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Do you remember the first time you played with Silly Putty®? It is surprising stuff! Some of you may not know what it is. It is a toy, a moldable putty much like modelling clay. But you can roll it into a ball and it will bounce! Hit it with a hammer and it will break. It can also flow like a liquid under the right conditions. Like I said, surprising stuff.
You can say the same about joy. The Holy Spirit produces it in followers of Jesus. It is surprising because of the way it expresses itself. Earlier this week we talked about how people often shout for joy. Another surprising expression is generous giving.
In 2 Corinthians 8:1-2 Paul wrote, “And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.” (NIV)
I don’t know what the formula for Silly Putty® is, nor do I care. But the formula for the Macedonian generosity was first, severe trial. Then factor in extreme poverty. It doesn’t sound very promising for generous giving, does it. But let joy overflow it, and rich generosity results!
Joy is a catalyst that can transform your life. Allow God to produce that joy in you and make you more generous.
Silly Putty is a trademark of Crayola LLC.
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Bumper music “Landing Place” performed by Mark July, used under license from Shutterstock.