July 23, 2022 -- II Corinthians 8:16-18 -- Not jealous of others but together zealous for Jesus

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power:  Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord. 18 With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel.
II Corinthians 8:16-18 ESV

In past devotions I have remarked on the richness of Scripture. It is wonderful, the creative work of God, that very familiar passages can sparkle with new brilliance by the appointment of the Spirit. This morning’s reading is one such passage. Here is why it stood out to me. Paul, a preacher-apologist, is commending the work of another preacher. By the grace of the Spirit he is so fixed on the good of the Corinthian congregation that he is not jealous of the gifts Titus has been given. Paul  gives thanks to God for those gifts, recognizing Titus will use them to minister to the Corinthians.

Paul had spent a lot of time among the Corinthians. Many preachers and evangelists can suffer from a sense of self-importance—thinking in their heart "only I can help this particular group of people, I know their needs." Paul has humbled himself before Jesus, the Lord of the Church, and rejoices that the Savior has, by His Spirit, appointed a gifted (even famously gifted) preacher to work among the Corinthians. What does this have to do with you?

Bless God and thank Him, as a parent, for those in your circle of family and friends who are ministering to your children. It is the kindness of God to have others who are earnest for your children’s salvation and that He should bring them into your life to walk alongside of you. Give thanks to God for the areas in your life where you serve God and when He shows you others who are co-laborers. For their presence and their work, honour God and thank Him. In the places where you serve and you have not discovered other Christians there, pray that God, the LORD of the Church, will raise up fellow Christians, so that His influence will be felt through your ministry. A Christian can be used in any setting, serving there by God's appointment Humble yourself before God and ask the Spirit where in your life you are jealous with a world-infected envy of the gifts of others rather than rejoicing in their talents. Where are your thoughts and comments sharp and cutting because of jealousy that spills over. Confess such sins. It is the LORD Who will extend His Church, He is bringing in the saints, through your labor and theirs, so that all of us, empowered by the Spirit should honour the Father for the tremendous privilege of being a workers in vineyard who name the Name of Jesus wherever we go.

The prayer today is the wonderful hymn "From Ocean unto Ocean". It is hard to find a video version of this. I hope you can listen to the music and read the prayer, or sing it! At the link, there is a place where you can click in order to listen to the audio files of this hymn. If not, be blessed by the poetic prayer as you read it.

1 From ocean unto ocean our land shall name you, Lord
and, filled with true devotion, obey your sovereign Word.
Our prairies and our mountains, the forest, fertile field,
our rivers, lakes, and fountains to you shall tribute yield.

2 O Christ, for your own glory and for our country's weal;
we humbly plead before you: yourself in us reveal.
And may we know, Lord Jesus, the touch of your dear hand,
and, healed of our diseases, the tempter's power withstand.

3 Where error smites with blindness, enslaves, and leads astray,
proclaim in loving-kindness your joyful gospel day,
till all the tribes and races that dwell in this fair land,
adorned with Christian graces, within your courts shall stand.

4 Our Savior King, defend us and guide where we should go;
forth with your message send us, your love and light to show,
till, fired with true devotion and kindled by your Word,
from ocean unto ocean our land shall name you Lord.

From Ocean unto Ocean | Hymnary.org

Copyright © 2022 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.