JULY 5

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES:

NAMES GIVEN TO JESUS IN THE BIBLE:

KING LIKE DAVID  but eternal

WISE COUNSELOR—Isaiah 9:6

REJECTED AND BELOVED/EXALTED SON LIKE JOSEPH

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This month we will read the book, “Whatever Happens – How to Stand Firm in Your Faith When the World is Falling Apart.”  By a contemporary author of many best-selling Christian books, Robert J. Morgan.  He took care of his wife when she had MS, until she went home to her Savior.  “He knows of which he speaks.”  I pray that this book blesses you.

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WATCH WHAT GOD IS DOING AROUND THE WORLD, PRAY AND GIVE FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS

ASK GOD TO GIVE YOU THE GRACE OF GIVING.

Our desire to support the cause of Christ is the outworking of God’s grace in our lives.  2 Corinthians 8:1 says, “And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God have given the Macedonian churches.”

I’ve found – and this is after seventy years of working on it – that whenever I receive a paycheck of some sort, my first and most excited thought is how I can use a portion of it to support the Lord’s work.  I love having that feeling.  But it’s simply grace.  Ask God to give you the grace of giving.  Seriously, Start praying that right now.

GIVE AS GOD LEADS YOU, DESPITE THE CIRCUMSTANCES

Look at 2 Corinthians 8:2 again:  “In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.”  The key words here are “welled up.”  Think of a spring in which the water rises to the surface by itself and wells up to overflowing.

What’s beneath the surface?  What forces are pushing the water of financial support to the top of our agenda and overflowing with what verse 2 calls “rich generosity”?

Three things:  a severe trial, overflowing joy, and extreme poverty.

Apparently, some kind of opposition or persecution had befallen the churches of Macedonia, and it made them realize their temporary possessions were not as important as their eternal riches.

In the middle of their trials, God gave them joy, and even though they were facing extreme poverty, the Lord provided something special for them to give.  And it all welled up into rich generosity.

There are always ways to be generous despite your circumstances.

OFFER THE TOTALITY OF YOUR LIFE TO THE LORD

Don’t just offer what you have – offer all that you are to the Lord.  Make a full surrender to Him.  That’s what Paul said the church at Philippi did.

Look at 2 Corinthians 8:3-5: “for I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.  Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.  They exceeded our expectations:  they gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.”

(To summarize, the Macedonians followed the growth of the church in the world.) Don’t you find it exciting to be part of a global movement that’s changing the world today and hastening the day of Christ?  The whole world is ours to reach.  We never know how God will use whatever we render into His hands.  So whatever happens, add generosity to your virtues….and give yourself totally to Christ!

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