A place for all—a gift to all

For the churches in Macedonia and Achaia have freely decided to give an offering to help the poor among God’s people in Jerusalem. That decision was their own; but, as a matter of fact, they have an obligation to help them. Since the Jews shared their spiritual blessings with the Gentiles, the Gentiles ought to use their material blessings to help the Jews. (verses 26,27)

Read Romans 15:25-33

I have been a member of a congregation which includes people from twenty-six nationalities. What a good thing it is to witness the mutual sharing of money, talents and time between Christians from Ghana, Southern India, Malaysia and Holland!

Everyone from everywhere of every persuasion has the same gracious call from the Lord. He has ‘broken down the dividing wall of hostility’ that once separated us from each other and himself He has done this in the body of his Son, Jesus Christ, on the one cross at one time, in the one place of Calvary (Ephesians 2: 14-18).

So, as Paul calls Christians from different sides of the ethnic, political and genetic fence freely to give to each other, we as people who live in the grace of our common baptism, as adopted children of our heavenly Father, gladly do the same today.

Heavenly Father, shower your grace on me so that I may freely give myself, my time and my possessions to those you place before me this day. Amen.

by Adrian Kitson, in ‘Renewed Hope for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2000)

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