2 Corinthians 8:16-24 "I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you and all of the nations of the world will be blessed by you"

Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man. In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it. God does not choose his representatives only from one elect source. Instead his representatives are those who have received him and after receiving him they pursue him. These chosen are both Jews and men and women from the nations who love God and are called by him. So it is in today's lesson. People who are not the elect become the elect by blessing the Isrealites. As it is written "I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you and all of the nations of the world will be blessed by you"