Have you ever withheld a kindness because you felt it wasn't enough? I spoke with a friend recently who has a college friend who is dying of cancer. My friend called his other teammates and encouraged them to call the friend. Many hesitated and stated, "I don't know what to say." My friend explained that calling was the important thing and imperfect words were better than none.
Have you ever hesitated giving something to the Lord because you felt it wasn't enough? If you have kids, you know how exciting to you their efforts are when done in an effort to please you. When you receive a messy crayon picture from a child who is excited to give you the gift as a blessing, what is your reaction? I am stoked and even more pumped up when the child is mine!
We must realize that God the perfect Father has the same feelings toward us when he sees our hearts are in a posture to please Him. He doesn't focus on how feeble our attempts or gifts. He who knows us best loves us most!
But sons who are more generously and candidly treated by their fathers do not hesitate to offer them incomplete and halfdone and even defective works, trusting that their obedience and readiness of mind will be accepted by their fathers, even though they have not quite achieved what their fathers intended. Such children ought we to be, firmly trusting that our services will be approved by our most merciful Father, however small, rude, and imperfect these may be.
... John Calvin (1509-1564), The Institutes of the Christian Religion
[1559]
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