Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
August 1, 2023
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
6 What I mean is this: the one who sows a small number of seeds will also reap a small crop, and the one who sows a generous amount of seeds will also reap a generous crop. 7 Everyone should give whatever they have decided in their heart. They shouldn’t give with hesitation or because of pressure. God loves a cheerful giver. 8 God has the power to provide you with more than enough of every kind of grace. That way, you will have everything you need always and in everything to provide more than enough for every kind of good work. 9 As it is written, He scattered everywhere; he gave to the needy; his righteousness remains forever. 10 The one who supplies seed for planting and bread for eating will supply and multiply your seed and will increase your crop, which is righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous in every way. Such generosity produces thanksgiving to God through us. 12 Your ministry of this service to God’s people isn’t only fully meeting their needs but it is also multiplying in many expressions of thanksgiving to God. 13 They will give honor to God for your obedience to your confession of Christ’s gospel. They will do this because this service provides evidence of your obedience, and because of your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone. 14 They will also pray for you, and they will care deeply for you because of the outstanding grace that God has given to you. 15 Thank God for his gift that words can’t describe!
Good Morning, Blest Be the Tie that Binds
8 God has the power to provide you with more than enough of every kind of grace. That way, you will have everything you need always and in everything to provide more than enough for every kind of good work.
Grace, Grace, God’s Grace . . .
But by the grace of God . . .
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Everything we have, everything we are, and every possibility that is yet to be is available to us by the grace of God. Without God’s grace, we are sinners and are filled with flaws. Why would God even consider saving such a sorry lot as us? Why?!? Because God, our creator, loves us. God loves us so much that he sent his only son to die for us so that we might have eternal life. Amazing Grace! Additionally, God doesn’t create junk, and as such, we, the children of God, are worthy of saving.
What is our response to such extraordinary grace? First, we are to accept the gifts given to us and use them to lift others so that they also may be saved. Secondly, those who accept and embrace the grace given by God are to share these marvelous gifts not out of obligation but out of love: This is the kind of love that oozes out of us uncontrollably. We love one another because we can’t imagine not loving everyone. We’re not busy applying labels or sorting one another. Every part of us becomes engaged in the business of loving all of God’s children. Take a minute and imagine this existence! I pray this feeling blesses you. What a wonderful world this would be.
Loving God, We thank you! Oh my, we fall short of your glory in so many ways. Help us work to focus on loving all. You bless us in ways we don’t even realize. Thank you! In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: By serving others, I am serving God.
In the words of the Apostle John: My little children Love one another! Pastor Liz
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