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God, it's when I seek You that I find You. So today, help me to intentionally draw near to You. Give me the courage to shift my attention off my circumstances and onto You. I want to rely on You completely by coming to You first-above anything else. In Jesus' name, Amen.

JOHN 12:26 Ig anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also, the Father will honor him.

What would it look like to follow God today? Honor God right now by asking Him to reveal how He wants you to follow Him. End this time by giving Him thanks.

2 TIMOTHY 1:7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

God is with you at all times and equips you for every situation. Take some time to talk to Him about any anxieties or insecurities that might be holding you back from embracing His love and power.

God, re-capture my attention. Forgive me for the many times I have drifted away from You. Uproot the distractions in my life that keep me from drawing close to You. I need You, God, and I love You. Amen.

DAILY BIBLE READING: 2 CHRONICLES 23-24 JOHN 15 JOASH MADE KING This is the thing that you shall do: of you priests and Levites who come off duty on the Sabbath, one third shall be gatekeepers, 5and one third shall be at the king’s house and one third at the Gate of the Foundation. And all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord. all the people shall keep the charge of the Lord. The Levites shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand. they each brought his men, who were to go off duty on the Sabbath, with those who were to come on duty on the Sabbath. ATHALIAH EXECUTED When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she went into the house of the Lord to the people. Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!” JEHOIDA'S REFORMS And Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king that they should be the Lord’s people. 17Then all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down. all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been put to death with the sword. JOASH REPAIRS THE TEMPLE JOASH'S TREACHERY the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah, “Thus says God, ‘Why do you break the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.’ Joash the king did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada and killed his son. when he was dying, he said, “May the Lord see and avenge!” JOASH ASSASSINATED the army of the Syrians came up against Joash. the Lord delivered into their hand a very great army, because Judah had forsaken the Lord. Amaziah his son reigned in his place. I AM THE TRUE VINE Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Abide in me, and I in you. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8By this my Father is glorified, so prove to be my disciples. Abide in my love, keep my commandments, These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. love one another as I have loved you. lay down your life, You are my friends, all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you. THE HATRED OF THE WORLD you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. on account of my name, now they have no excuse for their sin. ‘They hated me without a cause.’“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

2 CORINTHIANS 8:1-7 ENCOURAGEMENT TO GIVE GENEROUSLY 1We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. INSIGHT A fitting label for the “Macedonian churches” (2 Corinthians 8:1)—Thessalonica and Berea—is “Exemplars of Grace.” These churches were planted by Paul on his second missionary journey in Philippi. Second Corinthians 8 describes these believers in Jesus. They weren’t content simply with being recipients of God’s favor (v. 1); they became channels of generosity. Furthermore, they didn’t allow their destitution to excuse them from sharing with others: “In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity” (v. 2). As recipients of God’s grace (v. 1), they viewed their participation not as an obligation but as a “privilege” (v. 4). Finally, the giving of their material possessions was the result of their having given themselves first to Christ (v. 5), who, “though he was rich . . . became poor, so that [we] through his poverty might become rich” (v. 9). As we give sacrificially to others in need, we reflect His giving ways. By: Arthur Jackson

THE GIFT OF GIVING In his 2024 address to 1,200 university graduates, billionaire businessman Robert Hale Jr. said, “These trying times have heightened the need for sharing, caring and giving. [My wife and I] want to give you two gifts: The first is our gift to you, the second is the gift of giving.” His words were followed by the distribution of two envelopes each to the unexpectant graduates—five hundred dollars to keep and five hundred to give away to a person in need. Though Robert Hale’s wealth has allowed him to share like this on more than one occasion, generosity isn’t reserved for those with great means. Believers in Jesus in ancient Macedonia gave out of their poverty so the needs of believers in Jerusalem could be met. Paul said of the Macedonians, “In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity” (2 Corinthians 8:2). He commends them because “they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people” (vv. 3-4). Those who recognize that they’ve been given much grace from God through Jesus can respond with generous hands to the needs of others. With God’s help, let’s give after the example of the one who said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). By: Arthur Jackson

REFLECT AND PRAY What can you offer generously to someone? How have you been the recipient of another’s generosity?

Heavenly Father, please help me to give generously to others. In Jesus' name, Amen.