“We want you to know about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.
“I say this… to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 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 by his poverty might become rich. And… this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.” 2 Corinthians 8:1-12
Grace is an ongoing theme in Paul’s letters to the churches. Woven through his own life and ministry as its subject, object, and power, the very word peppered through his vocabulary, grace compelled the work of Christ in the churches as they were established and grew. One of the specific works for which they’d been saved by grace was to give generously to support the churches. Grace by nature was a lavish gift, so those transformed by it should naturally practice its outflow as Jesus did, giving His all. (Luke 6:38; Romans 12:8; Ephesians 2:8-10)
If we know Jesus and are thoughtful, we will be able to trace the indelible mark of His grace along our journey and understand how it has instructed and formed us going forward. When we consider the cost to our Savior in applying grace to us, we cannot help but be grateful. In what ways am I honoring Christ and paying it forward by specific sacrificial obedience, by extending grace when it’s difficult, by giving generously?
Any kindness- thought or act- is borne of God’s grace acting in us. While certain kindnesses may come easily: patient listening, jumping in to fix a problem or serve in some practical capacity, others require a special dose of grace. To meet financial vacancy, sometimes the Spirit breaks open our greed and sense of needed security to compel us to give. How willing are we to concede? How can the measure of God’s grace to us in Christ, to pay our impossible debt and supply our deepest needs, inform and define our open-handedness to others? He is always more than sufficient. (2 Corinthians 8:15; 9:8-10; 12:9)
Lord, compel me to lavish giving out of undying gratitude for Your extravagant grace.
As the rain and snow 