January 19 – Done Deal Here and Now

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,”  Ephesians 2:4-6 (ESV)

This passage assures us that our salvation is by the grace of God. We did nothing to make it ours, we can’t. God’s love has done three things: (a) it has made us alive with Christ, (b) has raised us up with Christ, and (c) seated us with Him in the heavenly places.  This is all promised and done because what Jesus did for us. It becomes what happened to us in Christ Jesus.  Although still flesh and bone walking on this earth breathing air, what Christ did, became a reality so true that God considers it a done deal for us. When God draws us to Himself and offers us a new life in Christ Jesus, we received it by grace. Although this is difficult to understand with our human reasoning, and various questions arise as we’re trying to grasp how it is; we rest on the faith given to us by grace and accept it as truth. We do not have to fully understand everything we receive for it to be true. It’s true because God has declared it true by His will⸺that is what makes it true and for us right here, right now, it's accomplished. 

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April 25 – Eternal Riches Out of Poverty

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”  2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV)

The words and promises of our verse today remind us of the great benefit of putting our trust  in our Lord Jesus.  We realize that the coming of Jesus to live among God's creatures here on earth was a very great step to show God's love for us and He went even farther when He died to save us from sin and its penalty of death.  Our verse also reminds us that through Jesus we can become rich.  Yes we can become God's children and inherit great riches while we live here and then on into eternity.  Our God has promised to meet all our needs every day as we trust Him.  Let's enjoy the riches God has promised while we live here and then let's praise Him for the great things He has promised on into eternity, forever and ever without end. 

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February 6 – Real Riches That Matter

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”   2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV)

This is a verse which reminds us of the wonderful love of our Lord and the great benefits which we receive when we put our trust in Him.  We are reminded of the difference between our God and us who are His creatures.  We read that Jesus was rich and then we also read that we might become rich.  And, all this is possible because Jesus became poor in order to help us.  He became poor by giving up what he had in heaven to come and live as a human on earth.  By Jesus doing that God could accept Jesus' sacrifice of Himself in our place and for our benefit.  That is how His poverty made us rich.  Yes, it is true, we have the opportunity of become rich with heavenly riches and we can thank our Lord for making us rich.  Let's be sure we remember that as God's children by faith in Jesus we can become rich and we can live with true heavenly riches.  Let's be sure to let this promise make our lives different today. 

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December 22 – Truly An Incomprehensible Gift

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”  2 Corinthians 8:9  (ESV)

We believe that most people who reflect on the true story of Christmas – the birth of Jesus Christ – are impressed by the humble circumstances of the location where it occurred.  But to be laid in a manger, or feeding trough for livestock was only a sign of a greater truth which is expressed out Bible verse today.  Jesus was the Son of God, the ruler and owner of all the universe.  He was richer than we can comprehend.  He became poor which was shown not only by His birthplace – a stable where animals were kept – but by His entire style of living here on earth.  He did all this for us, to bring us into the family of God with all that this includes.  His purpose and mission on this earth was to live as humans live, but without sin, and to die for our sins, in our place so that we might live with Him in heaven if we believe and receive this gift.  He has made us rich – richer than we can comprehend.  As we think of his coming at Christmas, let's remember this promise – He became poor so that we might become rich.  What a gift. 

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Please take a moment to share this gift with friends.

April 25 – Rich to Poor to Rich

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NASB)

We can reflect today on what Christ did for us on the cross before the Easter season gets too far away. We realize, of course, that these words are not about monetary riches, such as money in the bank, large homes, airplanes, cars, or any other material measure.  When Jesus left heaven to come to earth He left heavenly riches, the eternal riches of and intimate relationship in the presence of His Father. When He suffered all alone on the cross – for a time He was abandoned by His Father, that was the ultimate poverty for Jesus. In those moments, he had nothing and it was an absolute state of poverty for the Son of God. But then, think of what riches this has brought us. Christ's poverty on the cross brought us who believe and receive into close fellowship with our Father in heaven. That, of course is only one aspect of the riches we have by faith in Jesus. Each day, let's allow God to show us more fully how rich we are in Jesus because he became poor in our place. 

October 28

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”  2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV)

This tells us why Jesus came and gave His life for us. What was His purpose? It was that we might become rich. I believe it is beneficial for us to examine our experience in the light of this stated divine purpose. Can we really say that we have become rich by believing in Jesus? Of course this is not talking about being rich financially. It does not promise a huge bank account or large material possessions. We need to recognize the great spiritual wealth that has come to us – spiritual blessings, the peace and joy God gives, and the assurance of an eternity with Him.

April 25

“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.  The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.” Psalm 145:8-9 (NIV)

Our Bible that tells us what kind of God we have. Actually that is why God has given us the Bible – to reveal to us who He is. We are not here on this earth by accident. It is God who has given us life. He has created all of us and He recognizes us as His creation. His word for us today reminds us that our God has a special feeling toward us because He has made us. Even though we may make mistakes and we may fail in our attempt to live right, yet our God is gracious and compassionate. He is slow to anger and the psalmist wrote that God is rich in love. We can depend on that today.