Today’s Reading: Romans 1:1-17

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes – the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how GOD MAKES US RIGHT IN HIS SIGHT. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” – Romans 1:16-17

GOD MAKES US RIGHT IN HIS SIGHT

Just as God can make THINGS right when all is going wrong, He can also make US right in His sight. This is the theme of Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians. As we saw in Acts and see again in Romans 1:8-15, Paul had a strong desire to go to Rome. He knew the gospel had reached Rome (probably when the Jewish believers were scattered following Pentecost), and he longed to go to Rome to explain the gospel to those who were new to the faith.

One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you. For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours…I want to work among you and see spiritual fruit…I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News. – Romans 1:10-15

God knew of Paul’s desire and promised Paul he would make it to Rome. Paul’s intention was to head for Rome but first he had to stop by Jerusalem to drop off the gifts he had received from the Gentiles. What Paul did not know when he wrote this letter is that he would be arrested in Jerusalem and personally escorted to Rome — in chains. God’s promise would be fulfilled, but not in the way Paul expected. Let’s spend the next week diving into this letter Paul sent the Romans before he was arrested.

The believers in Rome had come to faith in Jesus Christ, which had set them free from their sin. But now what? Paul’s role was to explain the gospel to them so that they would know how to live now that they had been given eternal life in Christ Jesus. Paul started his letter by introducing himself – not for the sake of them knowing him but for the purpose of the Romans seeing who THEY are in Christ.

GOD GIVES US IDENTITY & PURPOSE

This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News…Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name. And you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people. – Romans 1:1,5-7

Paul starts out saying – this is MY identity and this is MY purpose. He goes on to say – this is YOUR identity and YOUR purpose. You have been called! You belong to Jesus! You are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people – set apart and consecrated for His purposes. Your identity isn’t about who YOU are but about who HE is. Your purpose in life isn’t about YOU but about HIM.

NOT ABOUT OUR UNRIGHTEOUSNESS OR SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS, BUT ABOUT GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS

The world around us wants to identify us by our messes and mistakes, by our storms and shipwrecks, but when we encounter Jesus, when we come to accept Him by faith, our identity changes. It is no longer about our unrighteousness, nor is it about our self-righteousness – it is now about HIS righteousness. When God makes us right in His sight, our identity changes and our purpose changes. And, praise God, our destiny changes as well!

WHAT ARE YOU LETTING DEFINE YOU?

In what ways have we allowed the world to identify us? Do we look at ourselves and find our self-worth in all of the mistakes we have made, defining ourselves by the trail of debris left by the storms in our past? If so, God is calling us to find our identity and our purpose in Him. It is not about our unrighteousness or about our own failed attempts to be self-righteous, but about HIS righteousness. God makes us right in His sight! Therefore, I choose to find my identity and my purpose in Him!

Today’s Reading: 2 Corinthians 10-13

Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet each other with Christian love. – 2 Corinthians 13:11b-12

This is how Paul ends his second letter to the Church in Corinth. It is a pretty soft ending for what was a very strong letter. In humility, Paul highlighted what could be seen as weaknesses to his ministry. But in strength, Paul came down hard on the church for continuing to live a life of sin instead of holiness. He was tired of Christians using the excuse that they are too weak to overcome their sinful tendencies. He wanted them instead to rely on Christ’s strength to be all he was calling them to be.

STOP FOCUSING ON YOUR OWN WEAKNESSES AND RELY ON CHRIST’S STRENGTHS.

Paul compares weakness with strength over and over again in this letter. Christ may have seemed weak by submitting to the cross but His resurrection showed just how powerful He was! We, too, experience difficult situations that show our human weakness but, in that weakness, the strength of God can be evident and God can be glorified.

