Today's passage shows that, at the time of writing this letter, there were numerous moving parts and urgent needs throughout the Church. The Christian walk is not static, but dynamic. God always enables and empowers His body to do the work He has for us to do, but we need to be ready, willing, and active in obedience. While there is not the legalism of the Law, as Jesus ushered in grace that the Law could not provide, there are still numerous commands throughout the New Testament we must follow. This is how we show our love to God (John 14.15) and while those commands are not a burden (1 John 5.3), we may feel as though we are being poured out in service (Philippians 2.17, 2 Timothy 4.6). We are only pouring out what God has first put in us, so we are not relying on our own works, but on God's provision (Colossians 1.29, Philippians 2.13). As we see in this passage, much of the pouring out is to others in the Church. Remember, this act of emulating Christ Jesus and loving one another is the hallmark of Christianity (John 13.35, Colossians 3.12-17). May the word of God teach us how to care for one another, and how to pour out what God has blessed us with in service to others to His glory.

Luke Harbaugh

There is no shortage of bad in this fallen world. In spite of all that sin, brokenness, and death--in fact because of it--God is at work in the world. This is evident to those who are saved and look for it. May the word of God train us to see His goodness at work and see the sin only as something to be conquered by Christ Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and the power that raised Him from the dead.

Luke Harbaugh