RaulRies: "They had been living a nomadic life, but now they would settle down
Comfort in the Journey
And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way,And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light,
so as to go by day and night.
Exodus 13:21
As the children of Israel entered the Promised Land, they would receive new duties. They had been living a nomadic life, but now they would settle down. They would no longer take down the camp and the tabernacle and put them back up.
In their journey through the wilderness, they camped when the Pillar of God stayed in one place, and they packed up and moved when God moved. Each time they settled for a time in one area, there was trouble. In their comfort and idleness, they began to murmur and complain. When they settled down, they thought it was great to rest, but they got their eyes off the Lord.
When you are on the move, it can be a great experience, but when you settle down, you get comfortable, idle. While you are on the move, you cannot get too comfortable because there are always things to do to keep you busy.
The Book of Proverbs teaches us a valuable lesson on idleness: In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty (Proverbs 14:23).
Let’s keep busy doing the Lord’s work, not in idle chatter: murmuring, complaining, gossiping, etc.
When the hands are idle, the tongue is
usually very active.
-Henry T. Mahan-
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JoyceMeyer: " You shall [reverently] fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him"
Enter His Gates
February 11
You shall [reverently] fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and by His name and presence you shall swear. He is your praise; He is your God, Who has done for you these great and terrible things which your eyes have seen.
— Deuteronomy 10:20-21
It is not good to feel grumpy when we wake up. Complaining won’t bring us into the presence of God. Psalm 100:4 says that we are to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.Without thanksgiving we won’t even get into the gate! If we want to enter into God’s presence, we must lay aside all murmuring and complaining. An irritable attitude may be keeping you from enjoying God’s presence. Each morning look at all you have to thank God for and then enter into your day with praise for all He has done for you.
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C.H. Spurgeon: This Morning's Meditation ""And they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.""
Friday, February 11, 2011
This Morning's Meditation
C. H. Spurgeon
"And they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus."—Acts 4:13.
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DailyHope: "Believe You Are Who God Says You Are"
Friday February 11 2011 12:00 AM
Posted by Buddy Owens
“And we … are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)
| "God is asking you to believe he is who he says he is, believe you are who he says you are, and then live like you believe those things." |
This week’s devotionals are by Buddy Owens, teaching pastor at Saddleback Church and author of ‘The Way of a Worshiper’.
I want to help you learn to confess your faith, and then let that confession lead to life change so that it demolishes your old way of thinking and gives you a new way of thinking about life, God, yourself, hardship, your family and your world.
And here’s how to do it: Stop confessing lies. Confess your faith! Say the same thing God says about you. Let it change the way you think . . . and it will change the way you live.
Here are some things the Bible says about you that need to become things you say about yourself. Start every day by confessing these truths --
My Faith Confessions
- I am crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. (Galatians 2:20)
- The Son has set me free. I am free indeed! (John 8:36)
- My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:19)
- I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)
- He who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it. (Philippians 1:6)
- There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)
- Nothing can ever separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:38-39)
- In all things God works for the good of those who love him. (Romans 8:28)
- God is faithful. He will not let me be tempted beyond what I can bear. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
- God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
- My light and momentary troubles are achieving for me an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:17)
- He is able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within me. (Ephesians 3:20)
- God is for me! Who can be against me? (Romans 8:31)
When you say what God says (confession), you begin to think what God thinks (repentance). So let this be your confession of faith. And let it be the foundation on which you build your new life.
This is not the power of positive thinking. It’s not your good thoughts that will turn your life around. God’s power will turn your life around. He’s just asking you to believe he is who he says he is, believe you are who he says you are, and then live like you believe those things.
Does that mean bad things will stop happening? No. But it does mean you will experience many more victories than losses because the Word of God is at work in you.
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EncouragementForToday: “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.”
February 11, 2011
Sweet Dreams
“It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.”
Psalm 127:2 (ESV)
I restlessly rolled over and squinted sleepily trying to focus my eyes on the bright blue digits still taunting me in the night. The alarm clock on my dresser flashed the awful news:
3:18 AM. Ughhhh!
I had crawled into bed nearly four hours earlier, eager to rejuvenate my body with a sound night’s sleep. My ever-full schedule as a wife, mother, daughter, volunteer, neighbor, friend and part-time work-at-home woman had me worn and weary. Not only was my body tired, but my brain raced as well.
Random thoughts strung together like an annoying necklace of woes: Would my latest project be done in time? Is my adult daughter doing okay in her new job and living situation? Is my elderly mom going to slip and fall on the ice in this nasty winter weather? Did I offend my friend when she’d asked for my honest opinion about her child-rearing decision? Are my sons making wise choices when it comes to their peer groups? Would I gain back the twenty pounds I’d just lost…..for the third time?
And then…the dreaded “what ifs.” What if the young mom in my Bible study discovers her husband is having an affair just as she suspects? What if my high school son with special needs doesn’t do well on his ACT exam next year? What if my friends lose their home to foreclosure? What if my sister-in-law’s ex-husband threatens her again…or worse?
And so I tossed and turned; and tried to no avail to induce sweet slumber that would whisk me away from all of my fears, both real and imagined.
Finally giving up, I dragged my flannel-clad self into the kitchen to heat some boiling water in my kettle and steep a bag of chamomile tea. I hoped it might do the trick.
Then, I recalled today’s key verse.
Anxious toil. Yep. That pretty much sums up the state of mind in which I found myself:
ANXIOUS: “feeling nervous: worried or afraid, especially about something that is going to happen or might happen.”
TOIL: “hard exhausting work or effort.”
And all of this worry, unrest and wondering was costing me precious moments of sleep.
So that night, and many nights since, I have taken God at His Word. He says it is vain for me to toil anxiously. He says He gives sleep to His beloved. So I asked Him to give me the very sleep He promised!
As in many areas of my life, He doesn’t simply wave a magic wand and make everything disappear. Oh, He is willing to grant. But sometimes, I also need to be willing to help in the process. So now, when the restlessness creeps in and threatens to rob me of another night’s sleep, here is what I do:
With a notebook by my bed, I jot down my worries and leave them in the hands of the only One who never slumbers or sleeps. I transform my list of “what ifs” into a prayer page of “please advise,” asking the God who crafted the entire universe out of nothing to show me, when He is ready, what action, if any, I need to take with regards to my list. For the time being, I request that He work on them, so I can get some shut-eye.