Christ is not weak when he deals with you; he is powerful among you. Although he was crucified in weakness, he now lives by the power of God. We, too, are weak, just as Christ was, but when we deal with you we will be alive with him and will have God’s power…We are glad to seem weak if it helps show that you are actually strong. We pray that you will become mature…For I want to use the authority the Lord has given me to strengthen you, not to tear you down. – 2 Corinthians 13:3b-4,9,10b

Even when Paul is showing the strength of his ministry in this letter, he is showing how that strength came from God and His weapons. His strength is in regards to spiritual warfare, not human abilities or man-made strategies.

We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. – 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. – 2 Corinthians 11:30

If I want to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:6-10

GOD TAKES OUR WEAKNESSES AND DEMONSTRATES HIS STRENGTH.

Paul was faithfully serving God yet he experienced more hard times than any of us will ever know. But God did not abandon Paul, nor did his hardships lessen his ability to serve God or weaken his testimony. No, for it showed the strength of the God who rescued him over and over again. The power of God was demonstrated each time Paul got up again and continued to do what God had called him to do instead of giving up or avoiding the possibility of another persecution down the road.

Paul stated that everything he had gone through was to show the strength of God in order that the believers could be strengthened, so they could choose righteousness instead of sin. Paul showed them they serve a strong God who is able to help believers overcome temptations and the urgings of the sinful nature, yet he continued to hear of the Church’s “quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior” (2 Corinthians 12:20). We serve an awesome God who is able to take our weaknesses and demonstrate strength! When we submit to God and let Him do a work in our hearts, His power is displayed rather than our weaknesses.

“MY GRACE IS ALL YOU NEED. MY POWER WORKS BEST IN WEAKNESS.”

Grace is not an excuse to keep on sinning but rather the only way we can overcome our sinful nature and demonstrate the power of God to help us not to sin. May others look at us and see God’s power at work in our lives. May they see maturity instead of sinful attitudes, harmony instead of quarreling, grace instead of gossip. May our lives display the evidence of the Trinity at work in our lives.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. – 2 Corinthians 13:14

Today’s Reading: 2 Corinthians 7 – 9

GOD ENCOURAGES US THROUGH THE PRESENCE OF OTHER BELIEVERS.

When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside. But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus. His presence was a joy, but so was the news he brought of the encouragement he received from you. – 2 Corinthians 7:5-7a

I love how God uses our brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage us when we are going through difficult times! Our God is the God of encouragement. God is the one who knows when we are discouraged and who sends people into our lives to bring us joy, good news and encouragement. In his letter, Titus has gone to the Church to encourage them to be generous with others.

GOD ENCOURAGES US THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF OTHER BELIEVERS.

Since you excel in so many ways – in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us – I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of other churches. You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich. – 2 Corinthians 8:7-9

In the last ten years, the ministry I work for (Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center) has opened two more pregnancy centers, as well as two residential programs. We started a mobile clinic in the Chicago suburbs, as well as a chapter of the Deeper Still ministry to men and women who are post-abortive. We added to our services STI testing as well as abortion pill reversal. So many people have given of their time and money to make a difference in the lives of others. What a blessing it has been to serve alongside these faithful supporters. But we are not done. There is still so much to do in order to make a difference in the lives of women facing a pregnancy decision. This Scripture both encourages me and challenges me this morning.

Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. – 2 Corinthians 8:11

GOD ENCOURAGES US TO BE PRESENT FOR AND GENEROUS TOWARDS OTHERS.

The third form of encouragement Paul gives is to remind the Church of God’s provision for our needs, as well as His generosity in giving us enough to share with others. God is the One who supplies what we need and He will supply what He is asking us to give. The result of God’s provision and my response is that God will be glorified! God’s gifts are indescribable!

Remember this – a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say,

“They share freely and give generously to the poor.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”

For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. So two good things will result from this ministry of giving – the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.

As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words! – 2 Corinthians 9:6-14

GOD PROVIDES US WITH WHAT WE NEED TO BE GENEROUS TOWARD OTHERS.

God is the One who supplies what we need and He will supply what He is asking us to give. The result of God’s provision and my response is that God will be glorified! God’s gifts are indescribable! Amen!

