July 6, 2004

THE RICH AND GENEROUS ONE

"For you know how generous our Lord Jesus Christ has been: he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that through his poverty you might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9, NEB).

The news media are frequently dominated by stories of the rich and the famous, but rarely do we hear anything of the rich and the generous.

In His pre-incarnation existence, the "Rich and Generous One" was Creator and owner of the vast universe with all its limitless resources (see Colossians 1:15-17). Though rich beyond description, His sublime love and divine generosity made Him voluntarily become poor, so that poor desperate sinners might become rich through His grace. This is the case of the truly rich becoming truly poor in order that the truly poor might become truly rich.

Because of Christ's divine generosity and supreme love, He made us truly rich. Through this generous transaction, we are rich in faith, goodness, peace with God, and the fruits of the Spirit. We now enjoy the riches of divine grace (see Ephesians 2:7), the riches of good works (see 1 Timothy 6:18), the unsearchable riches in glory (see Romans 11:33), and an eternal inheritance in the true kingdom of God (see 1 Peter 1:4). What vast riches! Meditate on these words: "He left His high command, He laid aside His heavenly honor and glory, He laid off His glorious diadem and royal robe, and left the royal courts, in order that He might come to earth to save fallen man. Though He possessed eternal riches, yet for our sakes He became poor, that He might enrich the human race."--The Southern Work, p. 25.

My Prayer Today: Lord, through Your incomprehensible generosity I have been made rich. Thank You for Your riches in glory. Amen.