II Corinthians 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed" (NASB).
Let's read that again. "God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed." Can you "get by" on less, so you can do more for others, in God's work? Oh, how God will bless, when you say "yes"!
My sweet pastor's wife told a true story, at a get-together of the wives of our church's elders and deacons. I wish I had the specific details (names, places, etc.), but I don't. As best as I can remember, I will relate this true story.
A single woman wanted to give to missions, as the need was great. She felt very discouraged, because she cleaned houses for a living and, so, did not make very much money. However, she was a tither and told God that she would give what she could (beyond her tithe) to missions. She was faithful in her giving, and soon the Lord blessed in that she was given another house to clean. She responded by increasing her tithe and giving to missions. Soon, the Lord blessed in that she was given a raise. She responded by giving more.
Some years went by, and this woman faithfully served God with her tithe and offerings. No one, except the church treasurer, surely, knew about her giving. One day, a missionary that the church helped support came to the church. This missionary said to the pastor, "I want to meet the woman who has given [X number of dollars] to my ministry." The amount stunned the pastor, so he said, "You must be mistaken. We have no one in our church wealthy enough to have given that amount!"
The missionary, looking puzzled, said, "Her name is [so and so]." Surprised, and with a voice that bespoke his awe, the pastor called for the woman to come forward. The woman and the missionary embraced, tearfully.
You may not think that you have "enough" to give, and maybe you're right, but I'm here to tell you that if you give to God and His Work, "God can give you all you need. He will give you more than enough. You will have everything you need for yourself. And you will have enough left over to give when there is a need" (II Cor. 9:8, NLV).
What this has to do with weight loss: When I'm struggling in my own weight-loss journey, I feel so inadequate, like I have nothing to give to anyone. If perfection is required, in order to truly "pay it forward," then I have nothing to give. However, if perfection is not required--and I don't think it is--then I can at least encourage others. When I am in need, it comforts and helps me to encourage others in need. Even if you need for others to reach out to you, don't wait for that. You do the reaching out, and the Lord will see to your needs.
Confession:
I am a giver. God gives me all I need and more, so I can give more.
Showing posts with label II Cor. 9:8. Show all posts
Showing posts with label II Cor. 9:8. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Life Plan Devotion #141 [Grace abounds]
II Corinthians 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed" (NASB).
We have been looking at the Kingdom principle of sowing and reaping. We have learned that our harvest is in proportion to the amount of seed we sow. We have learned that giving is truly a "matter of the heart," and must be done thoughtfully, prayerfully, and decisively.
Verse 8 of II Corinthians chapter 9 begins a section in which God, through Paul, shows us who benefits from giving. First of all, the giver benefits. When you give, God responds!
"God is able to make all grace abound to you" (v. 8a). Rejoice that "God is able"! The Greek word for "able" is dunatos (doo-nat-os’), which means "powerful or capable." What is God capable of doing (at least in this one context?) "God is able to make all grace abound to you."
The Greek word for "grace" is charis (khar'-ece), which means "the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in life:--benefit, favor, gift." The Greek word for "abound" is perisseuo (per-is-syoo'-o), which means to "superabound (in quantity or quality), be in excess, be superfluous; to cause to superabound or excel:--make, have, be more, enough and to spare."
If you are a giver, you will benefit by God's divine favor on your life. It's not that you "earn" that by giving, but it is how God responds. All the favor, all the benefits, all the gifts of God is available to the giver. Even though we give, it's all still unmerited favor.
While God blesses us in many ways, physically and spiritually, it is clear (by the context) that God blesses givers in a material way. God gives, so we can give more. We are blessed to be a blessing.
II Corinthians 8:2-5 [NIRV]
"In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord's people. And they went beyond our expectations; having given themselves first of all to the Lord, they gave themselves by the will of God also to us."
