Match It, Follow Through!

Week 14 Day 6.5

2 Corinthians 8:11; 9:13

Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.

¹³ Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

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The confession of our faith requires proofs.  Yes, we are not saved by what we do but the saved will do good works.  Paul here is encouraging the people in Corinth to match their vows, promise, commitment to the Lord by completing it through good works (in this context, generous giving and following through what they promised would do to support the ministry of Paul).

Few observations:

• Willingness without work remains incomplete until finished with action.
• Eager willingness is completed when matched up by “finishing the work.”
• Service is one way to prove our salvation. (v. 13a)
• Our obedience could cause others to praise God. (v. 13b)
• Obedience (including generosity) must accompany our confession of the gospel of Christ. (v. 13b)

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With what I do, people will be blessed, give praise to God and will be able to prove that I am truly saved (although, not by works alone either because we are not saved by what we do but by the grace of God which enables us to do good works!)  What I say I am and would do will not be completed until I “finish the work”.  My eager willingness must be matched up by the completion of it.  Whether this willingness is to help support other people financially (as it is talking about in this passage/context), or just following through what I say I would do – in small or big things. 

BIG THINGS:

My salvation – that my life would prove that I am saved by constantly living in the fear of the Lord and in complete obedience to Him; living a life of integrity when both seen or unseen by others.

SMALL THINGS:

Following through plans and doing the necessary steps to complete it.  To be organized in my time and schedule that I may be able to accomplish the work needed to be done to prove (in a good way) and follow through what I said I would do. (The 4 things: YA, YC, EV, PL)

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Lord, you know how much I need Your help to follow through these things.  It’s really difficult knowing that there’s so much on my plate.  I pray that You will help me to make sure I am not too busy to do the most important things.  I want to grow to the next level and I pray that You will give me the courage that I need to take bold steps of faith in obedience to Your Word.  I know you will not leave me alone.  I just offer everything to You!  In Christ’s name I can do all things, Amen!