SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 9
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words! [2 Corinthians 9:13-15]
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! [Matthew 10:8]
“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” [John 20:21-23]
Be generous, just as the Lord has been generous to me.
Notice that the recipients of the Corinthians’ generosity are praising God for the overflowing grace given to them – i.e. the Corinthians.
Their generosity is a sign of God’s generosity to them!
Notice the multiplication factor here: God blesses me, I bless others, they bless God, they bless me, they bless others, and so on.
This was what Jesus came to do, to start a movement of grace that would overflow to the ends of the earth!
As the Father sent Jesus, He also sends us, to continue this mission.
We have been blessed with amazing grace, peace, and the power of the Holy Spirit – now through us that grow is experienced by others.
Not just generosity with money, but with kindness, forgiveness, encouragement, mercy, prayer, peace-making, hope, healing, patience, etc.
May my whole life be an example of grace overflowing – knowing how gracious He has been to me, showing this to others.
The result of all this is a world changed by grace and generosity!
People saying WOW because of how that grace has blessed them; people moved to being generous themselves.
When we are not generous, we are disobeying the good news of Jesus.
We are hindering the flow of God’s overflowing grace.
No matter how much we talk about the good news, or say we believe it, if we do not share it with others in action (not just words), we are resisting the gospel, resisting the Spirit, resisting God!
PRAYER:
Lord, the more I think of how much I have received from You, I realize how stingy I am with sharing Your love and kindness with others. Light a fire of generosity in my heart!
Eagerness to help. Eagerness to serve. Telling others what a blessing you are.
I have certainly experienced this after the quake, manifold. Be a blessing to others. Being blessed by others. Giving out of our abundance. Giving gifts of time, treasure and talents. Giving of the little we have to others and the Lord replenishes through others who come to serve. He certainly does scatter His gifts among His people so that His people can give generously.
I am able to be a small part of this ministry here. But I can be a large part in serving – showing my attitude or gratitude with altitude! Thanksliving – because God gave that opportunity to us through His generous gift.
Thank You Lord. PTL.
All that I am I owe to Thee,
Thy wisdom, Lord, has fashioned me;
I give my Maker thankful praise,
Whose wondrous works my soul amaze.
Ere into being I was brought,
Thine eye did see, and in Thy thought
My life in all its perfect plan
Was ordered ere my days began.