Today’s Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:16 – 6:18

So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! – 2 Corinthians 5:16-17

When we come to believe in Christ, when we repent of our sins, God does a work in our lives changing us from who we used to be into a new person. He does this not just for our sake but because He has a plan for our lives and He wants to make us into who He needs us to be for His purposes. And what is His purpose for our lives?

GOD MAKES US INTO A NEW CREATION FOR A REASON.

And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. – 2 Corin. 5:18b-21

In this letter, Paul is begging those who have accepted God’s gift of salvation to be willing to extend God’s gift of salvation to others. We have been saved to serve! We have been given an incredible gift meant to be passed on to those around us and around the world. Our lives can be an example of God’s ability to take away the old life and make someone into a new person. Others can witness the change in our lives and be drawn to God because of the way we live out our faith.

WE ARE CALLED TO BE AMBASSADORS SO THAT OTHERS CAN BE MADE RIGHT WITH GOD THROUGH CHRIST.

As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. – 2 Corin. 6:1

Take a second to read that verse again. God has given us this amazing gift, but we must cooperate with the gift-giver. We are created to partner with Him in both the receiving and the sharing of this gift. If we do not open up this gift and then use it for its created purpose, we are missing the beauty of the gift and the result could have a negative impact on those around us. This is Paul’s testimony:

We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food.

We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us.

We are honest, but they call us imposters.
We are ignored, even though we are well known.
We live close to death, but we are still alive.
We have been beaten, but we have not been killed.
Our hearts ache, but we always have joy.
We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others.
We own nothing, and yet we have everything. – 2 Corinthians 6:3-10

Today this is my prayer. If it is yours, please pray along with me: Heavenly Father, my desire is to live in such a way that others will be drawn to you and that no one will stumble because of me. I want to live above reproach, a life of excellence that no one can find fault in. In everything I do, I want to be a TRUE minister of yours. When troubles, hardship and calamities of every kind come my way, please give me the strength to patiently endure them. When I face accusations, when I am persecuted, when my heart is so burdened that I have difficulty sleeping at night, may others still find in me purity, understanding, patience, kindness and sincere love – not by my own human effort but as a result of the Holy Spirit living in me.

Lord, may my life be more than just an example for others to see but may I also be bold with my words, faithfully speaking the truth. I accept your task of reconciling others to you. I long to be your ambassador so that you can make your appeal to the lost through me. Fill me with Your Spirit and give me the boldness to speak for you – “Come back to God!”

Oh, awesome and mighty God, work your power in me. Place weapons of righteousness in my right hand to proactively go to battle for you and for your lost children. Place weapons of righteousness in my left hand so that I may defend the truth and defend those who cannot speak for themselves (Proverbs 31:8). Whether people honor me or despise me, whether they slander me or praise me, even if they falsely accuse or ignore me, I want to live boldly for you today.

Lord, I own nothing. It’s all yours. I trade all that I have for all that you have to give me. You are my everything and I love you. Amen.

Today’s Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:1-5:15; Psalm 105

WE ARE CHILDREN OF THE NEW COVENANT.

“The day is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the Lord.

“But this is a new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” – Jeremiah 31:31-33

That day proclaimed by Jeremiah had come! Paul described himself as being a minister of this new covenant — a covenant not of written laws as was etched in stone long ago, but a covenant of the Holy Spirit living within us. The old way brought death by defining two choices — obey these laws and live, or disobey and die. The new way brings life as the Spirit lives within us and He, himself, changes us, making us right with God (2 Corinthians 3:6-9).

When Moses saw the glory of God, his face shone so bright that the people were unable to look at him. But this brightness soon faded away. With the new covenant, God places a light in our heart that shines for all to see the glory of God.

WE FOCUS ON THIS LIGHT WHEN THINGS GET DIFFICULT.

