Good morning, and a blessed Thursday morning to you. 

I think of that very popular hymn, simply entitled, “Give Thanks”. 

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son

And now let the weak say, "I am strong"

Let the poor say, "I am rich"

"Because of what the Lord has done for us"

Those words really reflect 2 Corinthians 8:9.

"For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich."

Notice the whole designation here of the names and the designations associated with Christ.  You have “Lord”: reflecting that Jesus is the second member of the Holy Trinity.  You have “Jesus”: which means “Savior - one who rescues and saves”. “Christ”: the anointed one.  So this full grand expression.

As the second member of the Trinity the Lord Jesus owns all.  You can't get richer than that! Then notice what the scripture says, “Yet for your sakes he became poor.” That poverty referenced here is talking about the Incarnation of Christ… the infleshment of the second member of the Trinity, the Lord Jesus. We celebrate this in a special way on Christmas.

Philippians 2:5-9 expresses this so beautifully. 

5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

6 

who, though he was in the form of God,

    did not regard equality with God

    as something to be exploited,

7 

but emptied himself,

    taking the form of a slave,

    being born in human likeness.

And being found in human form,

8 

    he humbled himself

    and became obedient to the point of death—

    even death on a cross.

Jesus becoming poor reflects the incarnation. But why did Jesus Christ become poor? Back to our text… right after it says “yet for your sakes he became poor”... then it says, “so that by his poverty you might become rich”. Rich in forgiveness. Rich in eternal life. Rich in joy. Rich in the peace that comes through the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Back to the lyrics of that hymn:  

And now let the weak say, "I am strong" 

Let the poor say, "I am rich"

"Because of what the Lord has done for us"

The Lord Jesus Christ, taking our sin on the cross, and we receive the word of forgiveness. The Lord Jesus Christ, opening up eternal life for all who trust in him. How rich we are in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Let's pray: Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for this time in your Word. Your Word is truth.  We praise you for Jesus, that you who are rich became poor, so that we might become rich.  Thank you for the riches of forgiveness, riches of eternal life, the riches of joy, the richness of peace that comes from you. We give you praise and glory and honor.  In your holy and blessed name we pray.  

The Lord bless you this week.  Encourage someone!

Pastor Eibel