One person gives freely,
yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Prov. 11:24-25
Lord Jesus, we can’t read these words without lifting our hearts and hands toward heaven. “Whoever refreshes others“… that is you. Jesus, you are the quintessential, archetypical, archbishop of refreshment. Hallelujah!
Indeed, No one refreshes conflicted, vexed, dry hearts like you do. You breathe life into the listless, and fill the sails of weary souls. You are an artesian spring of encouragement and kindness. Thank you, Lord.
Your mercies are new every morning, your steadfast love never comes to an end, and you give us grace upon grace. No one “gives more freely” than you. You’ll never be charged with withholding any good thing from your people.
You’ll never “come to poverty through hoarding,” because you freely chose the poverty of the cross to make us rich (2 Cor. 8:9). This is the gospel, and nothing is more refreshing than the gospel. The gospel is good news for every parched, thirsty, longing heart.
In the gospel you’re always calling to us in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink” (John 7:37). Jesus, I join my brothers and sisters today in coming to you right now. In a desert of rage, you send rivers of grace. Into a season of meanness, you pour eternal kindness. While many grasp and strive for power, we raise our empty hands to you with thanksgiving and praise.
And as grace runs downhill to the needy, so it flows freely to others. Make us refreshers, Jesus. Freely we receive from you, and freely we will give to others. To whom would you send us today? Who is most in need of a word of grace, a look of mercy, a hug of hope? So very Amen we pray, in your most generous and grace-full name.
