We Need More Liberals

Daily Reading: Isaiah 31-32

Scripture Focus: But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand. (Isaiah 32.8, KJV)

Devotional Thought: The English Standard Version translates this phrase: "But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands."  As I tried to understand what this verse meant, I looked up the Hebrew word translated "noble" and discovered it actually means "inclined to be generous."  Webster's Dictionary defines liberal as "marked by generosity."  That is why I used the KJV for this morning's devotion.

Now, liberal may be a word that you embrace for yourself, or it may be one you would rather not have applied to you.  That is probably because of the political connections associated with the word in our generation.

The liberal person in the Old Testament, however, was one who had a spirit of generosity, one who did not need to be forced to give, whether to God or to their fellow-man.  Their generosity was self-impelled:

·       God sought liberal gifts for the tabernacle in Exodus 25.  He wanted people to give willingly.

·       In 1 Chronicles 29, it was said of David and his leading men that they were liberal in their gifts to the temple.  They weren't taxed, but rather "gave freely."  (Consider that when thinking about what it means to be liberal today!) 

·       In Ezra and Nehemiah, the people who worked and contributed to the temple were described as liberal - willingly offering their gifts.

Isaiah said, "The liberal deviseth liberal things."  In other words, generous people do generous things! Our generosity is not marked by intentions and feelings, but by actions and follow-up. 

So, are you a liberal person?  Are you doing generous things?

Prayer: Lord, I know from your Word that you love a cheerful giver, one who is liberal in their generosity.  Help me to be liberally generous!  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 63.1-7

1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.

3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.

4 So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.

5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,

6 when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;

7 for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.