“We can respond to God’s generosity in four ways: faith, gratitude, availability and participation. At it’s simplest, the first response to God’s generosity is faith: belief that He is the Giver. Then comes gratitude as we realize the immense grace He shows in all his involvement with His creation. Third, we say availability because it’s not about going off alone to be generous to the world but saying to God, I am available as an instrument in Your expert hands to bless the world around me. Think of surgeons doing some life saving surgery: they use instruments to do the work. Think of musicians providing an awe-inspiring evening of music: they use an instrument to do that. Lord make us instruments. We talk about participation because God is continually at work in the world and He invites us to be ‘co-workers with Christ’ to participate in building his Kingdom.”
Excerpts from a message by Felicity Green at the fourth Sanctuary Meeting in Westminster on 1 December 2005, London, England. www.sanctuary-westminster.org