Verse of the Day 2/20

Verse of the Day 2/20

2 Corinthians 8:6-7 Accordingly,we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace.?  But as you excel in everything in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you see that you excel in this act of grace also.  English Standard Version (ESV)

In this section, Paul is writing to the Corinthian church about the grace of giving. He begins the passage by writing about how surprisingly generous the grace of God had been to other poor churches who gave and supported others while they themselves were "desperately poor" (The Message).  He is commending the church for their trust in God, being articulate about their faith, passionate towards God and others and loving.  But the key to this passage is to remind them to be generous in giving to complete the acts of grace, that they in fact should excel in this.
Isn't that the way it still seems to go.   Oftentimes, giving financially is one of the last things that people want to hear about or be asked or reminded to do.?? But it is, or should be at the core of our faith, of who we are in Christ.
Our men's Bible study has been going through the book of Titus where Paul is encouraging a young pastor about becoming a leader and assembling leaders and for the church in a pagan community.  God set the example, it starts with readiness to give and forgive.

^11-14  God's readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation is available for everyone! We're being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.  Titus 2:11-14??The Message (MSG)

May we see to it that we "excel" in this act of grace as well as part of taking on a "God-filled, God-honoring life". Read the passage below about how their giving "flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives." May it be so in us.

--   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 8:1-7??The Message (MSG)

The Offering

8??^1-4??Now, friends, I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches in Macedonia province. Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts. I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could???far more than they could afford!???pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians.

^5-7??This was totally spontaneous, entirely their own idea, and caught us completely off guard. What explains it was that they had first given themselves unreservedly to God and to us. The other giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives. That???s what prompted us to ask Titus to bring the relief offering to your attention, so that what was so well begun could be finished up. You do so well in so many things???you trust God, you???re articulate, you???re insightful, you???re passionate, you love us???now, do your best in this, too.