Verse of the Day 1/13

 

2 Corinthians 9:8   And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency^[a] in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 

 English Standard Version (ESV)

 

 

Over the years as I've read and studied the Bible, there are certain words and phrases that have caught my attention and whenever I see them I stop and examine the verse and passage a little deeper.  One of those phrases is "all things".  I believe that this springs from Romans 8:28 which states that "all things work together for good for those who are in Christ Jesus".  This verse in Romans 8 was one that I had to come to grips with over time during and after the darkest hours of my life.  In the rest of that chapter Paul goes on to use that phrase two more times – in v.32 he states "how will he not also graciously give us all things", all that we need? (notice, not want).  Then in verse 37 he writes "in all these things", the trials and tribulations, "we are more than conquerors".

That is the backdrop that I have as I read today's verse.  He makes "all grace abound" to us.  The grace to forgive, the grace to encourage, to come alongside, to exhort, to challenge at time, to do whatever it takes, as He has done for us.  When He does that as we trust and depend on Him we can have His "sufficiency in all things, at all times" that we may abound, overflow with his grace to do every good work.

Are you encouraged and challenged by this today.  No matter what situation you are in today, His grace is offered to you.  Read the passage from The Message below.  "God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything".  Do you need that confidence today?  Well, you can have it, it is being offered.  Will we receive it?  If we do, we will have the grace to "give with reckless abandon" in ways that "never wear out" and "never run out".  May we pray that God would pour out, shower us with the grace, those blessings we need.

 

There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from the Savior above.

·         Refrain:
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.

 

Blessings, 

Mike

 

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.

 

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