The Devotional - A Look at the Book #895

by Jesse Abel

Thoughts from Papa “J”

 

One can spend a lifetime being instructed; in fact I have known some elderly people who have attended institutions of learning their entire life and yet do not listen to a rebuke or a reproof of discipline. The word of the Living God calls this mindset… STUPID – Proverbs 12:1

 

Good Morning

 

2 Corinthians 8:8-15 – Today there are very few of us who speak with a commanding authority. Even many pulpits today have men and women standing in the sweet spot, speaking words of wisdom like; “let it be! Awe just let it be”

 

The Holy Bible has a better Word, even when the writers who are moved by the Holy Spirit speak without direct revelation there remains the commanding authority of God in the Person of the Holy Spirit. The entire epistle to the Hebrews speaks to us about such things; JESUS, better than the angels; a better High Priest, a better Hope; a better testament; a better covenant; better promises; a better sacrifice; a better country and a better resurrection.

 

So when the writers of the New Testament express the doctrines and promises and the challenges of God to their readers they are doing so through the resources and provisions contain within the Person of Jesus Christ who excels in the giving of Himself beyond anything that man can comprehend. Jesus Christ is the pattern for giving of oneself first, before anything else can be given. There are no exceptions to this.

 

Yesterday I feebly attempted to express grace from a human perspective (I have not seen in all my time a good man made definition of grace). Today we will attempt to see grace from God’s point of view. The apostle Paul says clearly, “For you know the grace of our LORD Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:2

 

We have trouble understanding this, well at least I do! How rich was Jesus Christ before His physical birth into this world. Well, neither you nor I can know that; but here is a thought! If you could gather up this world and its content and then gather up all of the universe that our eye can see and place it into your hip pocket and call it your own possession, then you could have some clue as to what Jesus gave away temporarily to the likes of you and me when He enter life physically through the womb of a young girl named Mary.

 

Now did you stumble over that word “temporarily”? I know that I did typing it simply because it can imply a lot of thoughts that breed doubt or confusion; like… “Well if it was only temporary and He knew that after His death and Resurrection He would get it all back, does not this neutralize His sacrifice of giving? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Actually it is a highlighted moment in time that expresses great promise for the future. Luke 19:9-10

 

Now the Corinthian believers had made a promise of support to the churches at Jerusalem that they needed to keep, the apostle Paul is merely reminding them of this responsibility, and yet there is a very important spiritual connection and message that we often overlook. When we come to Jesus (rich or poor, beggar or thief) we come Him and give Him all of this DARKNESS and in return; He gives us LIGHT. Do you not see that LIGHT came into the world through JESUS to take our DARKNESS away. Now since we are in the LIGHT, we need to be sharing that light with those who live in darkness.

 

The pattern for giving is JESUS CHRIST in that what He gave up is restored to HIM beyond that which HE had before and so it is with HIS saints. He gives us LIGHT, in order that we give LIGHT to others and in doing so our reward is MORE LIGHT. Now I do not know at this point if I am making any sense, but to me it is very clear. Sort of makes me want to dance (I cannot dance) and shout (I can shout) okay, I just scared our dogs… fatso and skinny (the birds) did not mind.

 

So laying the nonsense aside; when it comes to giving as unto the LORD, we must be first willing to give of our self, as Jesus did. Personally what I have, it is nothing worthy to have, it is full of Jesse and that is pitiful, but in contrast; what Jesus has given me makes tears of joy run down my face that I cannot contain; now I want to give that away to whoever will have it! I wish to share it because JESUS is the only One worthy to share. So!

 

As it is written: “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack” 2 Corinthians 8:15 and Exodus 16:18, thus what I have in Jesus is yours.