email : Webview : Duane Brooks - Every Day with Jesus

October 29, 2021

2 Corinthians 8:1-5

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 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 exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.

New International Version (NIV)

How do we account for generosity? Osceola McCarty gave six figures to a school in Mississippi. How did she earn and save that much money? Osceola was a washerwoman who took in laundry and washed it for others. Amazing!

The Christians in the first church in Jerusalem were suffering from poverty. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth to ask them to participate in an offering to help these believers. In his appeal he reminds them of the generosity of the believers to their north in Macedonia. They gave more than they could spare to help people they had never met. Amazing!

The Macedonian generosity informs our giving to this day. Their giving was a response to and evidence of God's grace. In a time of extreme need in the world, they responded by giving generously. They gave themselves to the Lord first and then shared generously with others. Where did they learn grace? From Jesus! Though he was rich he became poor so that through his poverty we might become rich toward God and generous to others.

Grace is like manna. If we try to hoard it, it can go bad. The surprising equation of grace looks like this: overflowing joy+extreme poverty=rich generosity. Amazing grace! Are we amazed?

Pray with me:
Our Most Gracious Heavenly Father, thank you for your perfect gift of love. Help us to share your goodness with others today. Make us conduits of your grace overflowing into the lives of others. In Jesus' name. Amen!

Scripture memorization for this week:

Romans 1:16-17

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith."

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

New International Version (NIV)

Our 2021 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations Bible reading plan. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy here:

2021 Reading Plan

We would love for you to join us as we read through the Bible in one year, while still having the flexibility of reading 5 days per week. In addition, I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year. We will also memorize 2 scriptures each week. As we journal together this year, Robby Gallaty’s H.E.A.R. plan is a good resource: Highlight a verse that stands out to you, Explain what it means, Apply that truth to your life and Respond to what you’ve read with an action or prayer.

Joyfully,
Duane

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Houston, TX | 77024 US

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