What this has to do with weight loss: I don't know about you, but when I'm in a trial, especially a weight-loss journey trial, I become very introspective and can isolate myself. It's as if I think that if I focus on the trial or problem, I'll be able to climb my way out or come up with the answer. That seldom works. If I focus on others, however, looking for ways I can bless someone else, even when I think I have very little to give, I am able to experience relief in my trial. If you are smack dab in the middle of a trial, look to God and then look for ways to bless others. God will honor that, and He will bless and help you.
Confession:
I am a giver. I am blessed to be a blessing.
We have been looking at the Kingdom principle of sowing and reaping. We have learned that our harvest is in proportion to the amount of seed we sow. We have learned that giving is truly a "matter of the heart," and must be done thoughtfully, prayerfully, and decisively.
Verse 8 of II Corinthians chapter 9 begins a section in which God, through Paul, shows us who benefits from giving. First of all, the giver benefits. When you give, God responds!
"God is able to make all grace abound to you" (v. 8a). Rejoice that "God is able"! The Greek word for "able" is dunatos (doo-nat-os’), which means "powerful or capable." What is God capable of doing (at least in this one context?) "God is able to make all grace abound to you."
The Greek word for "grace" is charis (khar'-ece), which means "the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in life:--benefit, favor, gift." The Greek word for "abound" is perisseuo (per-is-syoo'-o), which means to "superabound (in quantity or quality), be in excess, be superfluous; to cause to superabound or excel:--make, have, be more, enough and to spare."
If you are a giver, you will benefit by God's divine favor on your life. It's not that you "earn" that by giving, but it is how God responds. All the favor, all the benefits, all the gifts of God is available to the giver. Even though we give, it's all still unmerited favor.
While God blesses us in many ways, physically and spiritually, it is clear (by the context) that God blesses givers in a material way. God gives, so we can give more. We are blessed to be a blessing.
II Corinthians 8:2-5 [NIRV]
"In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord's people. And they went beyond our expectations; having given themselves first of all to the Lord, they gave themselves by the will of God also to us."
What this has to do with weight loss: I don't know about you, but when I'm in a trial, especially a weight-loss journey trial, I become very introspective and can isolate myself. It's as if I think that if I focus on the trial or problem, I'll be able to climb my way out or come up with the answer. That seldom works. If I focus on others, however, looking for ways I can bless someone else, even when I think I have very little to give, I am able to experience relief in my trial. If you are smack dab in the middle of a trial, look to God and then look for ways to bless others. God will honor that, and He will bless and help you.
Confession:
I am a giver. I am blessed to be a blessing.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Life Plan Devotion #98 [God's Armor--Helmet of Salvation, Part XVI]
We have looked at 4 of the top 5 most common fears used by Satan, to try to discourage and defeat you, the believer: the fear of want/lack, the fear of peril/danger, the fear of sickness/disease, and the fear of death/dying. Today, let's look at the fifth and final most common fear used by Satan, the fear of powerlessness/helplessness.
If you have ever felt like a victim of circumstances or had thoughts similar to, "Poor thing. Everything bad happens to you. It's just one thing after another, and you're powerless to change it," you've experienced the whispers of the enemy, to try to get you to fear that you are powerless or helpless.
The apostle Paul, when he sought help from the Lord 3 times for a "thorn in the flesh...a messenger of Satan sent to buffet [him]" to be removed from him (II Corinthians 12:7), the Lord said to Paul, "'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness'" (II Corinthians 12:9a). Paul understood that there is purpose in supposed weakness, "so that Christ's power may rest on me," and he even went so far as to say, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses" and "That is why, for Christ's sake I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties." How could that be? Paul sums it up by saying, "For when I am weak, then I am strong." (II Corinthians 12:9b-10)
Paul experienced something that God wants each believer to experience, that though Satan "meant it for evil, God meant it for good" (Genesis 50:20). Satan had been going crazy, ever since his right-hand man, Saul, the one who had imprisoned and caused to be killed more believers than any one person, had himself come to know Jesus, so much so that God changed his name from Saul (which means "asked for") to Paul (which means "small" or "humble"). Satan wanted Saul back, so he tried over and over to put fear of powerlessness/helplessness on Paul, hoping that Paul would revert to his old Saul (and sin) nature. But it didn't work, because Paul knew the power of God's grace, not to "put up with" but to "conquer all."