I also ask Him to show me if there is work for me to do that will require a temporary loss of sleep. Oh, not the flustering worry-work of fretting, but the pure, sweet work of simple prayer. I slide out of my comfy covers and get down on my knees. Then I pray a child-like prayer (about the only kind I can muster at that hour) and solicit the Savior. At times, I’ve even fallen asleep at the edge of my bed. (It may sound un-spiritual, but I see it as an instant answer to prayer! After all, I was asking for sleep and He granted it!)
If you too are tired of sleepless nights, will you join me in this quest for slumber? Stop counting sheep. Come to the Great Shepherd instead. You are His beloved and He has a little gift for you: rest for both your body and your soul.
Dear Lord, I am tired. I am weary. I want to be at my best so I can serve You fully. Will you please grant me, Your beloved, sleep just as You promised? In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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WOW - The Big Picture " Applications of God's Law: Part One"
WOW - The Big Picture 2/11
February 11
Applications of God's Law: Part One
Exodus 21:1,12-34; 22:1-22,25 ; Psalm 20:1-3; Proverbs 6:32-33
"Now these are the judgments which you shall set before them: "He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. However, if he did not lie in wait, but God delivered him into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee."But if a man acts with premeditation against his neighbor, to kill him by treachery, you shall take him from My altar, that he may die.
"And he who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.
"He who kidnaps a man and sells him, or if he is found in his hand, shall surely be put to death."And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.
"If men contend with each other, and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist, and he does not die but is confined to his bed, if he rises again and walks about outside with his staff, then he who struck him shall be acquitted. He shall only pay for the loss of his time, and shall provide for him to be thoroughly healed."And if a man beats his male or female servant with a rod, so that he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished. Notwithstanding, if he remains alive a day or two, he shall not be punished; for he is his property.
"If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman's husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
"If a man strikes the eye of his male or female servant, and destroys it, he shall let him go free for the sake of his eye. And if he knocks out the tooth of his male or female servant, he shall let him go free for the sake of his tooth.
"If an ox gores a man or a woman to death, then the ox shall surely be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be acquitted. But if the ox tended to thrust with its horn in times past, and it has been made known to his owner, and he has not kept it confined, so that it has killed a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned and its owner also shall be put to death. If there is imposed on him a sum of money, then he shall pay to redeem his life, whatever is imposed on him. Whether it has gored a son or gored a daughter, according to this judgment it shall be done to him. If the ox gores a male or female servant, he shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.
"And if a man opens a pit, or if a man digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls in it, the owner of the pit shall make it good; he shall give money to their owner, but the dead animal shall be his.
"If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep. If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed. If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed. He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. If the theft is certainly found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double.
"If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed, and lets loose his animal, and it feeds in another man's field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard.
"If fire breaks out and catches in thorns, so that stacked grain, standing grain, or the field is consumed, he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
"If a man delivers to his neighbor money or articles to keep, and it is stolen out of the man's house, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. If the thief is not found, then the master of the house shall be brought to the judges to see whether he has put his hand into his neighbor's goods.
"For any kind of trespass, whether it concerns an ox, a donkey, a sheep, or clothing, or for any kind of lost thing which another claims to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whomever the judges condemn shall pay double to his neighbor. If a man delivers to his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and it dies, is hurt, or driven away, no one seeing it, then an oath of the LORD shall be between them both, that he has not put his hand into his neighbor's goods; and the owner of it shall accept that, and he shall not make it good. But if, in fact, it is stolen from him, he shall make restitution to the owner of it. If it is torn to pieces by a beast, then he shall bring it as evidence, and he shall not make good what was torn.
"And if a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it becomes injured or dies, the owner of it not being with it, he shall surely make it good. If its owner was with it, he shall not make it good; if it was hired, it came for its hire.
"If a man entices a virgin who is not betrothed, and lies with her, he shall surely pay the bride-price for her to be his wife. If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money according to the bride-price of virgins.
"You shall not permit a sorceress to live.
"Whoever lies with an animal shall surely be put to death.
"He who sacrifices to any god, except to the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed."You shall neither mistreat a stranger nor oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
"You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child.
"If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest."Exodus 21:1, 12-34; 22:1-22, 25
WORSHIP
May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble;
May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;
May He send you help from the sanctuary,
And strengthen you out of Zion;
May He remember all your offerings,
And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah
Psalm 20:1-3
WISDOM
Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding;
He who does so destroys his own soul.
Wounds and dishonor he will get,
And his reproach will not be wiped away.
Proverbs 6:32-33
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DailyLight: "They that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord harkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
February 11
MORNING
They that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord harkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
It came to pass that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. — Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst ot them. — My fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and ad-onishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. — Exhort one another daily, while it is called to day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. — Behold, it is written before me.
MAL. 3:16. Luke 24:15. ‑Matt. 18:20. ‑Phi. 4:3. Col. 3:16. ‑Heb. 3:13. Matt. 12:36,37. ‑Isa. 65:6.
EVENINGThe trees of the Lord are full of sap.
I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shalt be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. — Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
I the Lord have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish.
The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.
PSA. 104:16. Hos. 14:5,6. ‑Jer. 17:7,8. Eze. 17:24. Psa. 92:12‑14.
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GodCalling: "Your path is difficult, "
February 11 - The Difficult Path
Your path is difficult, difficult for you both. There is no work in life so hard as waiting, and yet I say wait. Wait until I show you My Will. Proof it is of My Love and of My certainty of your true discipleship, that I give you both hard tasks.
Again, I say wait. All motion is more easy than calm waiting. So many of My followers have marred their work and hindered the progress of My Kingdom by activity.
Wait. I will not overtry your spiritual strength. You are both like two persons, helpless on a raft in mid-ocean. But, lo! there cometh towards you One walking on the waters, like unto the Son of Man. When He comes and you receive Him, it will be with you, as it was with My Disciples when I was on earth, that straightway you will be at the place where you would be.
