God Thoughts February 22nd

God Thoughts February 22

Memorize: I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. Philemon 4,5

Read 2 Corinthians 2 Corinthians 8:1-7 * highlight the word fellowship.

The NIV translation makes today's verses harder to spot Koinonia,

which is in verse 4.  So if you can spot it in the NASB: "begging us

with much urging for the favor of participation in the support

of the saints."  Koinonia is built on reciprocal relationships, on

two-way streets.  Jesus life is an example of neither

independence no dependency but interdependency.

Paul, writing from Macedonia, hoped that news of the generosity

of these churches toward the hurting disciples in Jerusalem

would encourage the Corinthian believers and motivate them to

solve their problems and unite in fellowship, by learning to give.

Most often the focus in these verses is on the giving, let's reverse

that and talk about the church in Jerusalem's receiving.  The

partnership of grace all believers requires both giving and

receiving.

Here is a quote from "The Art of Neighboring building genuine

relationships right outside your door." that illustrates why

receiving is important: "Allowing ourselves to be on the receiving

end can be harder than it looks.  Our tendency is to put ourselves

in positions of power-in this case, always being the one to give.

We want to be seen as the capable one with all the resources and

answers.  But being in a relationship where we allow others to

meet our needs is always a good thing.  The art of neighboring

(Koinonia) involves our being able both to give of our time and

energy and just as important, to receive from others."  (120)


Prayer:  

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.