Happy Monday! It’s March 31, 2025, and Easter is just around the corner! I’m writing this from Japan, where I had the incredible privilege of speaking at New Hope Tokyo as they celebrated their 25th anniversary—what a milestone! Congratulations to our New Hope family in Japan! Today, Paul is traveling throughout the churches with a message, and that message is being delivered to our church as well! Read on…
Today's Reading:
Judges 9,10; Psalms 49; 1 Corinthians 16
Scripture
“Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up so that when I come, no collections will have to be made.” (1 Cor. 16:2)
Observation
Paul makes one thing clear—giving wasn’t a last-minute thought or an occasional act of kindness. It was to be a way of life. It required planning, intentionality, and consistency. Notice that he tells the church to give on the first day of the week… that’s Sunday when the church gathered, and it was to be a first-fruits offering, an act of faith that placed God above all else. Paul didn’t want to have to make a special effort to get people to give generously. He wanted them to plan and make it a priority in their gatherings—a joyful, consistent rhythm of worship.
Application
As we walk through this season of our “Gathering Place” canopy project, I’m reminded that sustained generosity is what builds God’s Kingdom—not just a once-in-a-while gift, but a heart that beats with ongoing faithfulness. When we plan and make giving a priority, it activates the miraculous. Paul’s words weren’t just for one church or one occasion. This was his message throughout the churches because generosity wasn’t about a fundraiser—it was about a transformed heart.
Prayer
Father, we have such a wonderful group of people, so I pray that Your Word will instruct us in ways that Your will can be accomplished through each of us. We want to be kingdom builders, not just kingdom watchers. Strengthen us so we will rise with willing and sustained generosity. May we say “yes” to Your call so we can experience Your miraculous provision at work in our midst.
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