Paul says nothing here about the amount anyone gave. He’s not really concerned about the size of the gift; he’s concerned about the attitude of giving. Those who have experienced the grace of God are joyfully generous in their giving. They give voluntarily, without having to be prodded, coerced, or reminded. They give sacrificially at times, even beyond what would be a reasonable amount, beyond what they can normally afford. They give because they want to participate in serving God’s people. Richly generous people appreciate the grace that they have received, and they want to give richly to support those in need and those serving God. Read More ...
Often, when conflicts arise, the solution is for one side of the conflict to appeal to the other side to pursue reconciliation. Sometimes the best thing you can do is to say something like “Let’s be friends. Let’s try to restore our friendship.” Someone has to start this process by reaching out to the other side. Read More ...
Perhaps the key thing to remember here is that separation from sin is a requirement for a close, personal walk with God. If we want to draw near to God, then we must not be yoked together with unbelievers; we must not touch the unclean thing. Our aim should be that we cleanse ourselves from all defilements and pursue a life of holiness. Holiness demands that we avoid partnerships, alliances, linkages, or relationships that would associate us with unrighteousness. “Come out from among them and be separate.” Read More ...
The main idea in today’s passage is that those who serve God must persevere under pressure. It’s easy to serve God when everything is going well. But those who serve God often experience great hardships as well as blessings. So we have to be able to endure and continue on serving God no matter what it costs us. Read More ...
Nobody is perfect. We all stumble in many ways. But our objective/goal should be that we avoid blameworthy ministry. We should intentionally avoid causing offenses or being difficult. We must avoid the kind of conduct that would hinder the Gospel or tarnish the reputation of the church. We should do everything possible to maintain the purity, integrity, and good testimony of Christian ministry. Read More ...
How can we avoid judging others on a superficial, external level? How can we put off the old and live as new creations in Christ? How can we engage in the great task of reconciling others to God? Who around us can we urge and implore to accept the free gift of salvation through Christ? If we were living for Jesus this week, that’s what we’d be doing. Let’s give it a try. Read More ...