of Your promise to me.

Legacy of Love in Jesus

As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34

READ John 13:31-36

In Sweden, there’s a concept known as döstädning. It literally means “death cleaning.” The idea is that as we grow older, we should stop accumulating “stuff” and begin to cut out the clutter we have amassed throughout our lives. “Swedish death cleaning” is actually a gift of love to children and friends, for it simplifies for them the task of wading through what we leave behind.
As believers in Jesus, at a certain age we think about our legacy—what survives us. This is often framed in terms of money, inheritance, or charitable giving—and there’s much to be said for that. But it might be helpful to look at Jesus in His final hours with His disciples: “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later” (John 13:36). In two verses (vv. 34-35), He uses the word love or loved four times—His legacy was love. He told them: “As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (v. 34).
It may be good to do some “Swedish death cleaning” in our lives, removing clutter to leave behind only the most important things. But it really isn’t about things or money. The most important legacy you can leave behind is your love for Jesus. When children and friends remember you as one who loved Jesus, that’s the best gift of all. It gives new meaning to the phrase “left behind.”
By Kenneth Petersen

REFLECT & PRAY
How do your family and friends see your love for Jesus demonstrated? How might you share that love more openly?

Dear God, thank You for Your love and for the gift of Jesus in my life. Please help me to show Your love to those around me.