2 Corinthians 9:1–5 (ESV)
The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem
9 Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about
you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter,
so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. 5 So
I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.
Because good intentions sometimes do not get acted on, Paul sends three representatives to Corinth to offer gentle encouragement to deliver what was promised. The Lord has representatives to encourage us today as well. E.g., we should listen to those
who gently remind us to keep our baptismal vows.
I pray: We offer thanks to You, Lord, that You did not count the cost when You sent Your Son. For His sake, You watch
over Your promises to keep them. Lord, drown my old self in the waters of Baptism day by day, that my new self may truly please You in all things. Amen.
Edward A. Engelbrecht, The Lutheran Study Bible (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 2009), 1992.