25 Oct November 24th Daily Devotional

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

OTHERS WILL PRAISE GOD

2 Corinthians 9:12-13 “This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.”

Jesus has appointed you to be His witness to the farthest corners of the world.  (Acts 1:8)  Of course this includes your sharing the words of Holy Scripture which is the most direct way of telling people of God’s love for them, His salvation plan for the forgiveness of their sins through His Son and the eternal life He desires them to receive by His grace through faith in Jesus.  In addition to spreading the Gospel throughout the world, you can also through your generous gifts to meet the needs of humanity demonstrate the overflowing of God’s love He has put into your heart.

In today’s devotional verse St. Paul continues to uplift the Corinthian Christians and commend them for their gifts given in aid to their fellow Jerusalem Christians.  God had blessed the Corinthians not only with the things of this world but also with generous hearts that overflowed with love for their neighbors. Their love gifts caused many prayers of thanks to God.  Their gifts enhanced the worship and praise of God seeing how He, through the Corinthians had met their needs.

In a previous devotion I wrote that often the love of God for humanity is caught in addition to being taught.  Is this not what St. Paul is saying in today’s devotional verses?  The blessings God granted to one group of Christians prompted them to share what they had received with another group of people which would be “the caught.”  Their “deeds” became the cement of their message.  They practiced what they preached.

Your witness is not just in words but also in deeds.  Telling people about Jesus is critical.  When those you tell see you live out the love the message of the gospel proclaims,  your generosity cements the words of God’s love you speak.  God bless you with the right words and deeds.

Prayer:  O Lord, bless my words and my deeds that they give glory to you and are a blessing to those who receive them.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Lord of all nations, grant me grace To love all people, ev’ry race;

And in each person may I see My kindred, loved, redeemed by Thee.

Break down the wall that would divide

Thy children, Lord, on ev’ry side. My neighbor’s good let me pursue;

Let Christian love bind warm and true.

Forgive me, Lord, where I have erred

By loveless act and thoughtless word.

Make me to see the wrong I do Will grieve my wounded Lord anew.

Give me Thy courage, Lord, to speak

Whenever strong oppress the weak. Should I myself the victim be, Help me forgive, rememb’ring Thee.

With thine own love may I be filled And by Thy Holy Spirit willed,

That all I touch, where’er I be, May be divinely touched by Thee.

(LSB 844)