II Corinthians 8
Poor churches can give great amountsverses 1-5
Moreover – brethren – we do you to wit of the grace of God
bestowed on the churches of Macedonia
How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their
deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality
FOR to their power – I bear record – yea
and beyond their power they were willing of themselves
praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift
and take upon us the fellowship of the
ministering to the saints
And this they did – not as we hoped
but first gave their own selves to the Lord
and to us by the will of God
Paul compliments church in areas of excellenceverses 6-7
Insomuch that we desired Titus – that as he had begun
so he would also finish in you the same grace also
Therefore – as you abound in everything – in faith
utterance – knowledge – all diligence – your love to us
see that you abound in this grace also
Paul is testing their faith in the areas of givingverse 8
I speak not by commandment
BUT by occasion of the forwardness of others
and to prove the sincerity of your love
Illustration of giving of Christverse 9
FOR you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
that – though HE was rich
yet for your sakes HE became poor
that you through HIS poverty might be rich
Finish giving what you promisedverses 10-12
AND herein I give my advice – for this is expedient for you
who have begun before – not only to do
but also to be forward a year ago
NOW therefore perform the doing of it
that as there was a readiness to will
so there may be a performance
also out of that which you have
For if there be first a willing mind
it is accepted according to that a man has
and not according to that he has not
Giving should meet the present needverses 13-15
FOR I mean not that other men be eased – and ye burdened
but by an equality that now at this time your abundance
may be a supply for their want
that their abundance also may be a supply
for your want that there may be equality
AS it is written
He that had gathered much had nothing over
and he that had gathered little had no lack
Titus is going to help take offering to Jerusalemverses 16-18
But thanks be to God – which put the same earnest care
into the heart of Titus for you
for indeed he accepted the exhortation
but being more forward
of his own accord he went unto you
AND we have sent with him the brother
whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches
Reason given why Paul travels with othersverses 19-21
AND not that only – but who was also chosen of the churches
to travel with us with this grace
which is administered by us
to the glory of the same Lord
and declaration of your ready mind – avoid this
that no man should blame us in this abundance
which is administered by us
providing for honest things not only in the
sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men
Paul gives testimony of Titusverses 22-24
And we have sent with them our brother
whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things
but now much more diligent
on the great confidence which I have in you
Whether any do inquire of Titus – he is my partner and fellow helper
concerning you or our brethren be inquired of
they are the messengers of the churches
and the glory of Christ
Wherefore show you to them – and before the churches
the proof of your love – and of our boasting on your behalf
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 4 Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. (2842 “fellowship” [koinonia] means communion, distribution, association, community, joint participation, intimacy, the act of having, giving, or receiving a shore of something, or especially within a group or partnership)
DEVOTION: Here we find that Paul is still talking about the collection of money for the believers in Jerusalem because of the famine. They had promised to provide money for Paul and some other men to deliver to help with the needs in the Jerusalem church.
It was something that needed to happen to encourage all believers that when trouble came there would be other believers around to help them with whatever assistance they needed.
He tells of the deep poverty in Jerusalem and their liberality in giving. They were giving more than they could afford to the need. They not only gave money but themselves in the service of the LORD. They were available. They wanted to help.
Paul didn’t want to be embarrassed if he came and there had not been a offering even taking for the purpose of helping. He wanted them to collect the money each Sunday and set it aside when he came to take to Jerusalem. He didn’t want them to wait till the last minute to take the collection.
Today there are many needs around the world that need our attention. The local church is supposed to do what it can to help with the needs of fellow believers around the world.
A missionary offering is taken usually in some churches to help those they support throughout the year. Some take a percentage of the money that comes into the church each week and give it to the missionaries either here or overseas. There has to be a plan to help those who have given their life to help the church move forward for the LORD. There has to be some people who will help rebuild a church that was destroyed by natural disasters or fire.
CHALLENGE: God wants believers to be givers to those in need whether at home or around the world. When you are asked to help someone in need what do you do?
