“If I wrote any more on this relief offering for the poor Christians, I’d be repeating myself. I know you’re on board and ready to go. I’ve been bragging about you all through Macedonia province, telling them, “Achaia province has been ready to go on this since last year.” Your enthusiasm by now has spread to most of them.
Now I’m sending the brothers to make sure you’re ready, as I said you would be, so my bragging won’t turn out to be just so much hot air. If some Macedonians and I happened to drop in on you and found you weren’t prepared, we’d all be pretty red-faced—you and us—for acting so sure of ourselves. So to make sure there will be no slipup, I’ve recruited these brothers as an advance team to get you and your promised offering all ready before I get there. I want you to have all the time you need to make this offering in your own way. I don’t want anything forced or hurried at the last minute.” 2 Corinthians 9:1-5 MSG Paul wanted to take one more opportunity to remind the Corinthians of their commitment from a year earlier. He had bragged on them to the Macedonian believers and didn't want to get let down. He, also, didn't want them to be embarrassed when the delegation of representatives arrived to receive the gift they had collected. It is important for us to finish what we start. If we say we are going to do something, we should do it. Let's be found about our Father's business. We must stay the course and be counted present when it comes to doing what we say we will do. It is not a good example of Christ when we abandon our commitments. Psalm 15:5 in the Message Translation says this: ““Keep your word even when it costs you, make an honest living, never take a bribe. “You’ll never get blacklisted if you live like this.”” God's people need to be the best at doing what they say they will do. Prayer for today: Father, in Jesus name, help me keep my commitments. Help me remember that I represent you in everything I do.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Author
![]() Rev. Curtis Norris Archives
March 2020
|