The Overflow of Abounding Grace

The Overflow of Abounding Grace
Words of Faith 11-26-25
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2025
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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2 Corinthians 9
[12] This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. [13] Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. [14] And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. [15] Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

          What does the life of generosity look like in the Body of Christ? What Paul describes is an explosion of thanksgiving and expression of grace. The more one gives to others, the more he is enriched, and thus he can be generous on every occasion. Then such a spirit toward others leads more and more people to give thanks to God. 

          For the Corinthians, there was one particular expression of this generosity available in the contribution to the Jerusalem saints, administered by Paul. Not only would this service meet the pressing needs of Jerusalem Christians, but it would also overflow in many expressions of thanks to God and bring praise to God. The Corinthian participation in this charitable gesture would demonstrate the reality of their confession and the vitality of their spiritual lives.

           Because the Corinthians sent material aid, they reaped the intercessory prayers of the Jerusalem Christians, who, in praising God, invoked His blessings on their Corinthian brethren. This spirit of selflessness is a consequence of God's surpassing grace supremely expressed in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.  

           Paul concluded these thoughts on giving where he began, with the grace of God — "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"  The word "thanks" is translated from the word charis, meaning "grace" or "favor". It may seem strange, but believers are called to bestow "favor" on God in return for His favor toward them. Of course, we give Him nothing that He has not supplied. Still, it is remarkable to think that, in the cycle of generosity and thanksgiving, we actually bring a "grace" or "favor" to God.

           God's greatest gift is eternal salvation —spiritual riches through His rich Son, who became poor. Such a gift is indescribable. This word is used only once in the Bible and means literally "unable to be recounted or told fully. "Those who have benefited from such a spiritual gift stemming from God's grace should not hesitate to help others with material gifts. The Corinthians finished this work and sent a gift to Jerusalem.

           This is the overflow of God's abounding grace. Are you walking in that grace? Are you experiencing the blessing of a generous life? Are you giving thanks to God for His indescribable gift? Bestowing the grace of gratitude back to God?

          Father God, I am overwhelmed with the gift of Your Son and the wonder of salvation. Cause Your heart of generosity to overflow in my life. Cause the Body of Christ to overflow with expressions of thanks to God because of Your surpassing grace. I give thanks for the indescribable gift of Your love. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Note: Devotions will continue on Monday, December 1, Happy Thanksgiving.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2025
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2025 Jeffrey D. Hoy.