“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.

“So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well.   But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also” (2 Corinthians 8:6-7).

We were made to work.  We have been called in the goodness of God to live a life that is active.  Do we not lament if we are unable to do anything?  Do we not look for things to do?  Even the lazy work at avoiding work.  Live into the life for which You were created and work as the Lord gives you work to do.  Learning obedience is a call of the Lord.  And obedience to everything He commands is what He requires.

Lord, this is a crazy world and I think of all kinds of reasons why I do not want to do this or that.  Help me instead simply do what You give me to do.  Teach me how to live the new life for which I have been created.  Guide me in Your goodness to be the kind of person You know I will be eternally.  Let me not shirk the challenges You place before me, nor wander in meaningless activities.

Lord Jesus, with great purpose You walk the earth and accomplished what was needed for our salvation.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of truth that I may grow each day a little more firm in this truth You have revealed.  Let me not be hindered by this world’s temptations, but live into the life for which I have been created.  Guide me, O Lord, and I will follow You all the days of my life.  Amen.

“For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,  begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God” (2 Corinthians 8:3-4).

We sometimes need examples of things that ought to be done.  The Lord has always provided those who willingly serve without complaint.  Look at the good examples and follow those who are doing what the Lord asks.  Then become one who is an example to others.  In one sense, this is not necessary for everyone.  On the other hand, this is what we call maturity.  Grow into the maturity of the Lord.

Lord, I am often lazy and simply want things to be the way I want them.  Help me when I am this way to see that I live for an audience of One and that is You.  Guide me to do what You give me to do knowing that in You is all hope and the only good future.  Lead me in Your goodness to learn from You and mature in this faith that You have given me.  Your way is the only sure thing in this, and every, age.

Lord Jesus, You encountered many who wanted what they wanted, but You came for those who would follow You.  Where I resist, or become as a complaining child, mature me that I would live into the life to which You have called me.  Guide me in Your goodness that I would now and always live as You know life needs to be lived.  Teach me to be an example to others in faith. hope and love.  Amen.