“But I have sent the brethren, in order that our boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you may be prepared; otherwise if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we – not to speak of you – will be put to shame by this confidence” (2 Corinthians 9:3-4).

In spite of the good work that is done, we still need encouragement.  Are there ever enough hands to do all that needs to be done?  Receive those who come alongside that they might encourage you in the tasks at hand.  Do not be insecure because the Lord sends another to help, but instead rejoice that the Lord invests in the ministry you are doing.  Be guided always by Him and the direction He gives.

Lord, teach me those things which my old heart does not know.  Help me to see that You are constantly sending those who will help and providing for every need.  Lead me in the upward call to both give and receive, help and be helped, love and be loved.  Through all things, You strengthen each of us in this path of faith on which You have placed each one of us.

Lord Jesus, Your call was simple, “Come follow me.”  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may be where You want me to be, do what You want me to do, and live as You would have me live.  Help me to be receptive to all things knowing that You alone must be the author and finisher of my faith.  Guide me, Lord, and help me to always be willing to follow You no matter what that may mean.  Amen.

“For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints; for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them” (2 Corinthians 9:1-2).

We all need encouragement.  The world is filled with all kinds of wickedness and there are those who are constantly seeking to hinder our free expression of the faith.  This has not changed.  What you do for the Lord, continue doing.  Do not be hindered by what others think, but seek always to do that which is pleasing in the Lord’s sight.  Know that in Him all things are possible.

Lord, teach me to persevere in spite of what those around me say.  Guide me in Your goodness to reach out and continue, no matter the conditions, to do what is right.  Help me live into the life to which You have called me knowing that in You aloine is all hope.  May I live in the zeal of the truth of the Gospel and be guided by Your Spirit to stand fast, hold firm, and live out the gift of new life You have given me.

Lord Jesus, You know what it is to experience adversity and hostility.  Guide me in my daily life to be gracious and kind, but also firm in the conviction You have given me.  Lead me in the true faith through all things that I would forever look to You, My Savior, for all good guidance in living this life of faith You have given me.  Keep me in Your presence now and always.  Amen.

“We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you.  As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ.  Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you” (2 Corinthians 8:22-24).

We all need encouragement.  Sometimes we do not trust that the Holy Spirit is working among us.  Listen to the admonitions of the simple things we are to do.  Receive the one who is sent.  Be encouraging before others.  Listen and learn knowing that the Lord has provided all that is needed.  Know that in the Lord all will be well with Your soul.  He has paved the way for the faithful.

Lord, I become anxious in this world and question everything.  Guide me, O Lord, that I may walk humbly with You knowing that You already know what all the future will bring.  Help me to receive those whom You send and go where You send me.  Give me a heart that trusts You above all things.  Help me to be open and honest and a willing servant of others as You have been.

Lord Jesus, You willingly went from town to town doing what the Father gave You to do.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of being Your servant that I may be guided by Your goodness and mercy to serve as You ask.  You have already accomplished all that is needed.  So help me to be a part of what You are accomplishing for others.  Help me to see Your hand at work that I may be both encouraged and an encouragement to others.  Amen.

“taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift; for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men” (2 Corinthians 8:20-21).

Do not take lightly what the Lord has given you.  Through the grace received and the call to become like Christ, we have our part to do.  Many make light of it and think being faithful is a one or two hour a week proposition.  It is not a proposition, but life itself.  Life is not lived a couple of hours a week, but every moment of every day.  Come then into the life to which you have been called.

Lord, You know where I have fallen into the trap of this world’s thinking of limiting things to calendars.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of living that I may indeed become like Christ.  Teach me to be mindful and aware, thinking about what I am doing and willing always to look to You for guidance.  Lead me every moment, Lord, that I may grow into the likeness of Christ.

Lord Jesus, You who are the One through whom all things are made, came as the example of the godly life.  You have shown us what it is to be dedicated to living in a way that always looks to the Father.  Lead me this day that I may grow a little more like You.  Help me through those difficulties that come that I may press on in the journey of faith as You lead me to become what You are making of me.  Amen.

“We have sent along with him the brother whose fame in the things of the gospel has spread through all the churches; and not only this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our readiness” (2 Corinthians 8:18-19)

The Lord calls whom the Lord calls and we have the opportunity to receive what the Lord has provided.  We are not to remain immature or infants in the Gospel, but to mature and grow in the gift of faith that we have been given.  Whatever your circumstance, know that the Lord provides the right thing at the right time that You may live into the life to which you have been invited.

Lord, help me learn to rejoice in all of the good gifts which surround me.  Help me to see that every person You send my way has purpose.  Guide me in the higher things that I would learn to love those opportunities You give knowing that in You is liberty and life.  You have given me the words of eternal life.  Where else should I go?  Help me walk this path of faith You have set before me.

Come, Holy Spirit, and awaken into me the life to which You have called me.  Empower me to give and to receive this day that I would learn by whatever means You will teach me.  Let me receive those whom You have sent that I would hear and by hearing, believe.  Through all things, guide me in the way You know I need to walk that I may grow to be more like Christ my Savior.  Amen.

