Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

Today, we complete our memorization of verses found in 2 Corinthians with 8:9…

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 by His poverty might become rich.

 

Grace.  Here are some synonyms…charity, mercy, kindness, favor, goodwill, pity, thanksgiving, reward.

But the basic meaning of this word is beauty, charm, loveliness.  We also have the word graceful which means beauty of line or movement…acts of beauty.  So when we combine the synonyms of kindness and mercy with acts of beauty we have the most beautiful acts possible to human beings.  Through this verse Paul is saying to the people of Corinth…”You know the beautiful acts of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We all know that Jesus is kind and merciful - we know of His self-giving love. He was ready to give of Himself, holding nothing back and still is for us today.”

Before Jesus came to this earth in the form of a man, He had everything - he was omnipotent - everything in this universe was at His command - yet He laid this all aside and He became powerless.  Remember what He said of Himself in John? …”Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in Me does His works.”  He was dependent fully on His Father for everything…He became nothing.

And through Him we have become rich! By His daily mercies, His love, His selfless giving of Himself He has given us power.  Power to become like Him - self-giving, kind, merciful - we are right where He began. He began rich, became poor, so that we, like Him, can be rich, to become poor for others so that they may be rich! 

Freely you have received; freely give. (Matt 10:8b NIV)