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 24 Wherefore show you to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf. (1732 “proof” [endeixis] means demonstration, verification, evidence, indication, manifestation, or sign)
DEVOTION: There is a saying “I’m from Missouri, show me!” That is what Paul is telling the believers in Corinth. They need to show that they were people of their word. He didn’t want them to be believers who spoke up and said they would help and then continue doing business as usual.
Paul had praised the church in Corinth to all the other churches. He wanted to make sure that they were living up to their word and his words of praise. It was all about showing love to fellow believers.
The same is true today. It is Christ who is saying what Paul said to the church at Corinth. HE is saying to your church that you have made certain promised to each other and to the LORD regarding how you were going to help your fellow believers.
There are many churches that promise to support missionaries but when the giving starts to go down the first budget they cut is the missionary budget. It should be the last right after the pastor’s salary.
Many Christians are not presented with the truth that one of the signs of salvation is that they are willing to give a portion of their money to the LORD as a thank offering. They think that a pastor should never talk about money. They think that if he brings up money he is just concerned with his paycheck.
There are pastors who think of themselves over others but good Biblical pastors are concerned in the growth of the individuals under their ministry and one areas of growth is in the giving to the LORD.
Are you giving a regular amount from your paycheck each week to the LORD? Are you available to help other churches when there is a disaster happening? The giving should be around ten percent of your monthly income. The church should never have to go to individuals and tell them that they are not giving enough. It should come from the heart of love.
CHALLENGE: How much did Christ leave behind when HE came to this earth to die for your sins?
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. (4432 “poverty” [ptocheia] means beggary, condition of one who is destitute of riches and abundance, or low estate)
DEVOTION: Paul likes to give illustrations regarding the Christian life. He likes to give illustrations from the Old Testament when Abraham gave money to Melchisedek who was a prophet of the one true God. He gives the example of the children of Israel supporting the priests and their families.
Here he gives the illustration of how much Jesus Christ left to come to this earth to die for the sins of the members of the church of Corinth. It was also for our sins.
Grace is giving someone something that they don’t deserve. We don’t deserve salvation from sin. We do deserve eternity in the lake of fire with the devil and his angels.
So Paul tells of the grace that God has given us because of what Christ has done on the cross but it takes it a step further by helping them understand what he left in heaven to come to this earth. HE was reigning with the Father already. HE was omnipresent. HE was omniscient. HE was Sovereign over the universe. HE was the Creator of our world. HE had the angels to minister unto HIM.
All this HE left behind to come to this world and die on the cross for our sins. So HE was amazingly rich and became a servant. HE was born in a manger. HE had no place to lay HIS head. HE had people wanting to kill HIM all the time.
Now Paul informs the believers that they are rich because of what Jesus did on the cross. HE gave each believer eternal life. HE gives each believer promises. HE gives each believer the presence of the Holy Spirit in their life. HE gives us answered prayer. HE keeps on giving to those who are faithful to their commitment to HIM.
It is sometime hard for us to think that we are rich when we compare ourselves with others in this world. The problem is that we only see the surface of their lives. Those outside of Christ are very poor. They might have a lot of possessions for ninety years but after that they have eternity in the lake of fire.
CHALLENGE: Do you understand how rich you are in Christ? If not reread all the blessings that are promised in the New Testament to those who serve the LORD both here and for eternity. Remember our bank is in heaven. Are you making regular deposits?
: 12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man has, and not according to that he has not. (4288 “willing mind” [prothumia] means predisposition, forwardness of mind, readiness, willingness, goodwill, readiness, alacrity, zeal, or eagerness)
DEVOTION: Paul is writing the church because they had promised to take an offering to help the church in Jerusalem that had gone through a famine. They had promised to collect the offering a year ago. Now Titus was coming to get the offering and Paul was writing them to make sure they were ready to give it.
A year earlier they were ready to give it. Now he wanted to be sure they did what they said they would do. He was not asking for more than they were ready to give. He told them that the church in Macedonia gave out of their poverty. He doesn’t want them to give more than they can afford but he also doesn’t want them to give less than they can afford. He reminded them that if they kept back more than they needed it would not stretch as far as if they gave as much as they could and the remainder would go further than they expected.
We first have to have the predisposition to give back to the LORD out of love for HIS provision of salvation. When we give to the LORD it should be with zeal. There are many people who are willing to give to the LORD but they don’t because they can come up with an excuse every time. One of the main excuses is that they don’t feel they can live on the ninety percent that is left. However, this is not true.
Paul wants the Christians at Corinth too not only be willing but also to perform. There are other verses that deal with this area of giving but this one is trying to convey the fact that we should be predisposed to give to God because of all HE has given us. Our checkbooks tell who we love. Who are we going to write a check too this week after we receive our paycheck? Is it the first check written?
I am thankful for those who support this ministry. Some I know are struggling financially but they still give. All of us have to answer to the LORD for what we give to help HIS ministries to move forward for HIM. Some churches are really struggling because the giving is down. We need to pray for these churches and ministries.
Ask the LORD how much you need to live on and then ask HIM how much to give this paycheck. Don’t give less than ten percent. Also, sometimes you might find someone who needs money that you can provide – give it to them anonymously if possible.
CHALLENGE: Our attitude needs to improve in the area of giving.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Giftverse 4
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
As it is writtenverse 15
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 1, 5, 16
Grace of Godverse 1
Will of Godverse 5
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Lordverses 5, 9, 19, 21
Jesus verse 9
Christverses 9, 23
Lord Jesus Christverse 9
Rich but became poorverse 9
Glory of the same Lordverse 19
Sight of the Lordverse 21
Glory of Christverse 23
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sight of menverse 21
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Blameverse 20
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Brethrenverse 1
Graceverses 1, 6, 7, 9, 19
Great trial of afflictionverse 2
Joyverse 2
Liberalityverse 2
Fellowshipverse 4
Saintsverse 4
Give of themselvesverse 5
Finish serviceverse 6
Faithverse 7
Utteranceverse 7
Knowledgeverse 7
Diligenceverse 7
Loveverses 7, 8, 24
Sincerity of your loveverse 8
Graceverse 9
Through Christ’s poverty we are richverse 9
Readiness of willverse 11
Performance of promiseverse 11
Willing mindverse 12
Giving verses 12-15
Thanksverse 16
Earnest careverse 16
Praiseverse 18
Gospelverse 18
Chosenverse 19
Ready mindverse 19
Honest thingsverse 20
Diligenceverse 22
Confidenceverse 22
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Churches in Macedoniaverses 1, 18, 19, 24
Gift for churches in Jerusalemverse 4
Fellowship verse 4
Titusverses 6, 16, 23
Earnest careverse 16
Exhortationverse 16
Gospelverse 18
Administeredverse 20
Brotherverse 22
Partnerverse 23
Fellow helperverse 23
Messengers of the churchesverse 23
Last Things (Future Events)
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.
QUOTES regarding passage
Paul did not force them to give. His intent was that the collection would prove the genuineness of their love for him as he compared their zeal with the zeal of the Macedonians. But the ultimate reason for giving is the example of Christ. Though HE enjoyed all the riches of heaven, HE voluntarily became poor in the incarnation. Through this giving, Christians enjoy spiritual riches.Giving to the collection is a response to the grace of Christ. (p. 1818, The Moody Bible Commentary by Michael Rydelnik & Michael Vanlaningham)
8:8. Paul continued positively by denying that he was commanding the Corinthians to give. If they responded to an order or threat from him, then their giving would be from duty and not an “act of grace” (8:6). At the same time, he admitted that his encouragement was to test the sincerity of their love. It is difficult to determine the object of this love. Paul may have had in mind their love for him, their love for the believers in Jerusalem, or their love for Christ. The last option seems best in light of the immediate connection in the next verse and the comparison with the Macedonians who “gave themselves first to the Lord” (8:5). Paul sought to test the depths of the Corinthians’ love and to encourage them to demonstrate that love by comparing it with the earnestness of others (the Macedonians).
8:9. Paul supported his call for demonstrating sincere love by reminding his readers of the sacrificial love of Christ. The Corinthians knew that Christ was rich in his preincarnate state. As the second person of the Trinity, Christ was exalted over all before the humiliation of his incarnation (cf. Phil. 2:5–8). Despite his eternal riches, Christ became poor when he came into the world so believers through his poverty might become rich. Christ’s humiliation culminated in his death on the cross, and through his death came the riches of salvation.
Believers do not become rich through the sacrifice of Christ in the sense that they receive physical wealth in this life. According to Paul, our true wealth is the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He is the “deposit guaranteeing our inheritance” (Eph. 1:14). Yet, as Paul told the Corinthians, in Christ all believers will inherit all the riches of the new world when Christ returns in glory.
The Corinthians were to be motivated by the example of Christ’s love and generosity to give unselfishly to the poor in Jerusalem. Their response to this opportunity tested the sincerity of their love and appreciation for Christ. (Pratt, R. L., Jr. (2000). I & II Corinthians (Vol. 7, pp. 391–392). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
The Macedonians’ giving was, like Christ’s, motivated by love (2 Cor. 8:7–8). What a rebuke to the Corinthians who were so enriched with spiritual blessings (1 Cor. 1:4–5). They were so wrapped up in the gifts of the Spirit that they had neglected the graces of the Spirit, including the grace of giving. The Macedonian churches had an “abundance of deep poverty” (2 Cor. 8:2), and yet they abounded in their liberality. The Corinthians had an abundance of spiritual gifts, yet they were lax in keeping their promise and sharing in the collection.
We must never argue that the ministry of our spiritual gifts is a substitute for generous giving. “I teach a Sunday School class, so I don’t have to give!” is not an explanation—it’s an excuse. The Christian who remembers that his gifts are gifts will be motivated to give to others and not “hide” behind his ministry for the Lord. I have met pastors and missionaries who have argued that, since they devote their whole time in serving the Lord, they are not obligated to give. Paul argued just the opposite: since you are wonderfully gifted from God, you ought to want to give even more!
Paul was careful that they understood that he was not ordering them to give. Actually, he was contrasting the attitude of the Macedonians with that of the Corinthians. He was pointing out that the Macedonians were following the example of the Lord: they were poor, yet they gave. The Corinthians said that they loved Paul; now he asked them to prove that love by sharing in the offering. Grace giving is an evidence of love—love for Christ, love for God’s servants who have ministered to us, and love for those who have special needs that we are able to help meet.
Finally, their giving was sacrificial (2 Cor. 8:9). In what ways was Jesus rich? Certainly He was rich in His person, for He is eternal God. He is rich in His possessions and in His position as King of kings and Lord of lords. He is rich in His power, for He can do anything. Yet, in spite of the fact that He had all these riches—and more—He became poor.
The tense of the verb indicates that it is His incarnation, His birth at Bethlehem, that is meant here. He united Himself to mankind and took on Himself a human body. He left the throne to become a servant. He laid aside all His possessions so that He did not even have a place to lay His head. His ultimate experience of poverty was when He was made sin for us on the cross. Hell is eternal poverty, and on the cross Jesus Christ became the poorest of the poor.
Why did He do it? That we might become rich! This suggests that we were poor before we met Jesus Christ, and we were—totally bankrupt. But now that we have trusted Him, we share in all of His riches! We are now the children of God, “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ” (Rom. 8:17). Since this is true, how can we refuse to give to others? He became poor to make us rich! Can we not follow His example, as did the Macedonian churches, who out of their deep poverty abounded in liberality? (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 656). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)
8:8–9. Paul, ever sensitive to the charge that he dominated the churches he founded (cf. 1:24), preferred that their motivation not stem from external commands (e.g., 8:7b). He wanted them to be motivated by their internal devotion (the sincerity of your love) to him and more importantly to the Lord. Could the Corinthians face being compared with the Macedonians in this regard? Or could they face being compared with their Lord, who is supremely worthy of emulation?
Few statements surpass verse 9 as a pithy summary of the gospel (cf. 5:21). From the splendor of heaven Christ came to the squalor of earth. The Incarnation was an incomprehensible renunciation of spiritual and material glory. The One who was rich, who had everything, became poor, making Himself nothing (Phil. 2:7). He assumed mankind’s debt of sin and paid for it with His life (Phil. 2:8). The Corinthians had directly benefited from His generosity (your and you are emphatic). He became what they were (poor) so that they could become what He was and is (rich). Therefore was a material offering to Him (cf. Matt. 25:34–40) too much to ask? (1 Cor. 9:11) (Lowery, D. K. (1985). 2 Corinthians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 573–574). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)
8:8 testing: Generosity is the natural result of sincere love.
8:9 The Corinthians did not need a command (v. 8), because the example of Christ taught them about sacrificial giving. He was rich: See John 17:5; Col. 1:16. He became poor: See Phil. 2:7, 8 for an eloquent description of all that Jesus gave up to come to this earth. You … might become rich refers to the spiritual riches that Jesus gives to all who place their trust in Him: He offers forgiveness, justification, regeneration, eternal life, and glorification. Jesus purchases us from slavery to sin and makes us children of God. He gives us the right and privilege to approach God with requests and praise. (Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 1505). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers)
8:8 not … as a command. Freewill giving is never according to obligation or command (see note on v. 3).
8:9 though He was rich. A reference to the eternality and pre-existence of Christ. As the second person of the Trinity, Christ is as rich as God is rich. He owns everything, and possesses all power, authority, sovereignty, glory, honor, and majesty (cf. Is 9:6; Mic 5:2; Jn 1:1; 8:58; 10:30; 17:5; Col 1:15–18; 2:9; Heb 1:3). He became poor. A reference to Christ’s incarnation (cf. Jn 1:14; Ro 1:3; 8:3; Gal 4:4; Col 1:20; 1Ti 3:16; Heb 2:7). He laid aside the independent exercise of all His divine prerogatives, left His place with God, took on human form, and died on a cross like a common criminal (Php 2:5–8). that you … might become rich. Believers become spiritually rich through the sacrifice and impoverishment of Christ (Php 2:5–8). They become rich in salvation, forgiveness, joy, peace, glory, honor, and majesty (cf. 1Co 1:4, 5; 3:22; Eph 1:3; 1Pe 1:3, 4). They become joint heirs with Christ (Ro 8:17). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (2 Co 8:8–9). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers)
“Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; how that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. Therefore, as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich. And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: as it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; and not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind: avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you. Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellow-helper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. Wherefore show ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf” (2 Cor. 8). (Ironside, H. A. (1939). Addresses on the Second epistle to the Corinthians (pp. 190–191). Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers)
Ver. 8. I speak not by commandment, &c.] Either of God, who has not fixed the certain times when, or certain sums which persons are to give, and other circumstances, which are left to discretion; but in general has signified it as his will, that those in necessity are to be relieved by such who are in ability to do it: or as an apostle, he did not speak in an imperious manner, extorting from them a collection, or laying his apostolical injunctions upon them to make one; he did not go about to force or oblige them to it, for men in such cases must act willingly, and what they do, must do of their own accord with cheerfulness, and not through constraint or grudgingly: but by occasion of the forwardness of others; or through carefulness for others; what moved the apostle to propose this matter to the Corinthians, and exhort them to it, were either the forwardness of the Macedonians, cheerfully contributing in the midst of their poverty, and their urgent solicitations that the same good work might go on elsewhere, or else the very great care and concern that he himself had for the poor saints at Jerusalem: it was not therefore to shew his apostolical authority, that he sent Titus to them to finish this service; but he was stirred up hereunto, partly by the bounty and solicitations of others, and partly by bowels of compassion within himself, and concern in his own mind for the poor saints; and also, as he adds, to prove the sincerity of your love; to God, to Christ, to his ministers, and to the saints, particularly the poor; that their love might appear to be true, genuine, hearty, and real to others, to all men as well as to them the apostles.
Ver. 9. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus, &c.] This is a new argument, and a very forcible one to engage to liberality, taken from the wonderful grace and love of Christ, displayed in his state of humiliation towards his people; which is well known to all them that have truly believed in Christ; of this they are not and cannot be ignorant, his love, good will, and favour are so manifest; there are such glaring proofs of it in his incarnation, sufferings, and death, that leave no room for any to doubt of it: that though he was rich; in the perfections of his divine nature, having the fulness of the Godhead in him, all that the father has. and so equal to him; such as eternity, immutability, infinity and immensity, omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence, &c. in the works of his hands, which reach to every thing that is made, the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all that in them are, things visible and invisible; in his universal empire and dominion over all creatures; and in those large revenues of glory, which are due to him from them all; which riches of his are underived from another, incommunicable to another, and can’t be lost: yet for your sakes he became poor; by assuming human nature, with all its weaknesses and imperfections excepting sin; he appeared in it not as a lord, but in the form of a servant; he endured in it a great deal of reproach and shame, and at last death itself; not that by becoming man he ceased to be God, or lost his divine perfections, though these were much hid and covered from the view of man; and in his human nature he became the reverse of what he is in his divine nature, namely, finite and circumscriptible, weak and infirm, ignorant of some things, and mortal; in which nature also he was exposed to much meanness and outward poverty; he was born of poor parents, had no liberal education, was brought up to a trade, had not where to lay his head, was ministered to by others of their substance, and had nothing to bequeath his mother at his death but commits her to the care of one of his disciples; all which fulfilled the prophecies of him, that he should be דל and עני, poor and low, Psal. 41:1; Zech. 9:9, The persons for whom he became so, were not the angels, but elect men; who were sinners and ungodly persons, and were thereby become bankrupts and beggars: the end for which he became poor for them was, that they through his poverty might be rich; not in temporals, but in spirituals; and by his obedience, sufferings, and death in his low estate, he has paid all their debts, wrought out a robe of righteousness, rich and adorned with jewels, with which he clothes them, and through his blood and sacrifice has male them kings and priests unto God. They are enriched by him with the graces of his spirit; with the truths of the Gospel, comparable to gold, silver, and precious stones; with himself and all that he has; with the riches of grace here, and of glory hereafter. These are communicable from him, though unsearchable, and are solid and substantial, satisfying, lasting, and for ever. Now if this grace of Christ will not engage to liberality with cheerfulness, nothing will. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 2, pp. 808–809). London: Mathews and Leigh)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
BY BARBARA RAINEY
Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment. JOHN 7:24
It’s so easy for a woman to look at her husband and say:
“He’s sure not very _______.”
“He doesn’t _______ or _______ or ________.”
“I wish I was married to someone more like ________.”
But every time you say or even think something along these lines—every time you focus on those inevitable aspects about him that are disappointing or negative—you catch him in a comparison trap. You forget that God has a plan for your man that is different from the one He has for somebody else’s husband. You ignore the fact that your job is to respect him, to be used by God to help reveal that plan in his life, whatever it may be.
When I married Dennis, I had no idea we would end up doing the kinds of things God has led us to do. It hasn’t always been easy to have Dennis Rainey for a husband. It would have been so easy at times to settle back and say, “I wish he was more like so-and-so,” rather than being content with the one God had given me and helping him develop into the man God wanted him to be. There are so many things that Dennis does well. There are a lot of things he doesn’t. But when I’m lasering in on those things he doesn’t do quite so well, I’m expecting him to be someone he’s not. No, he’s not perfect. Neither am I. Nobody is. But I believe that God can change your heart as He does mine when I slip into seeing only the imperfections. The key is recognizing what you are looking at in his life and being willing to let God adjust your focus from the negative to the positive.
Deuteronomy 4
Moses appeals to the Israelites to live a life of faithful obedience to God.
INSIGHT
Thomas Jefferson once said, “The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.” If true politically, how much more so spiritually. “Take heed,” Moses says three times in chapter 4. First, take heed and keep your soul diligently. Second, take heed that you not worship idols. Third, take heed that you not forget the covenant the Lord made with you.
These are all dangers for us today. How easily we get careless about the welfare of our souls. How easily we worship modern idols. How easily we forget the promises of the Lord. We, too, must take heed. The price of our spiritual strength is eternal vigilance.
(Quiet Walk)
Unimaginable
Though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Psalm 23:4
Bart Millard penned a megahit in 2001 when he wrote, “I Can Only Imagine.” The song pictures how amazing it will be to be in Christ’s presence. Millard’s lyrics offered comfort to our family that next year when our seventeen-year-old daughter, Melissa, died in a car accident and we imagined what it was like for her to be in God’s presence.
But imagine spoke to me in a different way in the days following Mell’s death. As fathers of Melissa’s friends approached me, full of concern and pain, they said, “I can’t imagine what you’re going through.”
Their expressions were helpful, showing that they were grappling with our loss in an empathetic way—finding it unimaginable.
David pinpointed the depth of great loss when he described walking through “the darkest valley” (Psalm 23:4). The death of a loved one certainly is that, and we sometimes have no idea how we’re going to navigate the darkness. We can’t imagine ever being able to come out on the other side.
But as God promised to be with us in our darkest valley now, He also provides great hope for the future by assuring us that beyond the valley we’ll be in His presence. For the believer, to be “away from the body” means being present with Him (2 Corinthians 5:8). That can help us navigate the unimaginable as we imagine our future reunion with Him and others. (By Dave Branon, Our Daily Bread)
Often the most effective board members are nto the ones who are leaders in the secular world but the ranch hands, the blue-collar workers, the carpenters – the average individuals who manifest a deep love for Christ, a commitment to and knowledge of God’s Word, and a reliance upon the Holy Spirit for guidance and direction.
(p.11, Developing Leaders for the Small Church by Glenn C. Daman)
WHAT WE COULD NOT DO FOR OURSELVES
I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. John 17:4
The work of salvation was something that Christ Himself had to do, and He could therefore speak of it as being done. “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” Now I want to put that in the form of a negative like this: The Lord Jesus Christ did not come into this world to tell us what we have to do; He came Himself to do something for us that we could never do for ourselves. These negatives are all so essential, because there are people who believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, but if you ask them what He came into this world to do, their answer will be that He came to tell us what we must do ourselves. Or they talk about good works and say that if we do this or that, we will make ourselves Christian and make ourselves right with God. No! Our Lord says here, “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”
The truth that we have to take hold of is that which is emphasized here, and the best way to understand it is to consider what it was He did, and, too, what He was doing beforehand. He came to do certain things Himself, and we are saved by what Christ has done for us, and not by what He tells us to do. The work of salvation is His work and His doing, and He came specifically to do it; and here, in these words, He looks ahead, as it were, to His death on the cross, as well as back to what He has already done. Under the shadow of the cross, he reviews the whole work, and He is able to say, “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” “I have completed it.” So a very good way of testing whether we have a right or wrong way of looking at salvation is to ask ourselves whether we see Christian salvation as something that is exclusively and entirely the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A Thought to Ponder: Christ came to do something for us that we could never do for ourselves. (From Saved in Eternity, pp. 100-101, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Lively Hope
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3)
This verse contains several enlightening words:
Blessed: The word in Greek means to be well spoken of, or praised. According to: This does not say that we are blessed according to the extent of His mercy, but rather that He was impelled by His “abundant mercy” to save us.
Begotten: A child is begotten of parents and is of the same nature as its parents. We are begotten into God’s family by the work of Christ. Again: There are two possible concepts that are attached to the term “born again”—born “the second time,” or born “from above.” In our text, the term used is literally born “the second time,” but the Father mentioned is God. We are indeed born “the second time,” and that “from above.”
Lively: The word is in the form of a verbal adjective, having all the descriptive power of an adjective and all the active power of a verb. A “lively” hope is more than a hope that is living; it is actively alive. Hope: We hope, not in the sense of desiring something to come to pass, but in the confident assurance of something that certainly shall come to pass. We may “lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast” (Hebrews 6:18-19). We shall follow Christ in life everlasting.
Resurrection: It may seem strange to think we are born again “by the resurrection,” but this was the instrument God used to bring about His purpose. In a real sense, Christ was “born again” with a glorified body when He arose from the dead. Since He is “the firstborn from the dead” (Colossians 1:18), many will follow, “that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29).
(JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
Visit our Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.