All your toil in rowing and all your activity could not have accomplished the journey so soon. Oh, wait and trust. Wait, and be not afraid.
"Wait on the Lord, and keep his way." Psalm 37:34
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ExperiencingGod: "we assume that God is satisfied with occasional love or partial obedience. He is not."
Love Brings Obedience
Daily Devotional for Friday, February 11th, 2011
"He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." (John 14:21 )
Obedience to God's commands comes from your heart. When you begin struggling to obey God, that is a clear indication that your heart has shifted away from Him. Some claim: "I love God, but I'm having difficulty obeying Him in certain areas of my life." That is a spiritual impossibility. If I were to ask you, "Do you love God?" you might easily respond, "Yes!" However, if I were to ask you, "Are you obeying God?" would you answer yes as quickly? Yet I would be asking you the same question! Genuine love for God leads to wholehearted obedience. If you told your spouse that you loved her at certain times but that you struggled to love her at others, your relationship would be in jeopardy. Yet we assume that God is satisfied with occasional love or partial obedience. He is not.
Obedience without love is legalism. Obedience for its own sake can be nothing more than perfectionism, which leads to pride. Many conscientious Christians seek to cultivate discipline in their lives to be more obedient to Christ. As helpful as spiritual disciplines can be, they never can replace your love for God. Love is the discipline. God looks beyond your godly habits, beyond your moral lifestyle, and beyond your church involvement and focuses His penetrating gaze upon your heart.
Has your worship become empty and routine? Have you lost your motivation to read God's Word? Are you experiencing spiritual lethargy? Is your prayer life reduced to a ritual? These are symptoms of a heart that has shifted away from God. Return to your first love. Love is the greatest motivation for a relationship with God and for serving Him.
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DailyBread: we now have “the ministry of reconciliation,”
Will I Have To Tell?
Text Size: Zoom In
February 11, 2011 — by Anne Cetas
Our Daily Bread Radio is hosted by Les Lamborn
Read: 2 Corinthians 5:12-21
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. —2 Corinthians 5:17
Bible in a year:
Leviticus 11-12; Matthew 26:1-25
Leviticus 11-12; Matthew 26:1-25
Jim was sharing the gospel with Kerri. He told her she was separated from a holy God because of her sin, and that Jesus had died and risen for her salvation. She kept coming up with one reason not to believe: “But if I do receive Him, I won’t have to tell other people about it, will I? I don’t want to do that.” She said that didn’t fit her personality; she didn’t want to have to tell others about Jesus.
Jim explained that promising to witness about Jesus wasn’t a requirement before receiving Him. But he also said that once she came to know the Lord, Kerri would become His ambassador to the world (2 Cor. 5:20).
After talking a little longer, Kerri acknowledged her need for salvation through Christ. She went home excited and at peace. Funny thing happened—within 24 hours she told three people about what God had done in her life.
Because we have been reconciled to God through Jesus, we now have “the ministry of reconciliation,” according to the apostle Paul (v.18). We are His ambassadors, and therefore we implore people “on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God” (v.20).
When we’re thankful, we want to share what God has done.
I love to tell the story,
For some have never heard
The message of salvation
From God’s own holy Word. —Hankey
There’s no better news than the gospel— spread the word!
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A.W.Tozer: "I hope that if I am remembered at all it will be for this reason"
Tozer Devotional
Devotions » Tozer Devotional
Friday, February 11, 2011
THE PERFECTIONS OF GOD
I hope that if I am remembered at all it will be for this reason: I have spent my efforts and my energies trying to turn the direction of the people away from the external elements of religion to those that are internal and spiritual. I have tried to take away some of the clouds in the hope that men and women would be able to view God in His glory. I would like to see this sense of glory recaptured throughout the church-too many Christians do not expect to experience any of the glory until they see Him face to face! Within our Christian fellowship and worship, we must recapture the Bible concepts of the perfection of our God Most High! We have lost the sense and the wonder of His awe-fullness, His perfection, His beauty. Oh, I feel that we should preach it, sing it, write about it, talk about it and tell it until we have recaptured the concept of the Majesty of God! Only that can be beautiful ultimately which is holy-and we who belong to Jesus Christ should know the true delight of worshiping God in the beauty of His holiness!
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AlistairBegg: ""He has been with Jesus."
Devotionals by Truth For Life
Imitate Jesus
Alistair Begg
Friday, February 11, 2011
A Christian should be a striking likeness of Jesus Christ. You have read lives of Christ, beautifully and eloquently written, but the best life of Christ is His living biography, written out in the words and actions of His people. If we were what we profess to be, and what we should be, we would be pictures of Christ; yes, such striking likenesses of Him that the world would not have to hold us to the mirror and say, "Well, it seems somewhat of a likeness"; they would, when they saw us, exclaim, "He has been with Jesus; he has been taught by Him; he is like Him; he has caught the very idea of the holy Man of Nazareth, and he works it out in his life and everyday actions."
A Christian should be like Christ in his boldness. Never blush to own your Christianity; your profession will never disgrace you: Take care you never disgrace that. Be like Jesus, very valiant for your God.
Imitate Him in your loving spirit; think kindly, speak kindly, and do kindly, that men may say of you, "He has been with Jesus." Imitate Jesus in His holiness. Was He zealous for His Master? So should you be, going about doing good. Do not waste time; it is too precious. Was He self-denying, never looking to His own interest? Be the same. Was He devout? Then be fervent in your prayers. Did He defer to His Father's will? So submit yourselves to Him. Was He patient? So learn to endure. And best of all, as the highest portraiture of Jesus, try to forgive your enemies, as He did; and let those sublime words of your Master, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," always ring in your ears. Forgive, as you hope to be forgiven. Heap coals of fire on the head of your enemy by your kindness to him. Good for evil, remember, is Godlike.
Be Godlike then; and in all ways and by all means so live that all may say of you, "He has been with Jesus."
Family Bible reading plan
verse 1 Genesis 44
verse 2 Mark 14
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CharlesStanley: "Disunity is found in marriages, churches, and international alliances."
Devotionals by In Touch
Our Inseparable Relationship
Dr. Charles Stanley
Friday, February 11, 2011
Far too many relationships in today's world are uncertain. Disunity is found in marriages, churches, and international alliances. Yet there's one relationship that is sure and permanent.
The Lord designed people for intimate fellowship with Him. His love toward each of us is evident throughout the Bible. In fact, there is nothing tangible, intangible, past, present, or future that can separate believers from the Father's love. John 10:14 draws a comparison between Jesus and a good shepherd—a man whose ultimate task is providing for and protecting the flock. Christ's character is one of passionate care for His people. First John 4:16 clearly states, "God is love." If we believe the Bible, then we cannot deny this fact about His nature.
We also see evidence of divine love through the Lord's gifts and actions. For example, He created us in His image (Gen. 1:26). He sent His only Son to die in our place, and He forgives us of our sin debt (1 Cor. 15:3). John 15:15 tells us that Christ calls us His friends—and what's more, when we trust in Jesus, God adopts us and considers us His children (Rom. 8:15). He even blesses us with an Intercessor and Helper—the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). The Word is clear: God loves us passionately.
The affection we experience in our families is only a glimpse of the great compassion and care that God has for you. Think about the people you treasure most. Imagine what you would be willing to do if they experienced a need. How much more will our heavenly Father be devoted to you
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BobCoy: "The more we trust God, the closer we get to Him and the more we become like Him"
Devotionals by Active Word
Present Tense
Friday, February 11, 2011
Towards the end of the Book of Acts, God gives the Apostle Paul a set of marching orders. The Lord tells Paul to go to the Gentiles (non-Jews) and to share the message of the gospel with them. And when they believed the gospel message, they would receive God's forgiveness for their sins, they would get an inheritance in Heaven, and they would be sanctified. And all of this would happen by faith.
It's that last part we want to focus on, "sanctified by faith." What does that mean exactly? The word sanctified literally means "to set apart, to separate something for a sacred purpose." That's what God desires to do with us as we make our way through life.
Christianity isn't just something that pertains to our past forgiveness and our future salvation. It also has an important connection with our present condition in the here and now. While we await our future in God's glorious presence, we are in the process of being sanctified. That is, God doesn't just leave us where He found us when we first come to Him. Rather, He separates us from the influences and characteristics of this fallen and sinful environment, and separates us unto Himself.
Sanctification is the process of getting further and further from the ways of this world and getting closer and closer to the heart of God. It's the continual act of our nature being improved and upgraded.
As we saw in Paul's marching orders, sanctification is both a benefit and by-product of faith. The more we trust God, the closer we get to Him and the more we become like Him. But if we trust Him less and less, the difficulty in letting go of the things of this world will increase more and more.
Think About It…
What does this passage reveal to me about God?
What does this passage reveal to me about myself?
Based on this, what changes do I need to make?
What is my prayer for today?
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JonCourson: “We will serve the Lord,”
| February 11 | ||
| And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. | ||
| Joshua 24:15 | ||
| “We will serve the Lord,” said Joshua. “I expect this to be reality. My kids will serve the Lord right beside me.” The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Therefore, Dad, Husband, or Grandpa, you need to say, “I have faith that God will do what He’s promised.” What has God promised? He has promised that He Who has begun a good work will be faithful to perform it (Philippians 1:6), that He is able to keep that which is committed to Him (2 Timothy 1:12), that if you train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). For 120 years, Noah pounded away on the ark, preparing it not only for the animals, but for his wife, three sons, and their wives as well. What amazes me is that he prepared these rooms twenty years before his sons were even born. That’s faith! You can do the same thing. In faith, say, “I believe my family will indeed serve the Lord. I believe my kids won’t be wiped out and washed away but that they’ll be on the Ark of salvation.” Have faith. Believe. It’s important because without faith it’s impossible to please Him. “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Declare this for your own family. Expect it to be so. And realize it begins with you. | ||
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GregLaurie: What state is your family in right now?
Devotionals by A New Beginning
Hope from a Family Tree
Greg Laurie
Friday, February 11, 2011
Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people.
—Luke 1:68
The genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1 and Luke 3 teaches us there is hope for the future and the future of our families. Most of us probably don't have any murderers or prostitutes in our family tree like Jesus did, but we may have some adulterers, liars, and cheats. Yet God can intervene.
What state is your family in right now? Men, are you being the spiritual leader in your family that God has called you to be? God has called you to be a leader to your wife, to love her as Christ loves the church (see Ephesians 5:25). He has called you to be a representative of himself to your children, a model for them to look to.
A wife is to love her husband (see Titus 2:4) and respect him (see Ephesians 5:33). When is the last time you told your husband that you loved him? He needs encouragement. He needs to be affirmed. He needs to know that you appreciate and notice all of the things he does for you. You need to tell your husband that you love him.
Parents, are you setting an example for your children to follow? It is so tragic when we see the bad behavior that parents practiced being practiced by their children—and even by their grandchildren. But God can intervene and change things.
No matter where we are in life, we need to be faithful to God. And if you have made a mess of things, the good news is that Jesus can clean up messes. He can untangle things. He can sort things out. If you will commit your life to Him, He will forgive you and transform you, no matter what you have done up to this point. But you must ask for His help.
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MyUtmostForHisHighest: There is no reason to wait for God to come to you.
Is Your Mind Stayed on God?
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Feb
11
2011
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You —Isaiah 26:3
Is your mind stayed on God or is it starved? Starvation of the mind, caused by neglect, is one of the chief sources of exhaustion and weakness in a servant’s life. If you have never used your mind to place yourself before God, begin to do it now. There is no reason to wait for God to come to you. You must turn your thoughts and your eyes away from the face of idols and look to Him and be saved (see Isaiah 45:22).
Your mind is the greatest gift God has given you and it ought to be devoted entirely to Him. You should seek to be “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ . . .” (2 Corinthians 10:5). This will be one of the greatest assets of your faith when a time of trial comes, because then your faith and the Spirit of God will work together. When you have thoughts and ideas that are worthy of credit to God, learn to compare and associate them with all that happens in nature-the rising and the setting of the sun, the shining of the moon and the stars, and the changing of the seasons. You will begin to see that your thoughts are from God as well, and your mind will no longer be at the mercy of your impulsive thinking, but will always be used in service to God.“We have sinned with our fathers . . . [and] . . . did not remember . . .” (Psalm 106:6-7). Then prod your memory and wake up immediately. Don’t say to yourself, “But God is not talking to me right now.” He ought to be. Remember whose you are and whom you serve. Encourage yourself to remember, and your affection for God will increase tenfold. Your mind will no longer be starved, but will be quick and enthusiastic, and your hope will be inexpressibly bright.
RayStedman: "Learn to let God be God"
Watch Your Step
A devotion for February 11th
Read the Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:1-17
Ecclesiastes 5:1-17
1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.
2 Do not be quick with your mouth,
do not be hasty in your heart
to utter anything before God.
God is in heaven
and you are on earth,
so let your words be few.
3 As a dream comes when there are many cares,
so the speech of a fool when there are many words.
4 When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. 5 It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. 6 Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, "My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? 7 Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.
8 If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. 9 The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields.
10 Whoever loves money never has money enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.
This too is meaningless.
11 As goods increase,
so do those who consume them.
And what benefit are they to the owner
except to feast his eyes on them?
12 The sleep of a laborer is sweet,
whether he eats little or much,
but the abundance of a rich man
permits him no sleep.
13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:
wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner,
14 or wealth lost through some misfortune,
so that when he has a son
there is nothing left for him.
15 Naked a man comes from his mother's womb,
and as he comes, so he departs.
He takes nothing from his labor
that he can carry in his hand.
16 This too is a grievous evil:
As a man comes, so he departs,
and what does he gain,
since he toils for the wind?
17 All his days he eats in darkness,
with great frustration, affliction and anger.
New International Version
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God (Ecclesiastes 5:1a).
Learn to let God be God; that is the first thing He declares to us. The lessons of life will fall into place when you learn that. God is in charge of life, so let Him be in charge; take these lessons from His hands.
The place to learn that is in the house of God. When you go there, guard your steps; in other words, enter thoughtfully, expect to be taught something. In ancient Israel, of course, the house of God was the temple in Jerusalem. There sacrifices were offered, and the people were instructed about what they meant. There the Law was read, and the wisdom of God about life was given to people; this marvelous Old Testament was unfolded, with its tremendous insights into the truth about life, about what humanity basically and fundamentally is. The temple was the only place in the land where people could learn these things. In our day the house of God is no longer a building. We must be clear about that. You, the people, are the house of God. What the Searcher is saying is that when you gather together as the people of God, be expectant; there is something to be learned.
Second, he says, listen carefully. A fool is somebody who glibly utters naive, ingenuous, and usually false things. What the Searcher clearly has in mind here is our tendency to complain and murmur about what has been handed us in life. When we gripe and grouse about our circumstances, we are really complaining against God. We are complaining about the choice God has made in His wonderful plan for our life. We will never learn to enjoy anything that way, not even our pleasures, let alone our pain. So, he says, listen carefully, for among the people of God the truth of God is being declared; the wisdom of God is being set forth.
A man said to me, I have been going through a painful experience this past week. I learned to see myself, and it horrified me. I saw things in myself which I despise in others. That is encouraging. There is a man who is learning truth about himself.
Lord, forgive me for my glib attitudes when I come into Your presence. Teach me to guard my steps and listen carefully to Your words.
Life Application: What is the first thought that pops into our mind when we ask: Who is in charge? Have we learned to let God be God and to humbly inquire and listen to His wisdom?
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MikeMacIntosh: "But how do we know God's plans for certain? "
Today's Devotion
From Mike MacIntosh
So Gideon said to God, "If You will save Israel by my hand as You have said--look, I shall put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said." And it was so. When he rose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece together, he wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water. Then Gideon said to God, "Do not be angry with me, but let me speak just once more: Let me test, I pray, just once more with the fleece; let it now be dry only on the fleece, but on all the ground let there be dew." And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, but there was dew on all the ground.
Judges 6:36-40
A group of British pastors were discussing the advisability of inviting D. L. Moody to their city for a crusade. One man, wondering if Moody was the best possible choice, asked the committee, "Does D. L. Moody have a monopoly on the Holy Spirit?" And quietly one of the other pastors replied, "No, but it's evident that the Holy Spirit has a monopoly on D. L. Moody."
I pray that the Holy Spirit would have a monopoly on our lives -- that we would be completely surrendered to His perfect plans for us.
But how do we know God's plans for certain? Gideon, lacking faith, demanded miracles in order to be convinced that God's plans would really come true. Twice, Gideon reminded God of what He had said, asking for a miracle to prove that God's promises were trustworthy. And twice, God reaffirmed His promises with a miracle. Now, we all know that God needed no reminder! For some reason, though, God provided these miracles, despite Gideon's unbelief.
But this is not the way we should seek God's will. It's simply not biblical. Essentially, Gideon told God, "Do what I tell You to do before I do what You tell me to do." It's an approach used by people who don't have faith that God will actually do what He said He would do in His Word. I've heard many Christians refer to this approach as "putting out the fleece," referring to the miracles that Gideon requested. It is not only evidence of a lack of trust, but of self-pride. Be very careful with that.
In reality, we can only know the will of God as we're filled with His Spirit. When you're filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit, God's will becomes abundantly clear; and you won't have to be hesitant, or question His abilities. The Lord wants such a loving and trusting relationship with you that you wouldn't even think about questioning His plans for you. Lord, have a monopoly on our lives, that we would trust you completely, like never before!
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StreamsInTheDesert: "Last night I heard a robin singing in the rain,
Rejoice in the Lord
"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation" (Hab. 3:17, 18).
Observe, I entreat you, how calamitous a circumstance is here supposed, and how heroic a faith is expressed. It is really as if he said, "Though I should be reduced to so great extremity as not to know where to find my necessary food, though I should look around about me on an empty house and a desolate field, and see the marks of the Divine scourge where I had once seen the fruits of God's bounty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord."
Methinks these words are worthy of being written as with a diamond on a rock forever. Oh, that by Divine grace they might be deeply engraven on each of our hearts! Concise as the form of speaking in the text is, it evidently implies or expresses the following particulars: That in the day of his distress he would fly to God; that he would maintain a holy composure of spirit under this dark dispensation, nay, that in the midst of all he would indulge in a sacred joy in God, and a cheerful expectation from Him. Heroic confidence! Illustrious faith! Unconquerable love!
--Doddridge
***
Last night I heard a robin singing in the rain,
And the raindrop's patter made a sweet refrain,
Making all the sweeter the music of the strain.
So, I thought, when trouble comes, as trouble will,
Why should I stop singing? Just beyond the hill
It may be that sunshine floods the green world still.
He who faces the trouble with a heart of cheer
Makes the burden lighter. If there falls a tear,
Sweeter is the cadence in the song we hear.
I have learned your lesson, bird with dappled wing,
Listening to your music with its lilt of spring
When the storm-cloud darkens, then's the TIME to sing.
--Eben E. Rexford
DailyLeadership: Do you act with courage on your values even when that means standing alone? (160-5)
Do you act with courage on your values even when that means standing alone? (160-5)
When a leader stands with God, their position will be secure. Read Jeremiah 15:15-21.
Jeremiah acted with courage to deliver God’s message no matter how unpopular the message or how threatening the crowd. Jeremiah delivered God’s truths even when he had to stand completely alone in opposition to powerful leaders. Jeremiah asked God to remember the stand he took. Jeremiah paid a price for his stance:
- He was neglected (v. 15).
- He was mistreated (v. 15).
- He was lonely (v. 17).
- He was discouraged (v. 18).
God had not missed one thing Jeremiah had endured and God knew Jeremiah’s heart. God gave Jeremiah hope and elevated his courage by giving him:
- An understanding of His power; God assured Jeremiah that He had the resources to protect him.
- An affirmation that his position had been correct; God said “let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them” (v. 19).
- A picture of victory; God reminded Jeremiah that He is greater than any circumstance.
When others disagree with a leader’s moral stance, the leader must first examine and then re-examine their position. But, if upon examination, a leader finds that their position is affirmed as right by the Holy Spirit and in alignment with God’s principles and known word they must stand. The conviction essential to have the discipline to stand alone against all odds and others, even some you may respect, comes from knowing that your position agrees with God’s will.
Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’”
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BobCaldwell: "We are all called to be ambassadors to proclaim that God was in Christ removing sin's judgment from all humanity."
Friday, February 11, 2011 (top)
Great Treasure / Great Accountability
(2 Corinthians 5:1-6:18)
Paul begins chapter five by describing his driving ambition to experience all the glory of our future resurrection, an ambition that helped explain why he had earlier called his horrendous sufferings for Christ a "light affliction" (4:17-18). Having opened up the issue of the believers' great hope in the resurrection, Paul then turns to what will prepare us for the appointment that awaits every believer at the Judgment Seat of Christ. This will include being accountable to faithfully proclaim and live the revelation of God and the riches given to all believers that are revealed in Christ (4:7-8).
One of the greatest of these riches is reconciliation. We are all called to be ambassadors to proclaim that God was in Christ removing sin's judgment from all humanity. It is an accomplished fact. It needs only to be accepted by faith, for then a person is fully made right with God--reconciled! (5:16-21).
This call to be accountable to proclaim the riches of the Gospel is behind the plea in 6:1 to not "receive the grace of God in vain." It enables us to be more than God's ambassadors to the world. An example of how to fully live out the grace given to us is in 6:4-10. This grace enables us to endure whatever it takes to proclaim the gospel of the grace of God in Christ (6:4-10). We have no excuse, only judgment, if we fail to allow God's grace to work through us to showcase, in some way, the glory of the riches we have found in the reconciliation that Christ has provided humanity.
Furthermore, by God's grace we can go into this world and offer the treasure of God in Christ and not be polluted by the world in the process. Love compels us to do no less.
NKJV Bible Text
2 Corinthians 5:1-6:18
1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
| Assurance of the Resurrection v. 1 For We Know – The knowledge Paul refers to is based on what he taught in chapter four. There he showed the vital need to interpret his temporal earthly experiences in light of an unseen spiritual and eternal perspective in life. This Tent – This term, "skenos" (Gk.), refers to our physical bodies as temporary dwelling places. Building From God – Paul refers to the resurrection body that each believer will receive at the rapture or resurrection of believers. He does not make a reference to the intermediate state that the believer lives in until the resurrection that occurs at the rapture of the church (1 Cor 15:51-52; 1 Thess. 4:15- 18). The intermediate state of the believer is to be in God's presence until the rapture (Phil. 1:21-23; 2 Cor. 5:8). v. 2 Earnestly Desiring – Paul believes that it is completely appropriate to have a passion for the end result of our faith in Jesus: to be with Him forever. Be Clothed – Paul changes from the analogy of a tent to clothes. He looks at his resurrection body as what his spirit will "put on" and will enjoy as the outward expression of his spirit. v. 3 Naked – Paul makes clear that to only live as a spirit being as humans would make our spirits "naked." God made us to have bodies as a part of the expression of our personhood. | v. 4 Further Clothed – Paul makes clear that his goal is not simply to get out of the suffering of our current fallen physical environment but to replace it with a spiritual reality that will have a perfected physical reality. Swallowed by Life – Paul points out that the spiritual reality of the kingdom of God will one day completely absorb and overcome the curse and struggle of a fallen world (1 Cor. 15:55-56). v. 5 Spirit as a Guarantee – "Guarantee" is "arrabon" in Greek and refers to something given as a pledge, or a down payment for full payment to follow. The hope of a future spiritual reality in which we will dwell is based on the evidence in a present life of the Holy Spirit, which the believer now experiences. v. 6 Home In the Body – Paul knew that the spiritual reality he longed for would never be completed as long as he was in a physical body. This helps us to not be unrealistic about what we should expect from God in this life. There are limits until we are out of this physical fallen plane. v. 7 Walk By Faith – Because of the fact revealed in verse six, Paul realized that we must live now in a faith-filled anticipation for things we will not experience until we receive our resurrection bodies. v. 8 Present With the Lord – Paul genuinely believed that there is nothing in this life that can compare to the glory of being in God's presence. This explains how Paul was able to deny himself of so many of the earthly comforts and pleasures as he lived out God's will for his life. |
The Judgment Seat of Christ
9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
| Judgment Seat of Christ v. 9 Our Aim – Paul's lifestyle was led by a desire to just live as pleasing to God in this life as he anticipated he would be in heaven. v. 10 Judgment Seat of Christ – This phrase refers to the judgment of believers, not non-believers. It is not a judgment concerning our salvation but rather one based on judging our faithfulness to God's call and to living by the rule of love as the motivating force in life (Rom. 14:10-12; 1 Cor. 4:1-5; 1 Cor. 13:1-3; Matt. 25:23-30; Acts 16:15). | v. 11 Terror of the Lord – This terror refers to a proper fear of God as taught throughout scripture (Acts 7:1, 9:31; Rom. 3:18; Eph. 5:21). Without this sense of accountability before God, it is unlikely we can expect to find sufficient motivation in ourselves to live lives that will one day be judged at the believers' judgment. Well Known – Paul thought that his efforts to persuade the believers to a life of accountability to God should be well received because they knew he was a representative of God. |
Be Reconciled to God
12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
| Be Reconciled to God v. 12 Boast on Our Behalf – Paul refers to the spiritual influence he has had with the Corinthians. He believed they would acknowledge his authority to direct and correct them with his teaching. He pointed to this fact as legitimate proof and support for his corrective teaching. Boast in Appearance – Paul refers to those who had undermined his authority by a more polished style of ministry. However, he pointed out that these men could not boast in the evil motivation of their hearts in the same way they boasted in their outward displays of authority above his. Beside Ourselves – This phrase suggests someone being "out of their senses," or acting in a way that makes no sense. Some may have seen Paul's efforts to reestablish a ministry relationship with these people by seeking to reassert his own qualifications as "senseless." This may have been because some did not see these rebellious people as worth the shameful process Paul subjected himself to in his effort to reach them. | It is For You – Paul justifies the public process of humiliation he went through with them because he felt that in the end it would benefit them. v. 14 Love of Christ Compels – Paul reveals here the source of humility he lived before these people. It was the compelling force of Christ's love for people. v. 15 No Longer for Ourselves – Paul draws from Christ's death for all people as the truth behind his own sacrificial love. If Jesus was willing to lay down His life for us while we were living as His enemies, should it not be only reasonable that Christ's servants will do the same? As well, if it is true that Jesus died for all, including me, should it not follow that I should now live not for myself but for Him?
|
16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
| v. 16 According to the Flesh – This refers to people in their fallen condition, outside of Christ. Paul could see those who have faith in Christ as they are in Him and what they can become in Him. Known Christ – Paul doesn't even look at Jesus as He was when He lived within our human condition because Jesus was now in His resurrected body. v. 17 New Creation – Paul points out that no one has the right to limit a person to his former condition outside of the life-changing force of Jesus Christ. We must come to each other with eyes that allow us see who we are and who we will be in Christ. v. 18 All Things Are of God – This refers to all that results from the new life we have within us that is the abiding life of Christ. Reconciled – "Katallasso" in Greek means the removing of enmity (hate, antagonism) between two parties. God has been restored to mankind by providing in Himself a just payment for the penalty of sin due humanity (Rom. 4:5; Col. 2:13; 2 Tim. 4:16). Ministry Of Reconciliation – Reconciliation is the process of bringing to humanity the good news that God has "reconciled" Himself to sinful humanity. Mankind need no longer try to make things right on its own, but simply accept the reconciliation offered through Christ. | v. 19 God Was In Christ – It was God Himself in the person of the eternal Son who paid the debt for sin owed to Himself. Not Impacting – This is an accounting term. It means that the ledger, or the debt, had been canceled and is now nonexistent. A person needs to simply and humbly accept by faith that Jesus did pay his debt of sin. Ambassadors – Paul sees himself as a spokesperson for the King of the Kingdom of God, Jesus Christ. v. 20 Pleading Through Us – Paul's passion to bring people to Jesus Christ was not rooted in his own zeal or ambition but in the love of God for humanity. v. 21 Sin For Us – The debt of sin was imputed to Jesus rather than to us (John 1:24; 1 Peter 1:19). Righteousness – Our sin has been imputed to Jesus, but His righteousness has been imputed to us. What an amazing exchange, rooted in the love of God and justly worked out by Christ's substitutionary death for sinners on the cross! |
2 Corinthians 6
Marks of the Ministry
1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says:
"In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you."
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
| Chapter 6 Marks of the Ministry v. 1 Workers Together – Paul and those who worked with him saw themselves as working hand-in-hand with Jesus. They did not see their work for Jesus as separate from Christ's abiding presence. Christ is with us in a most intimate way when we seek to bring people to the reconciliation that is found in Christ. Grace Of God In Vain – Paul declares his deep concern that their experience of God's grace may miss the potential of that grace. Grace is the undeserved blessings of God made available through Jesus Christ. This open access to God's resources can obviously be squandered if left unused. Paul's life was a living witness of just the opposite. Paul was able to say that he had done more than all the other apostles by the fathomless resources of God's grace (1 Cor. 15:10). v. 2 the Accepted Time – Paul quotes Isaiah 49:8—the Messiah is heard by the Father in heaven as He intercedes on behalf of those He will redeem. Paul here refers to the present open ear of God to provide grace to cause these Corinthians to be born again and to have grace to faithfully live out their Christian calling. of Salvation – There is grace to fully save a person the moment he calls upon the Lord. There is equally sufficient grace to grow toward God's will without the need of turning to the Old Testament law. v. 3 Not Be Blamed – Paul realizes the importance of living our lives so they are not in conflict with what we believe and teach others about how to live. This would have been in contrast to those who opposed Paul's ministry and lived lives that brought shame and reproach on Christianity. It is vital that every believer be sensitive to his own behavior so as to not hinder the work of Christ and the salvation of souls. v. 4 We Commend Ourselves – Paul introduces himself as one who in many different ways had lived a life of proven servanthood for God that resulted in the benefit of both the church and the lost. Much Patience – Here Paul gives several examples of patience. The word for patience is "hupomine," which refers to patience in the midst of difficult circumstances, contrasted with "makrothumia," which is patience with people. In Tribulations – "Thipsis" in Greek refers to pressures that result in crushing. In Needs – This points to the times in Paul's life when he was in great need. Sometimes he was in need of not only physical provision but the spiritual support of others. Distresses – "Stenochoria" (Gk.) The root of this Greek word means being in a narrow, confined place. It conveys the result of circumstances that create constrained situations. v. 5 In Stripes – "In stripes" means being whipped. We know from the Book of Acts that Paul had been whipped several times. Paul also refers to this in 11:23. Imprisonments – Paul had been and would continue to be arrested on and off until his martyrdom. Tumults – "Akatastasia" (Gk.) refers to an unsettled, riotous or conflicting situation. In Labors – Not only did Paul work night and day in ministry, but many times was also forced to manufacture tents for his financial needs. | Sleeplessness – Paul's difficult missionary journeys as well as his tireless care of the many churches he served often resulted in sleeplessness. Fastings – In the context of this list, this would not be referring to the periodic fasting Paul submitted to as he sought God but to a forced lack of food. It would have been, like his sleeplessness, the result of his intense travels and ministry lifestyle. v. 6 Purity – "Hagnotes" (Gk.) denotes a complete sincerity and honesty of a person's character. By Knowledge – Paul points to the fact that what he taught was based on his accurate knowledge of spiritual facts. Longsuffering – "Makrothumia" (Gk.) refers to patience with difficult situations and people that extends over a lengthy period of time. Kindness – "Chrestotes" (Gk.) is the demeanor conveyed from within a person that shows forbearance, sensitivity, mercy, and thoughtfulness toward others. Holy Spirit – Paul points to the ministry of the Holy Spirit as evidence that his calling came from God. Sincere Love – "Agape" is used in Greek to convey a special kind of love. Several Greek words are used to convey different aspects of love. Agape conveys a love that is rooted in God's nature and revealed in selfless giving. This is a love not resourced in the person loved but within the nature of the one who loves. Here the love is said to be without falsehood. Words of Truth – Paul's relationship with the word of God provided the basis of truth that enabled all other things in him or around him to be judged by this truth. Power of God – The confirming manifestation of the supernatural power of God over natural forces was an indisputable proof in Paul's life. Armor of Righteousness – Paul's life was protected by the imputed righteousness of Christ. It shielded him from the constant attacks that sought to undermine and demoralize him. v. 7 Right Hand – Paul refers to both the right and left hands to convey the thought of complete protection from the condemning influence of others. This was a result of receiving the gift of right standing before God through the grace of Christ. v. 8 Honor and Dishonor – Paul saw approval of his ministry in two equally valid ways: those who honored his faithful biblical ministry and those who dishonored him because of his biblical stand on the issues. v. 9 As Unknown – Paul never pursued fame or position before man. In some ways, some in the early church wrote him off as insignificant. As Dying – Paul often was physically at the brink of death and living a life wherein he continually died to his own self-interests. Nonetheless, this only manifested God's life within him all the more. v. 10 As Sorrowful – Paul suffered much to bring the gospel to others. However, his investment of selfless love reaped the eternal joy of those who were saved through his efforts. As Poor – Paul lived very differently than many of those who benefitted from his calling. They lived in spiritual wealth because of their position in Christ, which was a result of Paul's ministry to them. At times, Paul chose to live in extreme poverty rather than place a price tag on the ministry. By doing so, he not only made many spiritually rich but also became abundantly blessed in the realm of the spirit. |
Be Holy
11 O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. 13 Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open.
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
"I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people."
17 Therefore
"Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you."
18 "I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the LORD Almighty."
| Be Holy v. 11 Heart Is Wide Open – Paul ended this long list of proofs of why he should not be rejected by the Corinthians by declaring that his heart was completely open and vulnerable to them. v. 12 You Are Restricted – Paul pinpoints any lack of love being received by these Corinthians from him as sourced in their own closed hearts toward him. v. 13 Also Be Open – Paul asks them to open their hearts to him in the same fashion as he has done toward them. v. 14 Do Not – Paul now addresses some of the issues that his sincere love for them demanded he ask them to face concerning their Christian walk. In v. 14-18, he calls them to not live a life with a double standard or compromise with ungodliness. Unequally Yoked – A yoke was a wooden harness placed over a mule or oxen to guide it in pulling a wagon. It is very difficult and painful to put two different types of animals in the same yoke because they are at different heights and walk at different paces. Paul sees the same problem occurring when believers become deeply involved in living in close fellowship with nonbelievers. Fellowship – "Metoche" (Gk.) refers to close friendship, or a shared life. Paul sees no logical way that opposing forces can find a genuine ground for a personal, shared life. | Righteousness and Lawlessness – Paul can see no harmony between doing what is God's will and living in rebellion to God's will. Light and Darkness – This is a reference to truth and error. v. 15 Christ and Belial – "Christ" is the Greek word for Messiah, and Belial is an ancient term for Satan that means "the utterly worthless one." Believers With an Unbeliever – A believer lives out a faith in God and His truth, which will determine his daily actions, thoughts, and entire belief system. There is no way a nonbeliever can live in harmony with what he does not believe even exists. v. 16 Temple Of God and Idols – "Temple of God" is a reference to the true and living God versus idols that are powerless deceptions that replace God in people's lives. You Are the Temple – Paul points out that the true and living God dwells within the believer. The obvious question is, why would a believer seek to bring his life that is indwelt by God into harmony with what is in opposition to God? I Will Dwell In Them – Paul gives a collection of Old Testament passages in v. 17-18 (Lev. 26:11-12; Jer. 24:7, 31:33; Ez. 37:26-27; Hos. 2:2-3) as proof for what he has just said concerning God dwelling within us. |
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