Day 7
How big is God in your mind? If He is beyond big and beyond powerful in your mind then you are ready to take a leap in faith that will even surprise you! Our God is great and awesome and He is able to supply all of our need and desire if we simply trust Him enough to let Him do what He wants to do. Jesus met a rich man open day that asked Him how to get to heaven. The response Jesus gave is incredible…He told him to sell all that he had and then give his money to the poor. Of course this rich man walked away disappointed and never saw the glorious riches that God was ready to pour upon him because he could not trust God in this way. What about you? Are you up to this kind of challenge?
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart…”
Proverbs 3:5
Once upon a time there was a fellowship of saints in a distant land whose poverty was enough to cause derision, condescension, and mockery. Their clothing was threadbare. Their meals were simple and few. Their homes were far from impressive. Yet their hearts were generous. When an area several days journey from them was ravaged by famine, they worked even harder and sacrificed even more. Little by little, their offering grew until it seemed even to the wealthy areas nearby to be borderline extravagant.
In love, they lavished this generous gift upon their distant brothers and sisters in Christ, and their hearts surged with a joy in giving that made every sacrifice seem as nothing. Their giving also served as an inspiration to many, and their offering was joined by gifts from everywhere. The apostle Paul briefly mentioned this church—the church of Macedonia—when he wrote to the Corinthians. He said that out of their “extreme poverty” they demonstrated “rich generosity.” They gave of their own initiative, even beyond what seemed to be their ability. (2 Cor. 8:2-3).
Extreme faith requires fierce courage. The Macedonians put themselves out on a limb. Would God provide? Would they suffer unnecessarily? Perhaps these questions entered their minds. Thankfully, they knew the great promises of God and trusted Him to provide all their needs “according to His riches in glory.” Not only did God provide for them, he also used them to provide for others. They were shining examples to others who might have been hesitant, and God immortalized their brave generosity in Scripture as an inspiration for all generations.
As a church, we must now discover further heights of generosity within ourselves and adopt that as a new standard. For many, this sacrifice will require great courage and unshakeable faith. Let us embrace the reality that He never changes. He provided for the Macedonians, and He always takes care of His sheep. In love, let us bravely step into a whole new dimension of service to the King!
Prayer focus: Ask God for courage to look beyond the victories of the past and look forward to ever-increasing vistas of generosity. Pray that God will provide our every need as individuals and as a congregation. Pray for divine courage and for a rich outpouring on the needs.
“All that I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
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