2 Corinthians 8:1-2

¹And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. ²In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

Saved by grace

         We believe and teach that it is by the grace of God that we are saved from hell. And we can readily point to Scriptural basis in Ephesians 2:8-9. ⁸For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast.

         God’s grace is free favor of his love and kindness. God saved us from the penalty of sin for free. We can receive our salvation in Christ by faith. And faith is also free gift of God. God won’t randomly throw away his grace for anyone to pick up. We pray and ask him for faith to believe that through the crucifixion of Christ, the Lord won’t punish us anymore. And he gives us eternal life also. How do we know we that we are really saved by grace?

         We sense desire to repent for our sins and accept Christ as Savior and Lord. Repentance prepares the way for Christ to enter our heart. When we repent of our sins, we admit that we’re doomed for punishment, and we cannot save ourselves. Practically, repentance proves our faith is activated.

         When God’s grace is activated, it practically manifests in our behavior and choices of life. The grace of God sustains our needs until Christ returns and takes us into heaven. Apostle Paul appealed for God to take away the thorn of flesh that tormented him. The Lord declared in 2 Corinthians 12:9,

⁹My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

         God did not take away the problem of Paul. He strengthened him by his grace. And Paul rejoiced in the Lord despite his difficulties. We can identify with Paul when struggles of life torments us to worry. We must seek help from the Lord prayerfully, so that we can explore his sufficient grace.

1.  Grace

      ¹And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 

         Apostle Paul addressed the Corinthians as brothers and sisters. Like Paul, they were God’s children who rely upon God’s grace. Paul referred to the Macedonian churches as example of God’s grace at work. Macedonian churches in Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea were started by Paul and his team. We can also learn from what the grace of God did to the Philippians, Thessalonians, and Bereans. Apostle Paul testified in Philippians 4:15-19.

            ¹⁵Not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; ¹⁶for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. ¹⁷Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. ¹⁸I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. ¹⁹And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

         The Philippians supported Paul and his mission team regularly. We support mission when God’s grace is at work in us. Support for mission are a fragrant offering that pleases God. When God is pleased, he meets all our needs for the glory of Christ. Pray for God’s grace and support mission.

          Well, what can we also learn from the Thessalonian church? Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 1:6-9, ⁶You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. ⁷And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. ⁸The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, ⁹for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.

         Paul and his team rejoiced despite enduring harassment everywhere. The Thessalonians imitated their examples. Despite their severe suffering, they also rejoiced in the Lord. All Macedonia and Achaia heard it. By God’s grace, we can also rejoice while suffering when the Holy Spirit inspires us.

         Urgent demands of life rattle anyone every single day. But when the grace of God is activated in us, we prioritize serving him with gladness. It practically testifies to our hope when we expect Christ to return sooner. We also diligently handle responsibilities as preparation for eternal residency.

         Let’s learn also from the work of God’s grace among the Bereans in Acts 17:11-14,¹¹The Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. ¹²As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men. ¹³But when the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, some of them went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. ¹⁴The believers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. 

         Oppositions to the gospel of Christ aggressively harassed Paul and his team in Thessalonica. So they went to Berea. The Bereans were more eager to learn about the Lord. Oppositions of the gospel from Thessalonica travelled to Berea and caused trouble against Paul and his mission team.

         Paul escaped to Athens but Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea. Most probably, they helped the Bereans understand the gospel even more. With great eagerness the Bereans examined the Scripture. God’s grace was at work among them. Desire to study the Scripture is work of God’s grace.

         Let’s learn also about the grace of God that may have been at work in the life of King David when he declared in Psalm 19:9-11, ⁹The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. ¹⁰They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. ¹¹By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

          Keep memorizing and meditating on the word of God, and you will be rewarded greatly. The life story of King David testifies to rewards in keeping the Lord’s decrees. He feared the Lord purely without hesitation. Who does not like to be rewarded? I want rewards that satisfy me so that I won’t worry about life. Possibly, it’s the same reason of King David when he declared in Psalm 23:1-3, ¹The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. ²He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, ³he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

         As a shepherd, David experienced exactly how shepherds take care of their flock. He has proven the Lord took care for all his needs so that he won’t worry about food, shelter, even safety. He may have been anxious as king of Israel, anxious about his family but the Lord refreshed his soul.

