{"id":3213,"date":"2015-12-13T09:00:41","date_gmt":"2015-12-13T15:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.barbdahlgren.com\/?p=3213"},"modified":"2015-12-21T00:13:39","modified_gmt":"2015-12-21T06:13:39","slug":"choose-to-receive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/?p=3213","title":{"rendered":"Choose to Receive"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Year of Choices<\/em><\/p>\n

By Barbara Dahlgren<\/em>
\n\"It<\/a>The Bible says it is more blessed to give than receive.\u00a0 (Acts 20:35)\u00a0\u00a0 Although it is more <\/u>blessed to give, there are times when it is blessed to receive as well.<\/p>\n

Some people are too proud to receive anything from anybody.\u00a0 They don\u2019t want to feel obligated to another person.\u00a0 They don\u2019t want others to think they need anything.\u00a0 Some of these people are generous givers but don\u2019t know how to receive.<\/p>\n

One of my dearest friends and I tend to be that way.\u00a0 I call it the Midwest Missouri mentality.\u00a0 There\u2019s a reason they call Missouri the \u201cShow Me\u201d state and have a stubborn mule as a symbol. \u00a0We go out to eat and drive everyone crazy.\u00a0 I want to pay.\u00a0 She wants to pay. \u00a0Bicker, bicker, bicker\u2026 The servers want one of us to pay so they can get on with their lives.<\/p>\n

One time she and her husband invited us to share a condo in Branson, MO for our anniversary.\u00a0 Of course we wanted to pay our part but they wouldn\u2019t hear of it.\u00a0 It was their treat!\u00a0 On one of our outings I hopped into the store to get some gum and she stayed in the car.\u00a0 She asked me to pick her up some, too.\u00a0 When I tried to give her the gum she insisted on paying me the $1.50 it cost.\u00a0 I kept saying, \u201cNo, just keep it!\u201d\u00a0 But she wouldn\u2019t hear of it.\u00a0 Finally I said, \u201cLet me see if I understand this correctly.\u00a0 You can treat us to free lodging which costs a bundle but I can\u2019t give you one lousy package of gum?\u00a0 There\u2019s something wrong here!\u201d\u00a0 She had to admit she had a problem receiving anything from anybody \u2013 even her closest friend.<\/p>\n

\"Accept<\/a><\/p>\n

Some people can\u2019t even receive a sincere compliment.\u00a0 Instead of just graciously saying, \u201cThank you,\u201d they make up excuses as to why they don\u2019t deserve the compliment.\u00a0 It\u2019s as if they think if they accept the compliment they aren\u2019t humble enough.\u00a0 Or they immediately try to reciprocate with another compliment which is usually insincere because they are only reciprocating, not really giving a genuine compliment.\u00a0 Let\u2019s face it\u2026 Some days our hair really does look good so when some bald guy says, \u201cHey, I like your hair style!\u201d we don\u2019t need to say, \u201cI like yours, too!\u201d<\/p>\n

So here\u2019s the deal\u2026 Just as giving should be part of our lives so should receiving.\u00a0 When we can\u2019t receive genuine, heartfelt gifts, appreciation, help, or compliments from others we rob them of blessings.<\/p>\n

Jesus was the greatest giver.\u00a0 He gave up His life for us.\u00a0 But did you know Jesus knew how to receive as well? \u00a0When Mary anointed His feet with expensive perfume He accepted it graciously. (John 12:1-8)\u00a0 The disciples were shocked because the ointment was worth a lot of money and could have been sold to help the poor.\u00a0 Yet Jesus accepted this gift in the spirit it was given.<\/p>\n

\"Washing<\/a><\/p>\n

Another similar event is recorded in the Gospel of Luke when Jesus was visiting Simon, a Pharisee.\u00a0 Some scholars say it\u2019s the same event and others disagree.\u00a0 I personally think it is two separate occurrences because these women appear to be totally different.\u00a0 It\u2019s conceivable that two similar incidents of this kind could have happened because everyone walked in sandals on dusty roads and many times feet were washed at someone else\u2019s home.\u00a0 Here again, Jesus set an example in receiving when a woman of ill repute washed His feet with ointment from an alabaster box and her tears.\u00a0 Simon was appalled but Jesus defended her and accepted her act of kindness graciously. (Luke 7:36-50)<\/p>\n

Jesus taught the disciples a lesson in serving others when He insisted on washing their feet at the Last Supper. \u00a0(John 13:14-15)\u00a0 However this was a lesson in receiving as well.\u00a0 Peter did not want Jesus to wash his feet but Jesus said that unless Peter received this act of service from Him, Peter could have no part of Him.\u00a0 (John 13:4-10)<\/p>\n

God has gifts for us to receive but sometimes we refuse to accept them.\u00a0 God wants us to receive forgiveness of sin.\u00a0 We already have it, but we need to acknowledge and receive it.\u00a0 Unless we do we will never be able to experience the fullness of a relationship with Him. \u00a0\u00a0The blessings we receive from God we can give to others.\u00a0 However, we must choose to receive His grace and truth or we have nothing to give.<\/p>\n

Consider this\u2026 Jesus could have fed the multitudes with manna from heaven.\u00a0 After all, it had been done before.\u00a0 Instead he let a little boy give up his lunch and share what he had with others. (John 6:5-14)<\/p>\n

Refusing to receive from others can rob them of blessings.\u00a0 It may be more <\/u>blessed to give, but sometimes it is blessed to receive as well.<\/p>\n

Suggestions for practicing this choice\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n