Verse of the Day 11/20

2 Corinthians 9:8  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.  English Standard Version (ESV)

As I read the Bible, for some time, when I come across the words "in all things" I tend to stop and take notice.  Yesterday we considered from Hebrews 12 how God provides the grace, to power to accomplish His will for us in our lives.  In today's verse Paul encourages that this grace abounds, it overflows and that it is not limited to one area of our lives, it can be in all things.  It even goes  beyond that, think about it  all grace... all sufficiency.....in all things... at all times for every good work.

We should also know that this is not simply referring to spiritual things.  John MacArthur writes, "God possesses an infinite amount of grace, and He gives it lavishly, without holding back (1 Chronicles 29:14).  Here, grace does not refer to spiritual graces, but to money and material needs.  When the believer generously- and wisely- gives of his material resources, God graciously replenishes them so he always has plenty and will not be in need".  

This brings to mind the opening statement of Psalm 23, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want", literally, I'll lack no good thing.

Do you have this kind of confidence?  If you do, you won't hold back.  If you lack it, pray for it, ask that His grace would abound to you and back it up in your actions.  May you realize that "God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything" (The Message).

Read the verses from The Message below, let them speak to you today.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

2 Corinthians 9:8-11The Message (MSG)

^8-11 God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,

He throws caution to the winds,
    giving to the needy in reckless abandon.
His right-living, right-giving ways
    never run out, never wear out.

This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.