<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="lu+6:27-40">Luke 6:27-40</span></span></p><p>The fifth Beatitude - "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy" - is quite different from the ones that precede it. In the first four, there is a contrast between the need and the fulfilment. The "poor in spirit" receive the kingdom; those "who mourn" are comforted; "the meek" inherit the earth; those who "hunger and thirst" are satisfied; but in the fifth Beatitude the theme changes: "the merciful will be shown mercy". It is as though we cannot receive mercy without first giving it. We must move carefully here, for no Beatitude has been more misunderstood than this one. There are those who take these words to mean that we can only be forgiven by God to the extent that we forgive others. They bring alongside this Beatitude such passages as: "Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us" (<span class="scriptRef" ref="lu+11:4">Luke 11:4</span>), and "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart"  (<span class="scriptRef" ref="mt+18:35">Matthew 18:35</span>). Putting all these Scriptures together, they claim that it is the clear meaning of the Bible that we are forgiven by God only to the degree that we forgive others. If this is so, then salvation is by works and not by grace. We must never interpret Scripture in a way that contradicts other Scriptures. What our Lord means in this fifth Beatitude is that when we demonstrate mercy to others, we make it possible for God's mercy to penetrate deeper into our own lives and personalities. The act of giving makes us more able to receive.</p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">O Father, help me not to stumble over this truth. Show me that although my forgiveness of others is not a condition of salvation, it must be a consequence of it. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="2co+9:1-6">2 Corinthians 9:1-6</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="pr+11:25">Proverbs 11:25</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="pr+22:9">Proverbs 22:9</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="mt+10:8">Matthew 10:8</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What is the law of sowing and reaping?</li><li>What was Jesus' instruction to the disciples?</li></ul></div></div>

Let a little light into your soul every day with this wonderful devotional from English pastor Selwyn Hughes.

Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

"Give, and it will be given to you '" (v. 38) 

<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="ro+5:1-8">Romans 5:1-8</span></span></p><p>Why should the offer of free salvation in Christ be such a stumbling block to the world? Mainly because it cuts deep into people's pride. Bishop Neill, a writer, says: "... that which we ask the Muslim to look for in Jesus is in itself a cause of grave offense to Muslim pride. We suggest - we cannot do otherwise - that he find a Savior. The Muslim affirms that he has no need of such a thing." Pride adopts the stance: "I can save myself by my fasting, good works, or other meritorious acts." But the message of the gospel is this: there is simply nothing we can do to save ourselves. We must let God save us - or be lost. Helen Woodhouse, another religious writer, says: "We think we must climb to a certain height of goodness before we can reach God, but He doesn't say, 'at the end of the road you may find Me'; rather, 'I am the Way, I am the road under your feet, the road that begins just as low down as you happen to be.'" If we are in a hole, then the way begins in a hole. The moment we give up our pride and turn our face to God, confessing that we can do nothing to save ourselves, that moment we put ourselves in the position where we can be saved. The next step is simply to call out to the Lord and ask Him to save you. If you have never done that before, I urge you - do it today. </p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">O God, I see clearly that I can do nothing to save myself, and if I am to be saved then I must look to You to save me. I repent of my sin, and turn to You as Your Word commands. Save me. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="2co+9:1-15">2 Corinthians 9:1-15</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ro+6:23">Romans 6:23</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="eph+2:8">Ephesians 2:8</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="joh+4:10">John 4:10</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>How is salvation described?</li><li>What two responses can we have?</li></ul></div></div>

"... at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly." (v. 6) 

<p>The farmer could not make a greater mistake, than to suppose he would gain by not scattering his seed in the field. To keep the seed is to deprive it of its value; to cut oneself off from the blessing that might have been expected ; and to inflict the greatest wound upon the future. No, scatter it; throw it away and let it go to naught, apparently, and be long lost, if need be, and forgotten; in its appointed time it will come up loaded with treasures which it has gathered from the secret places of the earth. Then will it appear that your wealth is proportioned to your liberality. </p><p>There is to be a judgment according to works. By faith in Christ we succeed to heaven; but our works, evincing the measure of our faith, will determine the place we are to occupy in heaven, the degree of glory with which we are to be invested, </p><p>But what is meant by sowing? Using the gifts of God according to the will of God, and consequently in a way that will produce the greatest amount of good to our fellow-men. Much wisdom is needed in order to give aright; but we are responsible to have this wisdom. The man who receives gifts from God, receives an appointment from God; namely, that of donor; and the wisdom to discharge the functions connected with this appointment will surely not be withheld, if it be ingenuously asked. We are to look upon the world as God looks upon it, and then we shall know how to minister to our fellow men. </p><p>You are a believer, are you not? You are expecting heaven through the grace of Christ which you appropriate by faith. But do not suppose, friend, that the faith by which you shall be saved is one faith, and the faith that leads to generous acts is another faith. When I see you scattering seed, I look at the very faith which is to bring about your salvation. Your daily, hourly movements, call men to look upon that precious principle which is to open for you, if they be opened for you, the gates of heaven. You are to live by faith; to live now by it, if you would live hereafter by it. </p>

A daily devotional written by a Baptist Missionary to India, Reverend George Bowen (1816-1888) over 150 years ago.

Bowen's Daily Meditations

" He which soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly." - 2 Corinthians 9:6. 

<p>He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. §  On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper.<br><br>God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.<br><br>I beseech you … , brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. § The love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. § Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.</p>

Daily Light on the Daily Path or Daily Light is a Christian daily devotional scripture reading published by Bagster & Sons about 1875. It has been reprinted continually since then. It consists of brief groupings of scripture passages which speak to prominent Biblical themes—two themes (morning and evening) for each day of the year. It appends no commentary, but simply allows scripture to speak for itself.

Morning Daily Light

 Honour the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase. 

<p>This poor widow has put in more than all. § Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. § If there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.<br><br>Let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. § If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? § He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.<br><br>When you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, “We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.”</p>

Evening Daily Light

 She has done what she could. 

<p>Those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same. § They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind. § He who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption.<br><br>He who sows righteousness will have a sure reward. § He who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.<br><br>There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself. § He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.</p>

 Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 

<p><h3>Generosity Encouraged</h3></p><p><span class="bible-text "> <sup class="verse-num ">6 </sup>Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.   </span></p>

2 Corinthians 9:6

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.<cr>1</cr> 

 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

New International Version

 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

<p><span class="bible-text ">Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.   </span></p>

 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  

Bible Verse of the Day

February 27, 2023

2 Corinthians 9:6 NIV

Verse by Verse Bible Study

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