Daily Bread 3-24-18
2 Corinthians 8:7-9
7 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.
8 I speak not by commandment, but by the occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
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.
ref. - 1 Co 1:5 - That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge.
Pr 22:9 - He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
2 Co 9:8 - And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
Mt 8:20 - And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
Ph 2:6,7 - Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.
In all of the things that we look for from God, there is one thing that we forget more than not. This is why we have this scripture to remind us. The Apostle Paul was reminding the Corinthians that while they were flourishing spiritually and receiving great gifts from God that they should never forget that his grace must also be in them. This could not be more true today. We must remember that the one who knew it all did not put himself on a throne but rather put himself among all people as a common man. He did not puff up because God's grace was in him. This generation has forgotten grace, unless we are the recipient of it, and we have forgotten the fear of God, unless we are in trouble. But today we will discuss this grace and the fear will be for another lesson. The grace of God is when Christ did things that put him out there past the accomplishments of ordinary men. He was performing miracles for people who were not to be the recipients of God's mercy, and he even was strong enough to turn away his own to help others. He knew how everything worked and he was very powerful but he was not sent down here to lead, he was sent down here to be an example. In his examples it made him a leader but he was not glorified until he was gone. And this was his purpose, to show us the way, and to show us how God could work in a common man. That being if that man remained faithful and obedient to the will of God. Today, we live in a society that says the more than we have, the less that others should have. It is a "he who dies with the most possessions wins" kind of world. But in Christ, the more that we have, the more that we should give. Now realize that he is speaking about Spiritual riches as well as monetary. As we know, the more we know the more we are responsible for. But if we are given many gifts from God it is for us to become profitable to him. We are not God's safe place to store his gifts, we are to work these gifts and lead others to receive as much or more than we have received. We are to give even more than we think that we can, knowing that this is when God will be in it for us and his power will be manifest in us. We are to become poor so that others may be rich. We are to retain the attitude and humility that we are not capable of anything Spiritual but with God in us we can do anything. We are to suffer so that others can prosper. Our examples of how to handle good or bad things should be an example of how God can deliver us through things. This way those who do not know him will find a desire to come to know him through Christ. So, why do bad things happen to good people? He uses many of us to show those in darkness how to get out and those that are in valleys how to climb the mountain or to make it disappear. He used Christ to be in the stickiest of situations and yet remain faithful even through suffering and pain, hunger and famine. He remained faithful and true to his Father. Others would have given in to the temptations of the enemy but he did not. So, you see, the best person on the earth went through the toughest things that it had to offer so that we could see the way. Now, as we are given special gifts and opportunities we must not look at the bad things that we go through, or how much we have to suffer, or how much others are talking about it........etc. We must take on the grace and mercy that is in Christ and remain faithful, steady, and true to our Father. We must endure the sufferings of this world while using our talents that God has given us to defeat the enemy. We must become poor so that others, one day can see how God can deliver anyone from anything if they remain faithful. These gifts are not trophies to put on a mantle, but weapons formed to fend off the wiles of the devil and to show the world that, In Christ we can do all things!!! Our God reigns!! And he is for all who will come to him in humility and in truth!!! Be honest!! Be faithful!! Be blessed!!! Have a great day!!!!