For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. – 2 Corinthians 4:6-7

We are not like Moses who had to put a veil over his face so the people would not see God’s glory. When we believe in Christ, when we turn to the Lord, the veil is lifted and we can boldly show the light of God for all to see (3:12, 14). When things get difficult, we do not focus on the darkness around us but on the light burning bright within us. His Spirit reminds us of God’s presence and gives us the strength to overcome our troubles – a power not from ourselves but of God (4:7).

Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up. – 2 Corinthians 4:1

WE NEVER GIVE UP!

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. – 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. This is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produced for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. – 2 Corinthians 4:15-18

OUR PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES ARE TEMPORARY.

Paul describes even our physical bodies as earthly tents that will be taken down and replaced by a house in heaven — an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands (5:1). When we grow weary of our present situation, God’s Spirit within us reminds us that He is preparing us for our home with Him. He has made a new covenant with us, we are not alone. When we believe in Him, we walk away from our old self and allow a new light to live within us, bringing glory to the Creator Himself. I now live for him so everything I do and everything I say today is for Him, so that I can reflect His glory for the world to see.

Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others…Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. – 2 Corinthians 5:11, 14b-15

We are children of the new covenant.
We are fragile clay jars that contain a great treasure.
We have this light shining in our hearts.
We focus on this light when things get difficult.
We are pressed, but not crushed.
We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.
We are NEVER abandoned by God.
We may get knocked down by life’s circumstances, but we are not destroyed.
These troubles are temporary.
Therefore, WE NEVER GIVE UP.

Today’s Reading: 2 Corinthians 2

So I decided that I would not bring you grief with another painful visit. For if I cause you grief, who will make me glad? Certainly not someone I have grieved. That is why I wrote to you as I did, so that when I do come, I won’t be grieved by the very ones who ought to give me the greatest joy. Surely you all know that my joy comes from your being joyful. I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn’t want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you. – 2 Corinthians 2:1-4

Paul continues to refer to the letter he sent to the church in Corinth that was not well received. He wants to clear up any misunderstanding so that they can realign their relationship and move forward. He shares his heart with his fellow believers in order to get past any misconceptions — so that they can understand why he said what he said and how deeply he loves them.

Oh how the enemy loves to confuse the Church! If he can cause divisions among the body of believers, the strength of the Church is weakened, making it easier for Satan to block our mission and purpose. When we allow bitterness towards one another to grow, it becomes a distraction from all that God is calling us to be and do. We use all of our energy holding onto grudges and spreading speculation, causing us to take our eyes off of Jesus.

IT IS TIME TO TRUST ONE ANOTHER — BELIEVING THE BEST ABOUT OUR FELLOW BELIEVERS.

I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt all of you more than he hurt me. Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough. Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement. So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him.

I wrote to you as I did to test you and see if you would fully comply with my instructions. When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes. – 2 Corinthians 2:5-11

IT IS TIME TO FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER — RECONCILING RELATIONSHIPS AND RESTORING UNITY.

Let’s stand in unity against the one who is daily trying to trip us up and cause us to veer from the path God has called us to walk. More than that, he is seeking to destroy us — seeking to destroy the Church. When I recognize that the same enemy who is trying to distract me from my relationship with Christ is also working hard against my fellow believer, it gives me a new perspective. Instead of pushing against my brother or sister in Christ, I can come alongside them and create conversations that will help us both defeat the voice of suspicion and lies.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. – 1 Peter 5:8

When we recognize that Jesus loves the one we are struggling to love, and when we come face to face with the truth that we are operating from human emotion rather than allowing the Spirit of God to lead us, we not only begin to forgive others but we also recognize our own need for forgiveness. And when we begin to find unity and alignment with our fellow believers around the truth of God’s word, we become a sweet fragrance that helps others find their way into a growing relationship with Christ.

But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this? – 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

IT IS TIME TO PLACE OUR RELATIONSHIPS IN THE HANDS OF JESUS AND ALLOW HIM TO CREATE A BEAUTIFUL FRAGRANCE THAT BRINGS GLORY TO GOD.

