Oct 24 2024

Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

In this passage from 2 Corinthians, Paul's use of the word "bountifulness" is in reference to the rewards of sowing and reaping. When we share the love of the Lord with other people, encouraging them in Him, we are sowing good seeds. These seeds will reap the fruits of righteousness and we will, as the verse says, be "enriched in every thing to all bountifulness." As a result, we will express our thanks to the Lord. What exactly does that mean and how does it apply to us today?

Think about the good seeds that you have the opportunity to sow day after day. Has God placed people in your life whom you should minister to? Do you have a talent or ability that would serve the local church? Do you have savings that might be put to good use around the world? Ask the Lord what fertile ground might be ready for you to put good seed in. He will show you what He wants you to do.

After you have sown, wait for the Lord to do the reaping. Remember that we do not sow simply for the good things that will come out of the sowing, but rather, to obey the Lord. Indeed, the reaping of what we've sown rarely happens automatically, and it may not even happen in the same place where we originally sowed the seeds. Have patience with the Lord, and trust that He sees and will honor your good works in His way and in His time.

The greatest reaping of all is having intimacy with the Lord. When we obey Him by sowing seeds in the proper places, we'll get to know Him better. We will understand how much Jesus sowed into each of our lives, and we will love Him more because of that realization. When we sow, we shouldn't think about the people we're serving or expect anything from them in return. Rather, we should trust and believe that we are doing our work unto Him and know that He sees us.

When we do receive blessings from our sowing, we should give praise to the Lord for them. We recognize that He is the source of every good thing in our lives, and we can rest in His faithfulness and goodness.

Dear Lord, thank you for your goodness. Thank you for your constant kindness, mercy, and love. Help me to honor you and to serve you as I seek to do your will, especially when it's difficult. Thank you for calling me to a holy, sacred life with you. In Jesus' name, amen.

Oct 23 2024

The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. :

In this Psalm, David writes that the Lord is a refuge for us. In times of trouble or oppression, we can cling to His name. Let's think about what this means and how it applies to our lives today.

First, refuge means "safe place," which is what the Lord provides to us. He cares for us in times of trouble, and tends to us when no one else will. When we are falsely accused or wounded by someone else, we can take comfort in the fact that the Lord knows exactly what happened and He is always on our side. At the same time, we know that because of Jesus, the Lord extends grace to us when we have sinned, and we can approach Him and have a relationship with Him as if we had never sinned.

If you are facing something that seems insurmountable, take your concerns to the Lord. He cares about your troubles, and there is no temptation or pain that is foreign to Jesus. He knows you, cares for you, and offers you peace today.

When we have peace from God we are safe, and this is true even if we don't know what our lives will entail. We do not have to understand what is happening or will happen; we have only to continue in trust, knowing that the Lord is faithful—always. Remember that the Lord is your refuge. Remember that He will listen to you and care for you and forgive you when no one else will. Call on His name and dwell in the freedom of His kingdom.

Dear Lord, thank you for being a refuge for me. Thank you for loving me and for caring for me in ways that no one else ever could. Help me to remember to call out to you when I am discouraged. Thank you for your Son, who died so that I might live. In Jesus' name, amen.