I recently asked myself, what would it look like if I let grace continue its journey through me? We read in 2 Corinthians 8:1-15, the story of Paul writing to the Corinthian church to encourage them to follow through to give to the financial need of the brothers in the church at Jerusalem while also conveying of how passionately the church in Macedonia, who had completely nothing, gave without even thinking twice about it. I believe that this story is not talking only about money in the taking up of a collection amongst the churches, but far more about the heart in which the Macedonians gave out of having revelation of true grace. When we think of generosity, we need to know that it is not a transaction, rather, it is a Trinitarian expression of grace. It begins in surrender to Jesus, flows from the will of the Father, and is completed through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. Before giving anything materially, the Macedonians gave their hearts. Their giving was the result of union and intimacy with Jesus, not out of religious duty. They gave themselves first to the Lord and this right here is what grace looks like in motion. This wasn’t about donation but rather devotion. They yielded their whole lives to Jesus, the Giver. When grace captures our hearts, giving becomes worship, for giving flows from union with Jesus. We can clearly see the Trinitarian flow at work here as this act of giving was initiated and sustained by the Father’s will and love. They also gave themselves in loving response to Jesus who gave himself for them and implicitly, we see the work of the Spirit, who formed Christ within and expressed outwardly through the church of Macedonia, so another way to put it is, they gave through the Spirit, to the Son, according to the will of the Father, a Trinitarian act of grace-filled generosity. When we read this 2 Corinthians passage, we read that Titus had been appointed by the Apostle Paul to undertake the collection effort, to complete this act of grace. Paul refers to generosity as an ‘act of grace’, not a duty. What does this essentially mean? It means if grace began, then grace must finish it. Titus represents the Spirit’s empowering presence, helping believers walk out the grace they have received. Grace that began in Macedonia is now meant to flow through the church of Corinth. This wasn’t just about collecting funds—it’s the Spirit completing what grace started through yielded vessels. Grace doesn’t just inspire giving, it completes it, so in turn, the Spirit empowers us to finish what God starts. The good news of the Gospel is that we are the partakers of the New Covenant of Grace. Colossians 1:26 tells us that “it is Christ in us, the hope of glory”. As we further embrace this truth of the Good News, I want us to trust the Father’s pleasure and generosity towards us; rest in the life that Jesus has given for us and now lives through us, as we are in complete union and oneness with him, and to continue to yield and participate in the Spirit’s ongoing grace movement, for Philippians 1:6 declares, “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” My prayer is that we would continue to embrace Grace deeper for not what it is, but for who He is, Jesus, Grace initiated it, love sustained it, and the Spirit completed it. That is the flow of the generosity of the Trinity — and how Grace continues to be expressed in, through and as us. With Love, Pastor Joel | 
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