My Walk With Him: 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

¹ And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. ² In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. ³ For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, ⁴ they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. ⁵And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. ⁶ So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. ⁷ But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.

⁸ I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. ⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Richness exists in being blessed by the Holy Spirit - while in theory I fully believe this I have yet to be challenged as the Macedonian churches have been to give generously in spite of extreme poverty.

My Prayer: Lord, I know You have blessed my family beyond imagination - I am thankful that we have not distressed or suffered because of this. We don't deserve this yet You provide anyway. Thank You Lord Jesus - You are an awesome loving and caring God. Yet again we don't deserve this because we are far from perfect and we continue to sin - even today I expressed anger and impatience at work that I should not have expressed. Please forgive me for this. Please also give me and my family the wisdom to be good stewards of the blessings You place in our trust. Help us give generously. Purify me of my sin, invade my heart and transform my heart and my life.