2 Corinthians 1:12-14 New Living Translation 12 We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you. 13 Our letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines and nothing you can’t understand. I hope someday you will fully understand us, 14 even if you don’t understand us now. Then on the day when the Lord Jesus returns, you will be proud of us in the same way we are proud of you. Hello Loved Ones! Our adventure through 2nd Corinthians begins! Don't worry if you miss a day just jump in and you'll be all caught up before you know it. Today was just three verses. Remember to like share and subscribe and hit that notification button so will know when there is a new video for you.
Have a great day Loved Ones and God bless you real good!
0 Comments
Hello Loved Ones! I'ts HOT outside! I don't particularly like being outside when it's like this but I did like seeing some of you yesterday on our Caf'[een] run. :) That said let's jump in to our passage today. 1 Corinthians 16: 10-12 10 If Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear from you, because he is doing the Lord’s work, just as I am. 11 Therefore, no one should look down on him. Send him on his way in peace so he can come to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers. 12 About our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers, but he was not at all willing to come now. However, he will come when he has an opportunity. Many make the church work. It is a living organism, not an organization. It is something I have known and mentioned before but is now sinking more deeply into my understanding of the church: it is NOT, nor should it be up to one person—Paul names Timothy and Apollos as fellow workers of the Lord. Apollos already had the respect of the church, but he needed to instruct the church concerning Timothy. His instruction that they should not give him cause to fear may have been because he was young. Paul wrote to Timothy about this very thing.
Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. 1Timothy 4:12 Not letting someone look down one you has little to do with words but with action. It is not giving them the opportunity or reason to look down on you. As a young person, you have to be on guard. Watch what you say and do and represent the Lord well. Jesus tells us in John 15 to make our home in him, and then this would flow naturally from Him to us then out of us. Jesus said it this way. "I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me." John 15:5 If you find it difficult to live for Jesus, it is because that was never His intention. He died and was raised to new life that we would walk/live in Him. He must live in and through you. It is important to note that Paul didn't pull rank on Apollos and say he had to go but instead said he strongly urged him. It was Apollos' decision to stay and maybe go at another time. Remember, counsel is good, but the choice is ours to receive it. Part of being a disciple is following a shepherd [pastor/elder], and Jesus gives us all shepherds to lead us for our good and His glory. Part of our pattern of living should include asking others before we make decisions—especially life-changing ones. Ask Yourself:
If the answer is no to one, some, or all of these questions, you are missing out and possibly endangering yourself by not following God's pattern and plan for His people. Consider starting a closer relationship with a leader, male if you are male and female if you are female. I am always ready and willing to meet with you and help you through life's obstacles, but I shouldn't be the only one. And if your not willing to just have everyday conversations with someone, you will never build up that trust that come with time. We love you and are want what is best for each of you. Have a great day Loved Ones, and God bless you real good! 1Corinthians 16:5-9 HCSB 5 I will come to you after I pass through Macedonia—for I will be traveling through Macedonia— 6 and perhaps I will remain with you or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way wherever I go. 7 I don’t want to see you now just in passing, for I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord allows . 8 But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 because a wide door for effective ministry has opened for me--yet many oppose me. Good morning, Loved Ones! It so hot outside today, praying you all are staying cool and making the most of your time. :)
In our passage today, Paul says he will a number of times, but in the end he clearly says if the Lord allows. This is important for all of us to remember because we can make plans, but if the Lord wills different, those plans will not come to pass. We are not in absolute control, and some things may keep us from fulfilling our promise or word when we say we will do so and so. You can hear Paul's heart and his desire to see the saints in Corinth and stay with them for a while. I believe the time he was in Corinth was the longest Paul remained in a single city in his three missionary journeys. He stayed there a year and a half, according to Acts 18: 9-11. "Then the Lord said to Paul in a night vision, "Don't be afraid, but keep on speaking and don't be silent. For I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to hurt you, because I have many people in this city." And he stayed there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them." One thing that seems to be a constant in all of our lives is opposition. It's worse for some more than others, but we should never minimize the reality of someone's struggles just because they are not ours or as intense as ours. Sometimes it seems that we are either in a struggle, coming out of a struggle, or anticipating another. This may or may not be true for all of us, but one thing is for sure that God gets our attention with struggles like He doesn't when all is calm and as we believe it should be. Paul was not a stranger to struggle and that much worse than we would ever experience. The opposition he faced for preaching the Gospel was unparalleled in his time and maybe even ours. We will talk more about this in detail in our 2 Corinthians study starting a week from Sunday. Just because it was a God-given opportunity, it didn't come without opposition. Ask Yourself: Am I making promises of plans that I may not be able to keep? Our good intentions do not keep people from being hurt if we do not follow through with what we promised or said we would do. We have to think before we make such a claim and let people know it would only be if the Lord allows. Do I ever sense opposition or the struggle thinking it is God saying to stop? It may be, but the reality is that the enemy of our soul hates you and anything we want to do for the Lord. If we want God to do anything in and through us, do not assume it will be easy or will not be met with struggle or opposition. Love Ones know that anything worth doing is worth doing even if it comes with a struggle. With our eyes on the Lord, it's those times that we will most grow in Christ-likeness for our good and His glory. Have a great, and God bless you real good! :) |
Archives
August 2023
Categories
All
|