October 13

2 Corinthians 8

We should follow Christ’s example and be generous toward others.

INSIGHT

One of the marks of maturity is the ability to put off immediate reward for the sake of a future goal. Likewise, the willingness to put off temporal reward for the sake of eternal reward is a good mark of Christian maturity. The Scriptures teach that someday we must all appear before the bema seat of Christ. In ancient Greece, the bema was the grandstand where judges gave out honors to the winners of athletic competitions. Thus, it is before the divine “bema” that we will all appear. If we compete according to the eternal rules, we will gain the honor of reward from the eternal Judge. As Paul wrote, we must set our minds “on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2).

PRAYER

Praise God for supplying all your needs:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Indeed I have all and abound. I am full…
And my God shall supply all your needs according to
His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:18-19)

Pause for praise and thanksgiving, and pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.
The law of Your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of coins of gold and silver. (Psalm 119:71-72)

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind and pray this affirmation to the Lord:
Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding;
For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver,
And her gain than fine gold.
She is more precious than rubies,
And all the things you may desire cannot
compare with her. (Proverbs 3:13-15)

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

• Yieldedness to God’s will
• Missionaries in the Middle East
• Your activities for the day

Offer this closing prayer to the Lord:
May the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21)