RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL
THE POWER OF GIVING
Saturday June 7, 2025.
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway (Acts 10:1-2).
God is plainly against selfishness. Conversely, He’ll seize any opportunity to save, bless, and uplift a giver. Notice the word “save”; even non-Christians who are givers—who are liberal and generous—get God’s attention, and He seeks to save them. If He can find someone to pray for them, He will exercise His legal right to act and guide them into salvation.
The story of Cornelius in Acts 10 beautifully illustrates this truth. Cornelius was a Roman centurion, a Gentile and not part of the Jewish community. Yet, he was a devout man who feared God and was known for his generosity. He gave alms to the people and prayed continually.
His giving and prayers did not go unnoticed; they ascended as a memorial before God. As a result of his generosity, God sent an angel to Cornelius with a divine instruction to send for Peter who would bring him the message of salvation. Think about it; an angel appeared to Cornelius because of his giving!
God orchestrated an entire salvation plan for Cornelius, his family, and his household because of his generosity. As Peter preached about Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit fell upon everyone present. They began speaking in tongues and praising God. This moment was a pivotal point in the Early Church, highlighting the universal vision of the Gospel.
God despises stinginess; it is contrary to His nature and reflects the nature of the devil. So, every time God looks at a stingy person, He sees the enemy. But when He sees a giver, He sees something of Himself in that person and He’s drawn to that one in love. 2 Corinthians 9:7 AMPC says, “…God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving].” Let this be your description and your experience of God’s love will be overwhelming.
CONFESSION
I’m a cheerful giver, and through my giving, I position myself in alignment with God’s divine purpose, experiencing His abundant grace. I function in supernatural blessings, favours and increase. Thank you Lord for making me a channel of blessings to my world, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
|| 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 AMPC [Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings. 7 Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving]. ||
|| Proverbs 11:24-25 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and [there is] that withholdeth more than is meet, but [it tendeth] to poverty. 25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. ||
|| Acts 10:3-4 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. ||
|| Hebrews 13:16 AMPC Do not forget or neglect to do kindness and good, to be generous and distribute and contribute to the needy [of the church as embodiment and proof of fellowship], for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. ||