As we come to the end of what has be another blessed year of ministry we are asking those of you who call Summit Church your home to pray with us for a strong close to the year…a close that will actually propel us into 2018 positioned for greater Gospel impact. As we have stated already 2 Corinthians chapter 8 has been a passage the Lord has laid on our heart in this season. The Apostle Paul’s words to the church at Corinth in describing the posture and heart of the Macedonians is one that we want to imitate as God’s people. We want to be a people, a church, that is eager to give, eager to be a part of God’s redemptive mission, and eager to use all that God has entrusted us in a way that brings Him the greatest glory.
But as we consider the words of the Apostle Paul there are a couple of things I would love for us to consider.
1. God is the greatest giver.
Any good we do or any giving of any type of resource that has been entrusted to us that we release is merely but a shadow of the Father’s heart. God has given far and above what any man, woman or child could ever earn or commend themselves for and that is the free gift of eternal life through the person and finished work of Jesus Christ. God is a great giver. Through the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, God lavishly dispenses His grace and love upon His children. A love that is unmerited and is eternal. God is a giver and we are blessed receivers. So as we posture ourselves with an aim to finish strong, let us do it from hearts filled with gratitude for all that God has given.
2. Never underestimate what God will do through obedient people.
As we respond in obedience to the Lord’s leading we should never underestimate what He can do through that single act of obedience. What we may consider small or insignificant if done in direct obedience to the Lord is actually quite significant and should never be underestimated. The miracles we desire to see lay in God’s hands, not ours. The accomplishment of any goal or endeavor the church of God may have lay in the good graces of God, not in the might of its people. God desires our obedience for it’s through that very obedience that God releases a grace and move of His Spirit that can only be explained by the work of a mighty God. So as we press on and as we look forward to what the Lord has before us, let us remember the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthian 8; let us be a people eager to give, but let us do so from hearts of gratitude seeking to respond humbly to the great Giver, and let us not for one second think that a single act of obedience could not make a difference.
Before I end this post, consider this one thing, of all the amazing miracles Jesus performed, the only miracle recorded by each of the Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John was the feeding of the five thousand (Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9 & John 6). Now we cannot say with certainty why it is only this miracle of Jesus that is recorded in each of the Gospels, but I personally wonder if it wasn’t God’s way of reminding us of what can be accomplished when an individual responds in willing obedience to the bidding of the Master. One boy’s lunch, that was actually deemed insignificant by one of Jesus’ disciples becomes the very offering Jesus lifts up to the Father, blesses, breaks and uses to perform one of His great miracles.
As we have always asked, we ask again, please seek the Lord with us and whatever He leads you to do, trust Him wholeheartedly and respond in willing obedience, and pray with us that our great God will take our “fishes and loaves” and do something glorious with it.
- Orlando Cabrera
Find out more by visiting www.EagerToGive.com