Tuesday, December 9, 2008

I Am Rich Because Christ Was Made Poor


I Am Rich Because Christ Was Made Poor 
 
2 Corinthians 8:9 
9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

When we think of God, we think of the richest being in the whole universe. But did you know that our Lord Jesus was actually born into a poor family? We know this from the offering His mother, Mary, brought to the temple after Jesus was born, according to the Law for purification. (Luke 2:22–24) She brought a pair of turtledoves or young pigeons, which was the offering of the poor. (Leviticus 12:2, 8) 

But with Jesus in their lives, His family didn’t remain poor. After Jesus was born, the Bible tells us that wise men came to Him — “And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11)

His presence brought in gold, frankincense and myrrh (two of the most expensive spices) to His family. Now, the wise men must have come with quite an entourage for the Bible records how all Jerusalem was fearful when the wise men came to Jerusalem. (Matthew 2:3) Can you imagine the amount of gold, frankincense and myrrh which accompanied that entourage, and which came into His family?

My friend, the moment you are born again, you have Jesus in your life. And when you have Jesus in your life, you can get ready to prosper because “gold” will come to you! But don’t look for the “gold”, look to Jesus — He is the power to get wealth. The presence of the Son of the living God in your life brings in the provisions. The Bible tells us that because of His grace towards us, Jesus, though He was rich, was made poor at the cross for your sake so that “you through His poverty might become rich”.

Beloved, when you have Him in your life, and when you know He has paid the price for your prosperity, you can declare, “I am rich because Jesus was made poor on the cross for me!”

- From Pastor Joseph Prince

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