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2 Corinthians 8:8-9
The Apostle Paul instructs the congregation of the church at Corinth that he is not giving them commands, but that as they have grown in their relationships with the Lord, he is testing to see if their sincerity of heart through the love of God working in their lives through God’s Holy Spirit can truly be seen in their lives. Paul states in 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NKJV), “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” The Bible teaches us in 1 Peter 1:22-23, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,”. The Apostle Paul wants the congregation of the church at Corinth to know that it is God who gives them the desire to care for one another that is only found in sincere hearts for all people.
This is a promise that God changes our hearts desires through His Holy Spirit living within us as we seek His will for our lives.
We too need to understand that it is God working in our lives that changes our hearts desires as we become born again in Christ and begin living a new life as a Christian. It is through Christ Jesus that we are able to obtain the riches of heaven through our salvation in Him. Jesus teaches in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” As Paul declares to not give a command in caring for the needs of others as it is a reflection of the salvation of the heart, Jesus is our example to follow, and it is His commands that we need to follow in seeking God’s will for our lives as His children – in Christ.
Dear LORD,
Please give us hearts of giving that we would cling to the love that You have first shown us by sending Your One and only Son to die for our sins so that through what He has done for us, we may have the riches of heaven. Through our salvation we should be the giving hands of the world today. Please let it be so LORD. In Jesus name I pray, amen.