Monday Devo
Scripture:
2 Corinthians 8
Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.
Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.
Commentary:
8:1 the grace of God … given among the churches of Macedonia. A reference to the generosity of the churches in the region of Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea (see Acts 16:9–17:15; 18:5; 19:21–22, 29; 20:1–4; 27:2). Here and throughout 2 Corinthians 8–9 Paul calls the collection an act of “grace” because contributing to the needs of others is made possible by God’s undeserved gifts in their lives (8:1, 4, 6–7, 19; 9:14–15; see also 8:9; 9:8).
8:2–5 God’s grace was manifested in that the Macedonians gave even though they were poor. not as we expected. What surprised Paul was that the Macedonians also gave themselves first to the Lord (a recommitment of their lives) and then … to us; they offered not only money but also any other personal help they could give to Paul.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2233.
8:2–5 God’s grace was manifested in that the Macedonians gave even though they were poor. not as we expected. What surprised Paul was that the Macedonians also gave themselves first to the Lord (a recommitment of their lives) and then … to us; they offered not only money but also any other personal help they could give to Paul.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2233.
Questions:
- At The City, we don't talk much about money. We don't pass an offering plate. We don't beg from the stage every Sunday. But we will, occasionally, challenge our church family to be radically generous with all that God has given them. What was your experience growing up with churches and money? What has been your relationship with giving since you've been following Jesus?
- Many times we can let past negative experiences and church hurt distort our view of what God calls us to be as the Church. Greed and manipulation of certain Christian leaders have made some skeptical of giving money to ministries, even though Scripture clearly teaches that we should be generous to our local church and to each other. Have you had negative experiences like these in the past? Do you carry any resentment or scars from these hurts? If so, spend some time asking God to heal your heart and renew your mind.
Pray:
- That God would reveal any church hurt in you.
- That He would heal your heart and renew your love for His Church.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
6. Is the Bible God’s Word? Jesus proved He is God by rising from the dead and said the Old Testament was God’s Word and gave authority to the Apostles to write the words of the New Testament, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so that all the words of the Bible are God’s Word.
(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)
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