From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>
To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"
Sent: Thu, Mar 10, 2022 at 6:10 AM
Subject: 3-10-22 THOUGHTS
3-10-22 THOUGHTS
It’s a lesson on giving. It’s an example of giving. It’s a GREAT LIFE lesson. FIRST they gave themselves to the Lord, and they then could have the desire to give...to help. From a state of their own affliction, they begged to give even beyond their ability. Love and grace describe their hearts. They are encouraged to get the job done, thus proving their earnestness and the sincerity of their love. The awesome example of Jesus giving himself for us is appealed to. “He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” There’s a way of life presented here. It is the way of love!
2Cor 8:1-15 Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, 2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. 3 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, 4 begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, 5 and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. 6 So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well. 7 But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also. 8 I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 10 I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. 11 But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability. 12 For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality — 14 at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality; 15 as it is written, "HE WHO gathered MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, AND HE WHO gathered LITTLE HAD NO LACK."
This language in verse 15 above refers to the gathering of the manna in Exodus 16:18.
1John 4:8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
My Prayer:
Teach us, O God, to rejoice in love and in giving. Cause us to know that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Take this, O Lord, beyond our money and into all of our heart, soul and mind. May we always consider Your liberality toward us. May we continually reflect on Your grace and mercy and love and forgiveness, in Christ Jesus We hope, because You gave in love. In the name of Jesus, Amen.