Conduits of Grace – The Presidential Prayer Team

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift. – 2 Corinthians 9:15

What do you do on the day after Thanksgiving? Recover from a big meal? Nibble on leftovers? Enjoy another day with Thanksgiving guests? Remember to give thanks! As you probably know, thanksgiving is not just a once-a-year thing, but a thought pattern, an attitude, a position of being grateful to the Lord. There is so much to thank Him for each day.

The apostle Paul says to thank God for what he describes as “His inexpressible gift.” Other translations call this gift “indescribable,” but the apostle uses many words in an effort to describe or express it, as have many theologians, missionaries, and laymen through the ages. Paul speaks of the gospel of Christ and how that translates to a life of love and giving. The previous paragraphs describe how he is encouraging the believers in Corinth, in the region of Achaia, to keep their promise of taking up a collection to give to the Macedonians.

Paul also speaks of how those who have received salvation in Christ give to those in need and how God, in turn, makes it possible for a person to do and give whatever they determine in their hearts. The Christian life is a life-giving flow of receiving from God and giving to others. It begins with receiving the gift of salvation. As you pray for the United States, pray for believers to yield to the Lord in such a way that they are conduits of grace to those around them in giving, serving, and spreading the gospel of Christ. Pray that they will give thanks to God as a result.

Today’s Verse: 2 Corinthians 9:15

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: Luke 6:27-38

²⁷“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. ²⁹To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. ³⁰Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. ³¹And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

³²“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. ³³And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. ³⁴And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. ³⁵But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. ³⁶Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

³⁷“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; ³⁸give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”