July 2nd - Reflection

2 Corinthians 8:1-7 (NRSV)
Poverty overflows in generosity

We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints - and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us, so that we might urge Titus that, as he had already made a beginning, so he should also complete this generous undertaking among you. Now as you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you - so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.

Reflection
In and through the wrestling that we do with sin and death; when we come to realize the saving grace of our Savior; our lives change. The struggle we endured becomes transformed into a joyful response of love, first towards God and then towards our fellow neighbors in the midst of their personal struggles.

So the struggle and the wrestling, gave us qualities in life that we were missing in the past. The struggle and the wilderness does make us stronger in the knowledge that we walk with Jesus through this world and into the Kingdom of God. We change into what God would have us be through the struggle and pain.

Think of the lives of Jacob, Abraham, David, Jeremiah, Peter, Paul and on and on. Think of how these lives changed after and during the struggle. God is forming us in the midst of sin, death and the devil. God is forming us into something wonderful as we struggle. God is giving us graciously, qualities that enable us to help each other in our struggles. God is making us one with each other and one with him.

"Now as you excel in everything - in speech,  in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you - so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking."

Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, you give me faith and knowledge and the eagerness to love you and to love my neighbor. Receive my offering and joyous gift of love and help as I walk with you and my neighbor in this wilderness, this day. --- Amen