Today is Father’s Day — a day to show appreciation to the men in our life who have provided for us and protected us; a chance to express our love to those who have taught us and shaped us over the years. Perhaps this is a day that comes with some pain or disappointment in the one who was not all you needed them to be. In the context of the scriptures we have been reading and the truths the Spirit has been teaching us, perhaps this is a day to seek reconciliation with our fathers or grandfathers or husbands. If so, I pray that God gives you the words to say and the heart to forgive; I pray that the Spirit leads you and that God is glorified as steps are taken towards reconciliation and forgiveness.

Today’s Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:12-24

It is believed that Paul wrote three letters to the Church in Corinth – that there was a letter between what we know as 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians. The manuscript of this letter has been lost but it is believed to have been a harsh or severe letter. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was not well received by everyone in the church. Opposition grew against him and he was spoken of negatively while he was away. His authority was challenged and he was forced to defend himself. He left Ephesus in order to talk with the church face to face, but the visit did not go well. Paul refers to this visit in 2 Corinthians 2:1 as a painful visit.

Knowing this helps us to understand the tone of 2 Corinthians 1:12-24. Paul is defending himself in hopes that the Church will have confidence in him and trust his authority. Consider how painful it must have been for Paul to be rejected by a church full of people whom he had led to the Lord. He loved them and considered them his children. It is difficult to suffer because the world does not understand our faith, but even more painful when we feel the need to defend ourselves to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Listen to Paul’s defense in the following verses:

We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world and especially towards you. Our letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines and nothing you can’t understand. – 2 Corinthians 1:12-13

GOD-GIVEN HOLINESS

Oh the peace that comes with confidence and a clear conscience. At the end of the day if my concern is whether or not I have lived a good life or if I represented Christ well, I will fall asleep worrying. But if I look closely at this verse and see that holiness is God-given, I recognize that I do not have to produce holiness and sincerity on my own. I can depend on God and HIS holiness; I can trust in HIS grace to lead me rather than any human wisdom I could possibly come up with on my own.

Humanity. None of us is perfect and neither was Paul, yet he goes on to defend his intentions. He had wanted to come for a second visit but was unable to come when he had originally planned to. So did he lie or deceive the church, giving them a reason to question his word? Should they wonder if his “yes” really means yes or his “no” really means no? If they doubt Paul’s word, will they doubt God’s word? This appears to be part of the issue of concern for the church. Thankfully, Paul knew he was called by God and must respond to God in obedience, even if it changed his earthly plans.

It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us. I call God as my witness – and I stake my life on it – that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm. – 2 Corinthians 1:21-24

SPIRIT-FILLED CONFIDENCE

Because of God, I can stand firm in Christ. He has called me and He will equip me. I am HIS child and it is HIS Spirit living within me that leads me and fills me. When I have confidence I have done the right thing, I can ask God to protect me from false guilt or unnecessary anxiety. And I must do the same for others by being slow to believe the worst about another believer. Instead of jumping to conclusions or making false accusations, I need to use the principles of Matthew 18 and go directly to my brother or sister in Christ, allowing them to clear up any misconceptions or lies.

Thank you, Lord, for whatever lies ahead. Fill me with Your Spirit and remind me over and over again of your presence in my life today. When the enemy tries to accuse me and attack me with false guilt, may I stand firm in you! When Satan tries to engage me in conflict with another person, may your Spirit guide me in wisdom and grace. Amen.

Today’s Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you also share in the comfort God gives us. – 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

TOMORROW’S BREAD

Years ago, I heard Dr. Jesse Middendorf share this illustration from World War II: Hitler had forced many 12 and 13-year-old boys into military service during the war. These boys were treated harshly and made to do some extremely inhumane jobs for their country. When the war was over, these young boys were left homeless and without food. An aid program came to their rescue by setting up tent cities to house the boys. Doctors and psychologists cared enough about these young men to work hard to restore them physically and mentally. They found that many of the boys would wake up in the middle of the night screaming out in terror. So they tried something unusual. Each night they would feed the boys a large meal and then send them to bed with a piece of bread to hold in their hands, instructing them to save it until morning. The boys began to sleep peacefully through the night. Why? Because after years of hunger, these boys held in their hands the assurance that there would be food for them the next day.

