Giving Themselves to the Lord and Us 2 Corinthians 8:5

Paul the apostle and his companions shared how the churches in Macedonia were “praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints”, and in chapter eight and verse five of Second Corinthians, Paul shared how the churches in Macedonia “gave themselves to the Lord and to them” where we read:

And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord,

and unto us by the will of God.

The verse begins, “And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, ...” Paul began with the words, “and this they did” which means “the churches in Macedonia did not do”, “as we hoped” which means “in the same manner as Paul and his companions expected, confided or trusted” “but first” or “however before, at the beginning and chiefly” “gave” which means “granted, supplied, furnished and delivered” “their own selves” or “the Macedonian churches” “to the Lord” which refers to “toward he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah”. According to Paul, the Macedonian churches exceeded Paul's expectations and “gave” themselves to God the Messiah first.

The verse goes on to say, “... and unto us by the will of God.” Paul continued with the words, “and unto us” which means “and toward Paul and his companions” “by the will” which means “through the desire, pleasure, wishes, commands and precepts” “of God” which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Paul acknowledged the Macedonian churches ministry to he and His companions by “God's will”.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see how the Macedonian churches exceeded Paul and his companions' expectations because they “gave themselves” “to the Lord” and to them. This blessed Paul, and should be an encouragement and challenge to everyone who reads about them. Jesus Christ loves when His church operates in this manner, and perhaps we would all do well to emulate the attitude and purpose of these Macedonian churches who “gave” in a manner that was a blessing to others.

Next time Paul shares how he and his companions desired for, “Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then,

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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