“But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus.  For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord” (2 Corinthians 8:16-17).

The call of the Lord is a strong thing.  Many fight against the Lord’s calling them into the Christ-life.  You may resist, but to what end?  Pleasure in this world?  The way of salvation is before you that you may put on the life of Christ.  If you walk with Him, it is not simply a matter of now or later.  Why put off what is going to happen anyway.  Walk in the way of the Lord today and grow in Him and His likeness.

Lord, show me with clarity the simple truth that delaying my journey with You accomplishes nothing.  I can read of those who have walked closely with You and my heart is stirred.  Let that stirring lead me to simply and humbly walk in Your presence and truth.  Lift me out of the coveting of this world to live into the life to which You have called me by grace that I may walk in faith.

Lord Jesus, You know the struggles of this world.  You know how hard it is as You watched those around You struggling with the simple things of faith.  Yet there were those who were bold in faith and received what only faith can bring.  Lead me more deeply into a life of faith that I would walk boldly in becoming what You are making of me by Your grace and mercy.  Amen.

“For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality – at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality; as it is written, “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack” (2 Corinthians 8:13-15)

In Christ, all are equal.  The world thinks in terms of what people have, or the abilities they have.  The Lord created you for His purpose.  He knows what He is creating in you.  Walk then in the assurance that in Him is life and liberty.  Shed the worldly thinking that you may be built up according to His goodness and mercy.  In Him is all that is needed.  He desires His love to shine through you.

Lord, I try to figure these things out.  Like a small child who does not have the ability to think these things all the way through, help me see that ultimately it is about trusting You.  You alone are the way, truth and life.  You alone know what is needed, for You see the end from the beginning.  Move my heart to a faith that trusts in You above all things.  Lead me in the way of salvation.

Lord Jesus, You are the Savior.  I need to be saved.  Save me from the hindrance of thoughts that get in the way of truth.  There are many things I do not know.  I subjectively ponder, but truth is what You have done, are doing, and will do.  Lead me to trust in the salvation You are unfolding in and through my life.  Guide me in Your goodness to see that You have already given me all I need.  Amen.

“For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have” (2 Corinthians 8:12).

The Lord does not ask you to do what you cannot do, He asks you to use what you have and who you are.  He is growing into you the likeness of Christ.  What does He need?  Everything is already His.  Focus upon what Christ has come to do.  Then, with understanding, see the Holy Spirit working in your life through all you are.  He will make of you a child of the Heavenly Father.

Lord, I go back and forth between grand ideas and the scope of all that is happening in the world and forget about the simple truth that You have come to save me; not only save me, but conform me to the image of Christ.  Take all that I am and do with me as You know needs to be done.  Plow through those hindrances I build that I may indeed walk in the way of salvation.

Jesus, You taught us to take nothing with us.  You said that we were simply to go.  Teach me that this is one of the principles of living life in You.  You know what I need and You know what You are creating in me.  Lead me, O Lord, to become whom You have always known I would be.  By Your grace, help me to simply abide in You as You abide in me that I may live this new life You have given.  Amen.

“I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.  But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability” (2 Corinthians 8:10-11).

We all have our opinions, do with them what you will.  When one, such as Paul gives His opinion, it is based upon experience and wisdom.  It is no law, but it is better advice than most will give.  What is that opinion?  Do the best you are able with what the Lord has given you and walk with Him always.  I agree with Paul’s opinion.  It is to your advantage to take that wisdom.

Lord, there are those around me who give their opinion.  Not all opinions are the same.  Give me the ability to discern, in the freedom I have, those who speak wisdom and those who speak the darkness of this age.  Keep my eyes clear that I may not be led into temptation, lest I depart from the path You have laid before me.  Guide me in Your goodness that I may walk humbly with You.

Lord Jesus, You are the way, truth, and life.  It is not opinion to say that in You alone is all hope.  Yet, while walking amidst the darkness of this age, there are many who speak of how to walk.  Let me look to You and hear those around me who love You as they speak that I may more clearly walk the path of faith You have given me.  Guide me in Your goodness that I may always cling to You.  Amen.

“I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.  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 8:8-9).

If we are to be like Christ, what then?  He who made all things and for whom all things were made became poor for our sake.  He gave Himself to us that we might give ourselves to Him.  This then is at the heart of it all.  Will you give yourself to Him?  Will you give up all things that with Him you might be rich in grace, mercy, compassion, and love?  Will you join with Him?

Lord, I struggle in this world because I want what I want.  I struggle in this world because I believe I do not have.  Yet here You are right before me.  You offer me Your love.  Let me see that all the other things I am chasing are nothing, for You are everything.  In You is light and life.  In You is liberty.  In You is hope.  Help me see the truth of You that I may live my life in You.

Lord Jesus, You who are everything gave it all up that I who am nothing might join You and be all whom You are making me to be.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may now and always abide humbly in You as You abide in me.  Guide me in the goodness of Your grace and mercy that I may walk the path You set before me and learn to love You above all things.  Amen.