In 2 Corinthians 9:8, Paul reminded the congregation that
"God is able to make all grace abound toward you".
God has not changed and this is still true today.
Isaiah 25:1-26:21
God loves His people! (In Daniel 9:23, we read that Gabriel touched Daniel "about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed (him), and talked with (him), and said, 'O Daniel, I am now come forth to give you skill and understanding. At the beginning of your supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show you; for you are greatly beloved".) As God's people we may go through periods of suffering, however God's mercy toward us will always prevail. Isaiah 25:3, "Therefore the strong people will glorify you". God assures us that "the song of the terrible ones will be diminished" (v.5). At the time of Messiah's reign the Lord will make a feast for all people "and He will destroy on this mountain the surface of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations". It gets even better, "He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces; the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; for the Lord has spoken" (v.6-8).
Chapter 26, begins with the familiar phrase, "in that day"--the time of Christ's return and reign "this song will be sung in the land of Judah". Just a few highlights from that song:
"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You" (v.3)
"O Lord, we have waited for You; the desire of our soul is for Your name . . .With my soul I have desired You in the night, yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early" (v. 8, 9).
"Lord, You will establish peace for us, for You have also done all our works in us" (v.12).
"Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead" (v.19).
"Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past" (v.20).
Psalm 107:23-32
God is deserving of our praise in many areas! Here, attention is focused on the power of the sea. "Those who go down to the sea. . .they see the works of the Lord and His wonders in the deep" (v.23-24). The Psalmist writes about an experience on rough seas--"(the waves) mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths; their soul melts because of trouble. . .they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, so that its waves are quiet. So He guides them to their desired haven" (v.26-30). Nothing is sweeter than the relief we feel following a close call and when we realize we are safe (at least for the time being)! "Oh that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, and praise Him in the company of the elders" (v. 31-32). (How often and how fervently do I really praise God?)
Proverbs 25:18-19
Telling a lie against our neighbor is like going after him with "a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow". All these weapons can injure or kill, just as a lie can also destroy a person. It is a blessing to be able to fully place our confidence in someone--to be able to trust them. Solomon writes here that "Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint".
2 Corinthians 9:1-15
Paul addresses "ministering to the saints" and leaves us with words that are "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16). Paul wanted to make sure their "generous gift" was going to "be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation". He pointed out several truths regarding the subject of giving: "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 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". Paul ends by thanking God "for His indescribable gift". Dr. Stanley writes, "The only reason we have the privilege of giving is that God already gave far more". God does love His people and He desires that we enjoy the blessings that come when we give generously and cheerfully to others--not grudgingly or because we feel we have to do so.
The passages we read daily call our attention to certain areas of our lives that need addressing. Today, I am reminded to consider the depth of God's love for me--to understand that I am also "greatly beloved" of God and that God has tremendous things planned for me as His daughter. I am also left with the question, do I praise God with all my heart as well as frequently? Proverbs leads me to ask whether my lips always speak the truth and whether my reputation is one of dependability and faithfulness. Yet the area that cries out for attention most has to do with the subject of giving. I want to return to this passage in 2 Corinthians and prayerfully examine my giving habits, my motivations, and my attitude. Jesus said in John 10:10, that He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. I am confident that He will help me come to the place where my giving meets the criteria that Paul set out here, leading me to be more thankful, more generous, and more blessed by God!
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