25 Oct November 16th Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S SECOND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

RICH GENEROSITY — GRACE OF GIVING – PART II

2 Corinthians 8:8-9 “I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 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 through his poverty might become rich.”

In today’s devotional verses, St. Paul continues his discussion of the grace of giving.  In these two verses he draws your attention to the priceless gift given by Jesus of His life on Calvary’s cross for your salvation.  “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 through His poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Jesus’ gift of His very life in your behalf in order for you to have a life that will never end is beyond comprehension.  The one word that best captures what motivated His gift of Himself is the word love (agape.)  John 4:10 says, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

In verse eight of today’s devotional verse St. Paul focuses upon your love.  He says he is not commanding you, but to rather look deeply into your heart to see the love God has poured out upon you.  As the Bible then says, “we love because He first loved us. . .”

The love God has put into your heart thinks not first and foremost about yourself.  It motivates you to give of yourself, your gifts, and offerings.  St. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:3, “If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,  but do not have love, I gain nothing.”

Think then of your gifts and offerings as “love gifts!”  In giving them out of love for God and all He has done for you, they become a part of your worship of Him from the depth of your heart.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, fill my heart with love (agape) and from it guide me in the giving of my love gifts so that they are my worship of my Triune God and give glory, honor, and praise to Him.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Thee will I love, my strength, my tower;

Thee will I love, my hope, my joy.

Thee will I love with all my power,

With ardor time shall ne’er destroy.

Thee will I love, O Light divine,

So long as life is mine.

Thee will I love, my life, my Savior,

Who art my best and truest friend.

Thee will I love and praise forever,

For never shall Thy kindness end.

Thee will I love with all my heart—

Thou my redeemer art!

I thank Thee, Jesus, Sun from heaven,

Whose radiance hath brought light to me;

I thank Thee, who hast richly given

All that could make me glad and free;

I thank Thee that my soul is healed

By what Thy lips revealed.

O keep me watchful, then, and humble;

Permit me nevermore to stray.

Uphold me when my feet would stumble,

And keep me on the narrow way.

Fill all my nature with Thy light,

O Radiance strong and bright!

Thee will I love, my crown of gladness;

Thee will I love, my God and Lord,

Amid the darkest depths and sadness,

And not for hope of high reward,

For Thine own sake, O Light divine,

So long as life is mine.

(LSB 694)