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!
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.
"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."
When folks embrace Jesus Christ in faith, change takes place within them. Here in this passage we learn from Paul that the believers in Macedonia gave of what they had to others in their need. He speaks of their rich generosity that welled up from "the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and extreme poverty".
While it may come as a surprise to some today to learn that the God who loves us, who sent us his Son as a ransom payment for our sin, can, and may see fit, to leave us in poor financial condition, it was just exactly this poor financial condition that made the Macedonian's gift that much more wonderful and a greater expression of love on their part. They gave to others out of their "extreme poverty".
What causes believers to do things like this? As we look around us today we still see the same love and desire to serve others as a dynamic that drives many within the church. My thoughts this morning go to the first letter of John. In it we read that this very compulsion to love, to give to, and to serve others, is an indication of God's presence in our lives, "Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:7b-8. Why is this? Just a few verses later John says, "We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit." 1 John 4:13. As a result we read, "God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him… We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:16b,19.
Here is an inescapable truth: God's presence always brings change. The wonderful love, kindness and compassion that is so visible in Jesus Christ manifests itself in our lives as we draw close to him.
Isn't that the most wonderful dynamic to behold in anyone's life?!
When folks embrace Jesus Christ in faith, change takes place within them. Here in this passage we learn from Paul that the believers in Macedonia gave of what they had to others in their need. He speaks of their rich generosity that welled up from "the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and extreme poverty".
While it may come as a surprise to some today to learn that the God who loves us, who sent us his Son as a ransom payment for our sin, can, and may see fit, to leave us in poor financial condition, it was just exactly this poor financial condition that made the Macedonian's gift that much more wonderful and a greater expression of love on their part. They gave to others out of their "extreme poverty".
What causes believers to do things like this? As we look around us today we still see the same love and desire to serve others as a dynamic that drives many within the church. My thoughts this morning go to the first letter of John. In it we read that this very compulsion to love, to give to, and to serve others, is an indication of God's presence in our lives, "Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:7b-8. Why is this? Just a few verses later John says, "We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit." 1 John 4:13. As a result we read, "God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him… We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:16b,19.
Here is an inescapable truth: God's presence always brings change. The wonderful love, kindness and compassion that is so visible in Jesus Christ manifests itself in our lives as we draw close to him.
Isn't that the most wonderful dynamic to behold in anyone's life?!
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment