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Tag Archives: 2 corinthians 9

Here. I love to……

Here. I love to……

2 Corinthians 9:6-8   But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

“OoooK; I will give it up if I must. I mean that is what God wants me to do right?” I think we could agree that is not the sound of a cheerful giver, but of one doing what they feel is right, grudgingly. We all have been in that situation of giving a material possession, or invested time in something that we knew we should, but we reeeally didn’t want to. Although it is a ‘good deed’ it is not one that we should expect God to bless. Cheerfulness comes from the heart, and a heart that is in tune with God expels His love cheerfully in outward expressions of that love by giving. This cheerful heart is the one God approves. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

John MacArhur wrote, “While it is possible to give without loving, it is not possible to love with out giving. God gives His Son to all believers, but as previously noted, He blesses in a unique way generous, cheerful givers. In fact, He blesses such believers on such a grand, immense, staggering scale that it beggars language to express it.” 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.  God knows your heart, so He knows why you do what you do. A heart that is after Gods, is a heart that loves to invest freely in gifts and time to draw glory to God, and none to self. The greatest gifts are those done anonymously seeking none for self, but all for His glory.

 
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Posted by on June 27, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Even that?

Even that?

Philemon 1:4-7   I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

Yesterday I was sharing my love for God with a customer. He is a brother in Christ and we were just having a great talk. But the reason we started talking was the prompting of the Holy Spirit to do so. When you feel those nudges inside to share your faith, do you respond or immediately begin to argue why this is not the time? Many times we get scared or “cold feet” when we feel led to share out faith. But we are actually saddening the Spirit that lives inside us, for He seeks to edify and share Himself with others. Ephesians 4:29-30 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Christ told the disciples in Matthew 4:19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” This was and is not accomplished by remaining silent.

God can use you in ways you don’t realize, understand, or maybe even conscious of. In Philemon Paul was making a plea to him regarding someone whom had wronged Philemon. Paul was also edifying him for he knew of his love for God and even had a local church meeting at his house. Paul was pleading for forgiveness for the one who had sinned against Philemon. When we speak with someone it should always reflect the love that Christ has instilled in us. These are accomplished through our deeds also. In 2 Corinthians 9:8-15  Paul is speaking of giving to the poor and sharing Christ with them in doing so; how the sharing of our faith through deeds all brings glory to Him. But it is accomplished in our daily routines of life also. Those every day meaningless tasks that occupy time can are even used by God to draw those surrounding you to Him. Nothing is wasted in every breath of your life if you live to glorify Christ. This life in pursuit of Him will not grieve, but please Him that lives within you.

 
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Posted by on April 11, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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