Focus

Experience silence in the midst of your busy day. Take some time to relax into a time to be with God.

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Read

2 Corinthians 9:1-5 (NRSV)

Now it is not necessary for me to write you about the ministry to the saints, for I know your eagerness, which is the subject of my boasting about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year; and your zeal has stirred up most of them. But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you may not prove to have been empty in this case, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be; otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—in this undertaking. So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you, and arrange in advance for this bountiful gift that you have promised, so that it may be ready as a voluntary gift and not as an extortion.

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Reflect

Paul wrote to remind the church at Corinth that they had promised to take up a collection for the Christians in Jerusalem. He had even bragged about their eagerness and generosity to the Macedonians. He reminded them to prepare the gift early and have it ready to be collected. If they were not prepared, everyone would be embarrassed, and it might seem they had to be encouraged to contribute at the last minute. Paul’s bragging would have been spoken too soon, and the generosity would not be evident. An embarrassed donor, unprepared, could not make a convincing cheerful giver.

How often and from how many sources have we been warned, “Don’t be late!” “Be prepared!” “Don’t wait until the last minute.”? Just as the Corinthians were to be ready to give their offering, we should be ready to share our faith. How will you share your faith today?

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Pray

Loving God, we thank you for today and all of its blessings. Help us to continue to think about this scripture that reminds and encourages us to give cheerfully and voluntarily to those in need. So often we forget how fortunate we really are. Help us to take time to be prepared to give in various ways. We ask you to make us aware of giving time and attention to those who need it each day. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

Go with God.