Do you ever go to bed with a heavy heart or with anxiety about a specific situation? Do you ever struggle to get a good night’s sleep the day before a big event in your life due to a combination of excitement and nerves? Does anxiety stand between you and the peace you desire? Tomorrow’s unknowns can overwhelm us at times.

TOMORROW’S UNKNOWNS

When I have a big decision to make and I go to bed knowing that God has provided an answer for me, I sleep more peacefully. When I know how the bills are going to be paid or that a conflict has been resolved, I sleep more peacefully. But what about those times when tomorrow is uncertain, when I do NOT hold in my hand the “bread” for tomorrow? Paul has a great answer to this question as we read on in his second letter to the Church of Corinth.

We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And HE DID rescue us from mortal danger, and HE WILL rescue us AGAIN. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety. – 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

It is in those moments when I do not have tomorrow’s bread to hold on to, that my hands are free to hold on to the God of my tomorrows. I stop listening to my fears. I learn how to trust God, which strengthens my faith. I stop relying on my own wisdom, I stop relying on what I have in the bank, and I start fully relying on God to provide.

TOMORROW’S HOPE, JOY & PEACE

Please allow me to again quote Pastor Ed Heck. His words of faith as he faced his fight against cancer continue to inspire me: “…every single day when I open my eyes and every single night when I close my eyes I’m doing so with this thought and prayer, ‘God, search my heart; keep it clear and clean. Wash me; cleanse me, keep me at the point of brokenness where You are the source of my only hope — today, tomorrow, for as long as you give me life.’ I know I’ve said this before, but I want to make sure I say it often because it really is true: This — everything happening to and around me — is not about me! It’s really not. It’s about God and what He will choose to do in me, through me and around me.” – Pastor Ed Heck, https://shardsofgraceblog.wordpress.com

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember the Lord is coming soon. – Philippians 4:4-5

I cannot be full of joy if I am worrying about tomorrow. The NIV version says “let your gentleness be evident to all.” If I am worried, grumbling, complaining, or pretty much freaking out over what is ahead of me, I am not full of the joy of the Lord for others to see.

Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7

Father God, may each one of us rely on YOU for today’s answers and for tomorrow’s provision. May we rest in knowing that you are all we need. Take away from us the worrying and grumbling and fill our hearts with the peace of knowing we can rely on you. Oh God of all comfort, shower us with your joy today. Amen.

Today’s Reading: 1 Corinthians 14-16

We are always looking to see how we can do things better at work. Over and over again, we ask the question, “Are we meeting our mission?” We focus on organizational health and the importance of having cohesive teams. Paul spent some time doing the same thing for the church in Corinth. He gave them lots of great advice on how to have a healthy church and how to be the body of Christ. As we finish our study of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, here is Paul’s advice for the church:

You must show your appreciation to all who serve so well. – 1 Corinthians 16:18b

APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERS

The Church should take care of the financial needs of those called into full-time ministry but those called should not serve for any kind of earthly reward or favor, but should do it for God and for the eternal prize.

The Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it…Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News! If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. – 1 Corinthians 9:14-18a

SERVE WITH PURPOSE

Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So RUN TO WIN! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. – 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

How easy it would be for us to take our eyes off the One who has called us and focus on ourselves or the church or those around us who disappoint us. What a great reminder this morning — I do what God has called me to do because I am compelled by God to do it. If God has called me, He will equip me. God, forgive me when I start simply going through the motions and ministry becomes routine. Lord, I want to run to win, run with purpose, run with my eyes focused on you.

STAND STRONG AGAINST TEMPTATION

I want to drink from the spiritual rock who is Christ. Paul used the example of the people of Israel to encourage the church to not be tempted by sexual immorality or be tempted to grumble. No matter what comes our way, we can stand strong – not of our own strength but on the solid rock of Jesus.

