The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Corinthians 8:1-4,
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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"And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints."
Most of us might find ourselves calling out to God and seeking each other for help when we experience a "severe trial" or "extreme poverty". As struggling victims we would look for help and relief.
Nothing wrong with that, but look at these Macedonian believers! Their "overflowing joy and extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity"! Not that that wasn't enough, but Paul claims they "urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints."
What drives a people like that? Although hurting and extremely poor they seek to help others. We find this not just with these Macedonian believers. We read in Hebrews 10:32-34, "Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions."
These Jewish believers "stood side by side" with brothers and sisters when they were being mistreated although they themselves were experiencing at that time "a great contest in the face of suffering." They sympathized with those in prison which was probably why they had their property confiscated – which they accepted joyfully!
What drives people like this? We still see them in our day, not just risking personal loss in helping others, but helping others in the midst of their own suffering.
The writer of Hebrews says those who did so did, because "you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions." These are people who are realists, who recognize and are energized by the wonderful hope we have in the resurrection.
In Paul's letter to the Colossians, he speaks of the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for them in heaven, Colossians 1:5. This hope inspires acts of love and sacrifice, it moves us beyond our own pain and suffering, our own disappointments and losses to consider and act on the needs of others.
The exciting hope we have in our Lord Jesus Christ is life-altering: it transports us to a life that emulates these wonderful Macedonian and Hebrew believers!
Most of us might find ourselves calling out to God and seeking each other for help when we experience a "severe trial" or "extreme poverty". As struggling victims we would look for help and relief.
Nothing wrong with that, but look at these Macedonian believers! Their "overflowing joy and extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity"! Not that that wasn't enough, but Paul claims they "urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints."
What drives a people like that? Although hurting and extremely poor they seek to help others. We find this not just with these Macedonian believers. We read in Hebrews 10:32-34, "Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions."
These Jewish believers "stood side by side" with brothers and sisters when they were being mistreated although they themselves were experiencing at that time "a great contest in the face of suffering." They sympathized with those in prison which was probably why they had their property confiscated – which they accepted joyfully!
What drives people like this? We still see them in our day, not just risking personal loss in helping others, but helping others in the midst of their own suffering.
The writer of Hebrews says those who did so did, because "you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions." These are people who are realists, who recognize and are energized by the wonderful hope we have in the resurrection.
In Paul's letter to the Colossians, he speaks of the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for them in heaven, Colossians 1:5. This hope inspires acts of love and sacrifice, it moves us beyond our own pain and suffering, our own disappointments and losses to consider and act on the needs of others.
The exciting hope we have in our Lord Jesus Christ is life-altering: it transports us to a life that emulates these wonderful Macedonian and Hebrew believers!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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