Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from Wordaction of The Global Church of the Nazarene Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States "Grace of Giving" by Harold Wedel for Wednesday, 20 July 2016 with Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:1-15

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from Wordaction of The Global Church of the Nazarene Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States "Grace of Giving" by Harold Wedel for Wednesday, 20 July 2016 with Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:1-15
-------
"Grace of Giving" by Harold Wedel
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 8:1 Now, brothers, we must tell you about the grace God has given the congregations in Macedonia. 2 Despite severe trials, and even though they are desperately poor, their joy has overflowed in a wealth of generosity. 3 I tell you they have not merely given according to their means, but of their own free will they have given beyond their means. 4 They begged and pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service for God’s people. 5 Also, they didn’t do this in the way we had expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord, which means, by God’s will, to us.
6 All this has led us to urge Titus to bring this same gracious gift to completion among you, since he has already made a beginning of it. 7 Just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in diligence of every kind, and in your love for us — see that you excel in this gift too. 8 I am not issuing an order; rather, I am testing the genuineness of your love against the diligence of others. 9 For you know how generous our Lord Yeshua the Messiah was — for your sakes he impoverished himself, even though he was rich, so that he might make you rich by means of his poverty. 10 As I say, in regard to this matter I am only giving an opinion. A year ago you were not only the first to take action but the first to want to do so. Now it would be to your advantage 11 to finish what you started, so that your eagerness in wanting to commence the project may be matched by your eagerness to complete it, as you contribute from what you have. 12 For if the eagerness to give is there, the acceptability of the gift will be measured by what you have, not by what you don’t have. 13 It is not that relief for others should cause trouble for you, but that there should be a kind of reciprocity: 14 at present your abundance can help those in need; so that when you are in need, their abundance can help you — thus there is reciprocity. 15 It is as the Tanakh says,
“He who gathered much had nothing extra,
and he who gathered little had nothing lacking.”[2 Corinthians 8:15 Exodus 16:18]
-------
Hymn for Today: "He Giveth More Grace" by Annie Johnson Flint copyright 1941, renewed 1969 by Lillenas Publishing Company.
1. He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials He multiplies peace. 
2. When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun. 
3. Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear. 
4. His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.
-------
Recently, someone posted on Facebook an illustration demonstrating the joy of being generous. They explained that giving something willingly and happily without expecting anything in return is generosity, whether you are donating money to an organization you believe in or you are giving time to a friend in need. In essence, generosity is the sincere desire to make others’ lives easier and more pleasant.
Generosity is not determined by what you have, what you can get, or even your current circumstances. Giving comes from the heart.   The Apostle Paul reported how the Macedonian churches recognized a need and wanted to help, but they lacked resources and their circumstances were against them (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). What made the essential difference in their ability to be generous? They trusted God, so they gave.
When you are in Divine partnership with the Heavenly Father, even the widow’s mite becomes sacrificial giving. Trust God enough to give beyond your ability. It is called, the Grace of Giving.
-------
Thought of the Day: Luke 6:38 Give,
    and you will receive gifts —
the full measure, compacted, shaken together and overflowing, will be put right in your lap. For the measure with which you measure out will be used to measure back to you!”
-------
Please Pray: For the development of Christian leaders in Namibia.
---------------------