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. – 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. – 1 Corinthians 15:58

USE YOUR WORDS TO STRENGTHEN OTHERS

Paul takes time in Chapter 14 to address the difference between speaking in tongues and prophesying, knowing this would be an opportunity for conflict and disagreement in the church. All of his explanation is based on the idea of making love our highest goal (14:1) — that everything done in the church be done to strengthen everyone (14:26). I would never want my words to cause confusion or distract others from the worship of God taking place in the sanctuary. Lord, let the words of my mouth come only from YOU, building others up and encouraging them as they walk with you.

Here is some more advice from Paul as he closes his first letter to the church in Corinth:

TITHE

On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. – 1 Corinthians 16:2a

LET LOVE STRENGTHEN THE CHURCH

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love. – 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Greet each other with Christian love. – 1 Corinthians 16:20b

Today’s Reading: 1 Corinthians 13

I WANT TO LIVE LIKE THIS…

I wish I was fluent in another language; I wish I could both understand and be understood. But even if I could walk around an Olympic stadium and have conversations with every athlete in their first language, the words coming from my mouth would be nothing but noise if I didn’t have love in my heart.

There have been a few moments in my life when the Lord gave me a word for someone else, but I have often wondered what it would be like to have the gift of prophecy. To be able to shed light on someone’s situation or give them a promise to hold onto through difficulties and struggles – this would be great! If I was so wise that I could discern God’s will, His plan for me and for others, and if I had a faith that was so strong that I could move mountains, oh what an incredible life that would be! Yet, if I didn’t have love for others, it would all be for nothing.

If I could conjure up enough human love to sell everything I have and give it to the poor, and if I would sacrifice my physical strength and health for others — wow, would I have something to boast about. But if I didn’t have the love of God pouring into my heart and out through my actions to others, it would all be for nothing! I do not want love that is man-made or of human effort. I want to love others the way God intended love to look.

I WANT LOVE TO LOOK LIKE THIS…

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT)

This is the kind of crazy love I want. But no matter how hard I try, I cannot live like this. Just like I do not have the ability to speak multiple languages or the gift to speak prophetically or a faith strong enough to move mountains, I cannot produce this kind of love. I try over and over again, but I fail. I cannot produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness or self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). It’s not who I am — but it is who God is, and He is willing to make me like Him.

“We have access to the Holy Spirit welling up in us like a spring. Tapping into Him requires deliberation and cooperation so God can love through us. Like me, you’ve probably asked Him to love through you, then fizzled out within the hour. But here’s the catch: we cannot love when we perceive ourselves as unloved. We cannot offer to others what we don’t possess.” – Beth Moore, Children of the Day

“The world is not moved by love or actions that are of human creation. And the church is not empowered to live differently from any other gathering of people without the Holy Spirit. But when believers live in the power of the Spirit, the evidence in their lives is supernatural. The church cannot help but be different, and the world cannot help but notice.” – Francis Chan, Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit

I WANT A LOVE THAT LASTS FOREVER!

Father, fill me with your patience and kindness. When the familiar enemy of jealousy rears its ugly head, GIVE ME YOUR LOVE. When pride and sarcasm come naturally to my mind, erase them with your humble spirit. Lord, forgive me for all the moments when I am irritable or in a pouty mood. Give me a heart that cries out for justice for others, but not for myself. When I remember how someone has wronged me, remind me that I have forgiven them and that I am looking forward and not back. Heal my wounds and erase my memories so that ONLY LOVE LASTS FOREVER. Give me the kind of love that never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

All of the skills and strengths that make us well-known or well-liked here on earth will someday be useless. But LOVE LASTS FOREVER. Our understanding of God’s plan is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only a small portion of the grand picture of life. When the time of perfection comes, all of our partially completed goals will be useless.

When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love. – 1 Corinthians 13:11-13