Paul said to the Corinthians, and God says to you today, that He (God) "is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" (II Corinthians 9:8). In what things? In all things. When? At all times. How much will God give you, of what you need? All that you need. How much grace will you experience? All grace. Why fear that you are powerless or helpless? You shouldn't, for you, as a true believer, are anything but powerless, far from being helpless.
Philippians 4:13 [Amplified]
"I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]."
What this has to do with weight loss: How many times, on the weight-loss journey, have you asked yourself, "Can I really do this?" For the believer who realizes who he/she is in Christ, the answer is a resounding YES, not because the believer has personal strength or fortitude, but because his/her Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, is El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient One. When you feel weak in your ability, and find yourself giving in to the fear that you are powerless and helpless, remember that you "have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers [you]."
Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, Satan wants me to fear that I am powerless and helpless, and sometimes it's true. During those times, help me to know that when I'm weak, I'm really strong in You. On my own, I can't do it, but in You, there's nothing I can't do! I praise You for that, and I pray that I'll live it out. In Jesus' Name. Amen."
Go forth today, choosing the power of God over the fear of powerlessness.
If you have ever felt like a victim of circumstances or had thoughts similar to, "Poor thing. Everything bad happens to you. It's just one thing after another, and you're powerless to change it," you've experienced the whispers of the enemy, to try to get you to fear that you are powerless or helpless.
The apostle Paul, when he sought help from the Lord 3 times for a "thorn in the flesh...a messenger of Satan sent to buffet [him]" to be removed from him (II Corinthians 12:7), the Lord said to Paul, "'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness'" (II Corinthians 12:9a). Paul understood that there is purpose in supposed weakness, "so that Christ's power may rest on me," and he even went so far as to say, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses" and "That is why, for Christ's sake I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties." How could that be? Paul sums it up by saying, "For when I am weak, then I am strong." (II Corinthians 12:9b-10)
Paul experienced something that God wants each believer to experience, that though Satan "meant it for evil, God meant it for good" (Genesis 50:20). Satan had been going crazy, ever since his right-hand man, Saul, the one who had imprisoned and caused to be killed more believers than any one person, had himself come to know Jesus, so much so that God changed his name from Saul (which means "asked for") to Paul (which means "small" or "humble"). Satan wanted Saul back, so he tried over and over to put fear of powerlessness/helplessness on Paul, hoping that Paul would revert to his old Saul (and sin) nature. But it didn't work, because Paul knew the power of God's grace, not to "put up with" but to "conquer all."
Paul said to the Corinthians, and God says to you today, that He (God) "is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" (II Corinthians 9:8). In what things? In all things. When? At all times. How much will God give you, of what you need? All that you need. How much grace will you experience? All grace. Why fear that you are powerless or helpless? You shouldn't, for you, as a true believer, are anything but powerless, far from being helpless.
Philippians 4:13 [Amplified]
"I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]."
What this has to do with weight loss: How many times, on the weight-loss journey, have you asked yourself, "Can I really do this?" For the believer who realizes who he/she is in Christ, the answer is a resounding YES, not because the believer has personal strength or fortitude, but because his/her Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, is El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient One. When you feel weak in your ability, and find yourself giving in to the fear that you are powerless and helpless, remember that you "have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers [you]."
Prayer for Today:
"Heavenly Father, Satan wants me to fear that I am powerless and helpless, and sometimes it's true. During those times, help me to know that when I'm weak, I'm really strong in You. On my own, I can't do it, but in You, there's nothing I can't do! I praise You for that, and I pray that I'll live it out. In Jesus' Name. Amen."
Go forth today, choosing the power of God over the fear of powerlessness.
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