COV LIFE BLOG

Heavenly Father, we come before you today encouraged and challenged by this picture of radical grace. This one story alone underscores why we can never emphasize your grace too much. Grace is never to be counterbalanced with law, only multiplied with more grace. Indeed, through Jesus you continue to give us grace upon grace (John 1:16)—such is your great generosity and love.

What an amazing story—the severely afflicted and extremely poor Christians of Macedonia became a model of kingdom joy and radical generosity, to the much wealthier believers in Corinth. Paul didn’t do the begging to generate funds. The Corinthians did the begging to share what they had!

Guilt, fear and legalism can’t generate such big-hearted giving; only great love created by copious grace. Indeed, cheerful giving finds its source in no other place than in your joyful heart. (2 Cor. 9:7). The law cannot produce that kind of people—not even grace plus law, but only grace upon grace.

For the glory of Jesus and the advancing of your kingdom, we ask you to give us the same grace you gave the churches of Macedonia. The needs all around us are exponential, but your resources are endless. Indeed, help us to excel in the grace of giving—financially and in every other way.

For you are “able to make all grace abound to [us], so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, [we] can abound in every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8). Enrich us in every way that we might be generous in every way (2 Cor. 9:11)—with our time, talents, and treasures, and with great forbearance and extravagant forgiveness.

Lord Jesus, you are the ultimate cheerful giver. That’s what the gospel is all about. Though you were rich, you gladly became poor for us, that by your poverty we might become joyfully rich through you (2 Cor. 8:9). For the joy set before you, you laid down your lives for us on the cross (Heb. 12:2). Make your gladness ours. Make your generosity ours. So very Amen we pray, in your great and gracious name.

Scotty Smith

SCRIPTURES FOR THIS SUNDAY
Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 and consider the marvelous grace of God to you and consider the truth that everything you hold belongs to God and is owing solely to his grace. How does this affect your view of all you have and how you handle it?

SONG FOR THIS WEEK
Hallelujah, What A Savior by Aaron Ivey