Pressed Down, Shaken Together, and Running Over

Luke 6:38 states, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (NIV).

God is certainly good to us, don't you think? God loves to bless His children, especially when His children give to others. Giving does not only mean the giving of your money but the giving of your time and your abundance. Many of us have plenty of abundance...My closets attest to this!!

Most of us will give if a need comes to our attention. During the Christmas Holidays, many give money to the needy and participate in time-consuming programs that help others. Serving in homeless shelters and feeding stations are just a couple of ways people give to help others. Giving money and serving others is very important, but in order to get the full blessings of God, there is more.

Giving and Serving (always) is what is expected if you are a child of God. Jesus Christ said that He did not come to be served, but to serve. Mathew 20:28 explains, “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (NIV). Isn't Jesus Christ to be our example? Are we not to serve other just as Jesus Christ served?

I understand that living as Jesus Christ lived is a journey. We will never be a mirror image, but we can strive to be. We are sinners saved by Grace. Knowing that Jesus Christ Gave our ransom on the Cross, when He died and rose again, has given us our great hope of a never-ending life with Him. This is the main reason we are to give back or as the saying goes, “Pay it forward”.

Paying it forward is giving to others what has been given to you. The act of giving blesses to others helps them know they are special and loved. Jesus has certainly helped me feel special and loved through His sacrifice. Acts 20:35 explains it like this, “We must help the weak remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive'” (NIV).

What better blessing that giving the Fathers love to someone who has never experienced it. Just giving a smile to someone who most people ignore (we all know them) can bless that individual more than you will ever know. Blessing that single mother with a gift card to help her pay for her groceries can bless her in ways that only the Father Himself knows. As I see it we can all give something, right?


Why not, out of the blue, pay it forward this week and not only bless, but be blessed. Remember the promise of God in Luke 6:38 that by giving you will receive a blessing that is Pressed Down, Shaken Together and, Running Over. 

Please enjoy this music video by Mathew West

Have a Blessed week Blessing and being Blessed
Your Sister in Christ,
Jacque Barnes