August 9, 2010
2 Corinthians 8
Pastor JoAn Blackmon
The definition of Christian love is written beautifully by the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 13: “Love is patient, love is kind…it is not rude…it is not easily angered…it keeps no record of wrongs…love never fails.”
In 2 Corinthians 8, we find the ultimate summary of this amazing love that God calls us to show one another. Simply, love gives. Financial generosity is described as grace learned and grace extended. Giving is an opportunity to “be like God.” It is this demonstration of love-in-action that serves as a witness to the work of Christ in us.
Paul notes that the Gentile Christians in Macedonia gave lavishly to the relief fund for the Jews in Jerusalem. Reading the text carefully, we see that they gave in the middle of their own severe trials, out of the overflow of their joy in the Lord and in spite of their own poverty. They gave what they could and then gave some more. In fact, their desire to ‘help the church be the church’ led them to actually insist upon giving.
Perhaps this is all that it would take for our own souls to be refreshed. Giving awakens spirit living. Like a fountain, it splashes an invigorating spray over every part of our lives. And before you know it, we just want to live there…alive, always giving and living in the flow of grace. 
When asked about her favorite Bible character, Pastor JoAn selected Peter, “a man who lived life at full-throttle, refused to let his failures stop him, preached the gospel of Christ passionately and considered it an honor to be martyred for the Kingdom of God.”