         Everyone can be anxious. Students are anxious about studies. Adults are anxious about career. Oldies are anxious about health. Can we relax like lying down next to green pastures? All we needs is to listen to the Lord.

         Reflect on what Christ proclaimed in John 10:27-28, ²⁷My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.

         It’s God’s grace we listen to his word and gladly follow what he says.

We can explore God’s grace and his adventurous plan he prepared for our betterment when we listen and follow his instruction. The grace of God was sufficient among Macedonian churches. They rejoiced despite their severe trials. Despite extreme poverty, their rejoicing overflowed in rich generosity.

2.  Generosity

     ²In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

         Rejoicing at extreme poverty, how is that? When the Macedonians received the grace of God, they generously gave to mission ministry more than they can afford. They sacrificed their own personal indulgences and generously sent mission support to Judean churches affected by famine.

         It is practical proof that the grace of God makes things possible, even if human mind supposes it as impossible. By the grace of God at work in us, we can do things that others may consider as not logical. Just consider the instruction of Christ. Instinctively, we would reason out with resistance.

         Listen to what Christ declares in Matthew 5:20, ²⁰For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

         Christ freed us from the slavery of sin, and we become slaves of righteousness. What righteousness should enslave us? Christ expects us to surpass the righteousness of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law for us to be sure that we enter heaven when he returns. Let’s reflect on Luke 18:11-12, ¹¹The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹²I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

         The Pharisees righteously fasted twice a week and gave 10% of their income. How can we surpass that? The Pharisee did not mention if 10% comes from gross or net income. Yet, many church attendees are confused if they give the tithes of God from gross or net income. Friends: When the grace of God in our life is active, we give more than 10% of our income, and we are not bothered if it comes from gross income or net income.

         Even with extreme poverty, the Macedonian churches rejoiced that they can generously support mission ministry. Scholars suggest that there was a war in Judea at that time, and as a result, there was severe famine. Churches in Macedonia and Achaia have agreed to help the believers in Judea. Paul and his team collected mission offering from those churches.

         Despite persecution, God’s grace sustained Paul and his team. They rejoiced enduring hardship. The Macedonians saw it, and imitated them to rely upon God’s grace. And, they generously gave to mission ministry. How about us? Who do we follow as example for behavior and practice of faith?

Judas the Goat

         When we hear about Judas, it reminds Judas Escariot who betrayed Christ Jesus. Have you heard about the story of a goat named Judas? Several decades ago, Conservation officials wanted to catch all wild goats from a remote island. They captured one wild goat. They attached tracking device and released the goat back into the wild. Goats are social animals.

         Naturally, the goat with tracking device searched for other wild goats. The tracking signal revealed the location of other wild goats. The goat led conservation officials to other goats. So, it was named, “Judas the Goat.”

         Judas the Goat reminds us that anyone we follow may determine where we ultimately end up. We should be careful of leaders we follow. Don’t be naïve. Not all leaders would take us where we hope to go. Apostle Paul warned the churches in the first century that people will try to infiltrate and mislead church attendees in Acts 20:29-31, ²⁹I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. ³⁰Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. ³¹So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

         Christ is the truth. It’s safe to follow him. To discern messengers sent by the Lord, we pray for the Holy Spirit to inspire us. The Holy Spirit inspired Macedonians after they received the grace of God, so that, they followed the examples of Paul and his mission team. Despite severe trials, they greatly rejoiced and generously gave to mission ministry.

         By the God’s grace, we are save from hell. By the grace of God, we can surpass that righteousness of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. Only by the grace of God that we can gladly obey what the Lord tells us to do. Obedience to the Lord practically proves that we live by his grace.

         God himself exemplified how his grace works. Reflect what it teaches in Romans 8:32, ³²He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

         Nobody asked the Lord God Almighty to let his only Son save us from sin. He initiated it. He planned it. By his grace, Jesus Christ was sacrificially crucified for the forgiveness of sin. God wants everyone who believes that to be transported into his eternal heaven. Do you believe Christ Jesus?

         When we live by God’s grace, we sense rejoicing despite hardship. By God’s grace, we gladly follow his instructions without hesitation. He instructed us to celebrate the Lord’s Supper and eagerly wait for his arrival.

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