Verse of the Day 3/27

Verse of the Day 3/27

2 Corinthians 9:8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.   New King James Version (NKJV)

We will continue our journey through the hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness" and the verses that come to mind that relate to it.  Today we will be approaching the end of the first stanza and the words "all I have needed, Thy hand has provided".  It is a looking back, it is a realization that should bring thankfulness to our hearts and minds towards God.  Some of the modern translations, such as the CEV put it something like this, "God can bless you with everything you need", which is true.  But in reading the NKJV above the statement about "all sufficiency" in "all things" brings my mind to Romans 8 where in verses 28 through 39 "all things" are mentioned for times including verse 28 which states "all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose."

Another key factor in this is the final statement of the verse, that we will have an abundance, more than enough, to accomplish "every good work" that He has for us to do.   It is not about our personal desires, our "wish list" for "stuff", it is about our desires to be the same His desires, that's why we pray "Thy will be done".

Now let's go back to the beginning of the verse about all grace abounding to us.

John MacDuff writes:

My soul, do you not love to dwell on that all-abounding grace! Your own insufficiency in everything, met with a divine "all-sufficiency in all things!"

Grace in all circumstances and situations.

Grace in all vicissitudes and changes.

Grace in all the varied phases of the Christian's being.

Grace in sunshine--and in storm.

Grace in health--and in sickness.

Grace in life--and in death. 

Grace for the old believer--and the young believer. 

Grace for the tried believer, and the weak believer, and the tempted believer. 

Grace for duty--and grace in duty.

Grace to carry the joyous cup with a steady hand--and grace to drink the bitter cup with an unmurmuring spirit!

Grace to have prosperity sanctified--and grace to say through tears, "May Your will be done!"

--   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 9:7-9 New King James Version (NKJV)

7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of [a]necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written:

"He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever."