Doing something for the Lord and Him doing something in and through you is a world of difference. If someone is simply doing what they know or want to do in the end they will be tired and happy that it is done. If God is working in and through the individual they will be built up as well as those who are being ministrered to. You may even be dissapointed in that it's over becasue of the joy in the journey. I believe Paul displays this attitude and it's hard to understand if we are just doing what we know or want to do. 2Corinthians 6: 6,7 New Living Translation 6 We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. 7 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. You will know a tree by its fruit. The fruit of the Spirit was evident in the lives of Paul and those who ministered with him. In other words, it was God working in and through them. Not just in action but motive as well. It was by the Holy Spirit and sincere love. At the end of chapter 5 and following into chapter 6, Paul clarifies that what we do either proves or discredits what we say. We see the two come together again here in our passage today.
Verse 7 says they faithfully preached the truth, but they only came after displaying the fruit of the Spirit. Paul goes on to talk about the weapons of righteousness for attack and defense. Remember, yesterday we spoke about the suffering Paul patiently endured. Some defensively, a result of things done to him. Others were offensive or for the attack. These were the things he chose. Ask Yourself:
Life can be difficult, and it is not God's intention to add to that difficulty. He wants us to know life in the Son and to fully enjoy and employ that life in all that we do. Have a great day Loved Ones, and God bless you real good!
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Jesus will never send you somewhere He hasn't gone already or isn't willing to endure Himself. He gently leads us from the front as the good Shepherd. This is something I say to you all often, not because you need to know but because we all need to be reminded of this awesome truth so our difficulties are put into perspective. Let's read what Paul said about difficulties... 2Corinthians 6: 4b-5 New Living Translation We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. 5 We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. Headstrong and stubborn is an appropriate description of Paul before he met Jesus and after. He did everything with great zeal and relentless pursuit, but what changed after he met Jesus was his motive. He was a persecutor of the church and did what he thought was best. He thought he was doing the things he did for God's honor and Name. But after receiving God's salvation by grace, his motives changed. He then wanted to do what God sent him to do- to know, live, and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He would not do this alone. In our passage today Paul refers to we not I.
That Christians are to make it their goal to please Christ and serve him as ambassadors with integrity was always on Paul's mind. He lived this way as an example to the church. For this reason, Paul writes today that they patiently endured. To patiently endure is more than putting up with a situation or person. Other translations say they commended themselves. The word commend comes from two Greek words, which means to stand together with. It means facts line up to support something. The Moody Bible Commentary says, "As a servant of God, Paul probed his integrity by endurance during suffering. It goes on to say that Paul lists suffering in three groups of three- the general, forced on him, then what he chose. General: troubles, hardships, calamities Forced on him: beaten, put in prison, faced angry mobs Chose: worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, gone without food. Ask Yourself:
We will all suffer to a certain degree. Some of the sufferings will come at the hands of others, and others will happen because of our choices. In the end, do our reactions and what we choose to do line up to support what we believe. Let's choose to live life with purpose and on purpose. Have a great day Loved Ones, and God bless you real good! "Christianity is one beggar telling another beggar where he found bread." Sounds easy enough, but a life that tells a different story than the one coming out of our mouths is not convincing. A pastor walks into the cell of man on death row and shares the Gospel with him then asks if he believes. The man said no. The pastor wondered why would someone about to die not want to be forgiven and spend eternity with a loving God. He then asked the man why he didn't believe. To his surprise, the man replied, because you don't. He went on to say if I believed what you say you believe I would walk on my knees across a sea of glass to tell others this news. Hearing this story more than 20 years ago really impacted my life and made caused me to rethink the things I do and don't do and how it impacted those around me. I believe this is at the heart of what Paul is saying to the church in our passage today. Let's read... 2Corinthians 6: 1-4a New Living Translation 6 As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. 2 For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation. 3 We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. 4 In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. Yesterday we read that we who have exchanged our sin for Christ's righteousness are His ambassadors of reconciliation and that God was making His appeal to others through us. That's a heavy responsibility! Paul goes on to say, today, if we have received the gift of God's kindness, literally grace, that we should not ignore it. Then he goes on to quote the prophet, Isaiah. The people of God receive God's kindness or grace back then when He saved from their bondage in Babylon, and in our case, God's grace saves us from the bondage of our sin, and we live out that truth every day.
To live because we're free is essential not only for our well being but also for the impact our lives can have on the people around us. I used to joke with my girls when they were in high school. I'd ask them- when other students or teachers found out you are a Christian did they say- Not in a million years would I have guessed that! Each of our lives tells a story, and the fact that Jesus died in our place should cause us to be different from others. The difference is not outward like clothing or haircut choice but an inward change that can't help but ooze into every part of our lives. No one is saying we are perfect in any way, but our trajectory or the direction we're going should be different than those outside the faith. As a recipient of God's grace and ambassador or Christ, Paul made it his goal to live in such a way that adorned the Good news and ministry entrusted to him. Our goal should be the same. Ask Yourself:
If we are living out what we say we believe it would cause others to ask why and what is different about us, what drives us. We can then tell them where we found bread, and by God's grace, they too will know His forgiveness. This is my prayer for each of us as leaders and students. The next few days, we will read what made Paul's life stand out and make others take notice. Until then, have a great day, Loved Ones, and God bless you real good! There was a little girl who was the perfect and only match to her baby brother and the only blood donor who could save his life. Knowing she could not fully understand all that she would be doing her parents ask if she was willing. The little girl agreed. They prepped her for the transfusion, and when they were both ready, they proceeded with the treatment. As she sat there watching her blood leave her body and enter her baby brother's, she was silent until the moment she turned to her mom and dad and asked when SHE was going to die. When she agreed to help her baby brother, she thought she was agreeing to give her life for his. Few things in a person's life are truly life-altering. One that is a sure thing is new life in Jesus, and God gives it as a gift knowing that no one fully understands their greatest need nor deserve His gift knowing the cost to His own Son. Let's read today passage... 2Corinthians 5: 16-21 New Living Translation 16 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! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 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. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 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. Today's passgae has two of the most well known verses. Verse 17 says anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person and this comes with the benefit of life altering change. Our old life of sin and death is behind us and God calls us to walk or, in other words, to live in this new life. Paul can't help but remind us again that this is a gift from God as he did in his first letter-
"But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1Corinthians 1:30,31 So it is, that this transformation is not a maybe but in Chrsit a sure thing. Then he goes on to make sure that we know why we are saved and at what cost. Paul says we are given the task of reconciliation, which means bringing two people back together again. This is only possible becasue of what the Father sent the Son to do, graciously die on behalf of sinners. Someone may read- "no longer counting people’s sins against them" and think God overlooks or just dismisses sin but Paul tells us clearly the great cost of this great exchange. Our sin for Jesus righteousness came at the cost of Jesus offering or giving His life, so that, Paul writes we could be made right with God. Ask yourself:
May it be a wondeful day, and God bless you real good! Hello, Loved Ones! It's Saturday again and I can't believe it's the last week of July. My brother's birthday is Thursday and my father's is Friday. Time flies. That said, let's jump in to today's reading. 2 Corinthians 5: 6-10 New Living Translation 6 So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. 7 For we live by believing and not by seeing. 8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. 10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body. I ran track when I was in grade school and I loved it. The running itself was gratifying but running against others was exhilarating and if you won 1st 2nd or 3rd place they would stand you on a platform and put a medal around your neck for all to see. I can imagine Mr. Jones, our coach, looked at us with great pride knowing he was the one who trained and pushed us to excel. It's that same feeling we should have when we make it our goal to please Christ and He will come with rewards just like the races I ran as a kid only it will be Jesus who gives you the reward. The Coach is the Judge and He will give His reward with great pride. Go ahead and watch to today's ESM Daily and leave your questions, comments, or complaints. Have a great day, Loved One and God bless you real good! God morning Loved Ones! If you haven't already, go ahead and read our portion of scripture for today and the watch today's ESM Daily devotional. As always, your questions, comments or complaints are welcomed. Have a great day Loved Ones and God bless you real good! 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 New Living Translation 5 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. Hello Loved Ones! It's a beautiful cloudy morning as I write this and I couldn't be more pleased. I love it when it rains day or night. It's great to hear the pitter patter of the rain while your falling asleep and it justifies my desires to stay indoors all day. :) That said, let's dig in today's portion of scripture. 2 Corinthians 3: 12-18 New Living Translation 12 Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away. 14 But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. 15 Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. 16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. Whether your old like me on Facebook or the younger end on TikTok, everybody wants to be seen and reflect a particular image- usually their own. Today's passage ends with Paul saying that all believers can not only see but also reflect the glory of Lord. It is He who makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image. Paul sounds so excited about this, but the reality is that the enemy of our souls- the devil- would have us spend all our time and energy promoting ourselves so that others can see us. We want to reflect the image we want others to see- our best selves. People no longer worship idols of stone or wood; we have become the idols or worse our own gods. We promote ourselves, and we have so many ways to it from TikTok to Facebook and everything in between and new apps in the making as we speak. Paul speaks of they and we in our passage today. They are the Jewish people in Moses' day and up until this day. They are under the Law of Moses, and because of that are under its condemnation. The we are are all believers in Christ. Their veil has been taken off, and now, rather than seeing and reflecting themselves, they see Christ and want to reflect Him. The questions from Sunday remain, Ask Yourself:
Moses' face shined but faded over time. The believer's face can shine brighter over time, but only if our eyes are kept on Jesus Himself. In a sense, we can cover our own faces so that others would not see Him but only the best self we put out there. No one is asking you to be something you're not. If you are a believer in Christ, allow Him to shine through with all His glory rather than yours. As always, feel free to post any questions, comments, or complaints below, and I'll get back to you asap. Drop me an email, text, snap, message, or whatever you young people do it nowadays. Have a great day Loved Ones, and God bless you real good! Good Morning Loved Ones! A happy Monday to you all. :) Yesterday we started the 3rd chapter of 2 Corinthians. Paul reminded the Church that each of the saints in Corinth is a letter of God's grace for all to read . Each had, as we do today, the responsibility of image bearers of God's glory and, more importantly, God's work in them and all who belong to Him. If you missed it, here's a link for you to watch when you get a chance. youtu.be/MpdmOcyVYps We continue today with that thought. 2 Corinthians 3:7-11 New Living Translation 7 The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. 8 Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life? 9 If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God! 10 In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way. 11 So if the old way, which has been replaced, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new, which remains forever! : The drama was high in that old movie! Although Exodus 20 records for us Moses receiving the Ten Commandments was amazing, especially since they came from God Himself.
Your Bibles will more than likely start by saying the Old Testament. The translation I used simply puts it the old way, but they mean the same thing. Under the old way it was amazing that God would interact, speak, and direct His people. Although Moses was the only one to shine with the glory of God because he was the only one in the presence. What Paul is making clear is that the old way in the end only brought death. The Commandments served two purposes. To show us that we are sinners and our need for a savior. On the contrary the Holy Spirit give life. I love the way it reads too. It says laws etched in stone, led to death but the Spirit is giving life. While death (separation from God) is final, the Holy Spirit is gives new life and keeps it going. He, the Holy Spirit, is giving life. The old way shows his people that sin separates from God where the new way makes us right with God. I love how it ends too declaring the new way to be more glorious and it remains forever! Ask Yourself:
Have a great day Loved Ones, and God bless you real good! Hello Loved Ones! If you remember yesterday, Paul started explaining how he was planning to visit the church in Corinth and that he does not take what he says he will do lightly knowing it reflects on God who is faithful. He went on to talk about God's faithfulness to us in and through Jesus Christ. It is with that in mind that we continue today. 2 Corinthians 1: 21- 2:4 New Living Translation 21 It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, 22 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. 23 Now I call upon God as my witness that I am telling the truth. The reason I didn’t return to Corinth was to spare you from a severe rebuke. 24 But that does not mean we want to dominate you by telling you how to put your faith into practice. We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy, for it is by your own faith that you stand firm. 2 But I determined this for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again. 2 For if I cause you sorrow, who then makes me glad but the one whom I made sorrowful? 3 This is the very thing I wrote you, so that when I came, I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you. Our passage today continues that thought of our yes and Amen being in and through Christ. Notice our standing firm does not solely depend on us but God who enables us, commissioned us, identified us, and promised us. What more could Paul say that the church that they would know who they are and what they have in Christ. In Him we have that guarantee. Now remember a guarantee is only and good as the one who makes it and it is God the Father making it, the Holy Spirit guaranteeing it by his indwelling and in Jesus we have or Yes and Amen. All three persons of the Godhead or Trinity are working for our good and God's glory.
That said, Paul gets back to the reason for his visit. It was for rebuke, which means sharp correction, but he makes it clear what it was for and what it not for. It was not to dominate them how to follow Jesus but rather work together with them because of love and for their joy. How many of us as kids were told by our parents, right before a spanking, this is going to hurt me more than it hurts you. As a kid I never quite believe that, but it is at the heart of what Paul says to the church in Corinth. "For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you." This is the heart of which I want to serve Jesus as I serve you all. I want to speak the truth in love even if it's a hard truth. My desire is NEVER to tell you how to follow Jesus but to walk with you together with Jesus. Let's put a pin in it here and pick it up tomorrow. Ask Yourself:
All of us have blind spots and are hard of hearing, maybe even deaf because of all the noise in this world. It may sound good for a season but it will fade. Then, maybe, we could hear the voice of God through His Word by His servants. Let us remember Elijah who heard God's voice not in a mighty wind or a massive earthquake, not even a raging fire, but on a gentle whisper. (1 Kings 19:11-13) Have a great day Loved Ones and God bless you real good! Good Morning Loved Ones! I actually got up before my dogs today. It was so strange because they usually get me up hours before I want to. Dishes are now washed and my first cup of coffee is made and I'm ready to sit with you all and read today's portion of 2nd Corinthians. That said, let's jump in... 2 Corinthians 1: 15- 2:4 New Living Translation 15 Since I was so sure of your understanding and trust, I wanted to give you a double blessing by visiting you twice-- 16 first on my way to Macedonia and again when I returned from Macedonia. Then you could send me on my way to Judea. 17 You may be asking why I changed my plan. Do you think I make my plans carelessly? Do you think I am like people of the world who say “Yes” when they really mean “No”? 18 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” 19 For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. 20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory. The heart of Paul is evident throughout his first and second letters to the church in Corinth. Notice what his desire towards the church in Corinth. It wasn't just to discipline them to have them line up with Jesus teaching. It was to give them a double blessing by visiting [them] twice. But Paul quickly puts a pin in that thought to talk about God's faithfulness in and through Christ. Yes is a word we are all familiar with, but Amen maybe not as much. They are closely connected, especially the way Paul is using them here. While yes is to agree, Amen takes that yes and says, may it be so. You may hear someone in church shout out, YES, as the Pastor is preaching or at particular lyric of a song, then you may here some else say AMEN. They together are saying I agree, may it be so or as you said. As Paul said, God is faithful, and we, as believers, should reflect His character. He goes on to say that all of God's promises are YES in Jesus. I love how he puts it, "all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes!" And through Christ, our "Amen" (which means "Yes") ascends to God for his glory. So, God promises, and Jesus says I agree, and our Amen is saying, may it be so or as you say. But it is not just because we say so, but the authority and right come through Christ who died that it may be so. Such a beautiful promise and a reminder of God's faithfulness. Ask Yourself:
What we say and do should go hand in hand. Although what we want to do does not always come out as we expect it, we should always say what we mean and mean what we say. It is essential that we reflect the character of God. Have a great day Loved Ones, and God bless you real good! |
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