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8/13 2 Corinthians 8:14
14
14 Your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.
Paul had been taking up a collection from churches he had planted for the church in Jerusalem. The Jerusalem church was going through a time of need. Some of the apostles and Jesus' brother James were still in Jerusalem introducing Jews to the Messiah. Paul wanted to show that the new churches, consisting mostly of Gentiles, were as much a part of the body of Christ as the churches made up of Jewish believers.
The principle in the verse for today is that wherever the church is in need, those who have an abundance should share to meet that need. We should share within our own church to help those going through a difficult time, but we can also help other churches. Though it is rare today, I have seen churches that are prosperous help others in the same town that are reaching a segment of the town that is in need. |
A heart of flesh is known by its tenderness concerning sin. To have indulged a foul imagination, or to have allowed a wild desire to tarry even for a moment, is quite enough to make a heart of flesh grieve before the Lord. The heart of stone calls a great iniquity nothing, but not so the heart of flesh.
The heart of flesh is tender of God's will. My Lord Will-be-will is a great blusterer, and it is hard to subject him to God's will; but when the heart of flesh is given, the will quivers like an aspen leaf in every breath of heaven, and bows like an osier in every breeze of God's Spirit. The natural will is cold, hard iron, which is not to be hammered into form, but the renewed will, like molten metal, is soon moulded by the hand of grace. In the fleshy heart there is a tenderness of the affections. The hard heart does not love the Redeemer, but the renewed heart burns with affection towards him. The hard heart is selfish and coldly demands, "Why should I weep for sin? Why should I love the Lord?" But the heart of flesh says; "Lord, thou knowest that I love thee; help me to love thee more!" Many are the privileges of this renewed heart; "'Tis here the Spirit dwells, 'tis here that Jesus rests." It is fitted to receive every spiritual blessing, and every blessing comes to it. It is prepared to yield every heavenly fruit to the honour and praise of God, and therefore the Lord delights in it. A tender heart is the best defence against sin, and the best preparation for heaven. A renewed heart stands on its watchtower looking for the coming of the Lord Jesus. Have you this heart of flesh?