Magnificent

The last few days, I posted my thoughts from 2 Corinthians 6-9 that I had written out for our church's blog. This is from Friday's reading on chapter ten.

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5).

I really wish that this chapter could continue on in the same vein as the last few. I absolutely loved where we were headed and how encouraged I felt every time I dove into the Word. But for some reason, Paul stops here to defend his authority and his ministry. "I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world" (verse 2). Later, in verse 12, he bitingly declares, "Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn't dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!"

Apparently, the Corinthians were judging so-called important Christians based on appearances (verse 7). Many seemed to think that Paul was timid and unimpressive in person, which did not match up with his bold and forceful letters. But Paul assures them that they are not double-minded men, and their lives match up with their words. He reminds them that "the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds" (verse 4). Essentially, while some of these Christians they were pointing to might have more impressive looking resumes, Paul and his co-workers in the ministry were living in such a way that confounded them. Jesus did the very same thing.

There were many instances when Jesus healed someone, then immediately commanded the person not to tell anyone--a command they often ignored. He also delayed in healing others to perform seemingly unimportant tasks, only to raise these people from the dead. While he delayed, those around him must have been offended; yet, Jesus knew that the urgency was not in the sickness of the body but in the sickness of the soul. Both He and Paul realized that following God's will to the praise of His glory that some might be healed of their burden of sin overshadowed any other "good" thing to be done.

Source

Once again, Paul says, "But, 'Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.' For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends" (verses 17-18). Paul wants to accomplish the work set out to be done among the Corinthians and to watch their faith grow. But he will not stoop to puffing up his reputation, when he knows that it speaks for itself; or, rather, what he has seen the Lord do speaks to His working. As he said to them before in 1 Corinthians 3:5-7, "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase."

Last Christmas Without You

The last few days, I posted my thoughts from 2 Corinthians 6-8 that I had written out for our church's blog. This is from Thursday's reading on chapter nine.

"For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you" (2 Corinthians 9:8, NLT).

This year, we watched as soil was tilled, seeds were planted, and farmers waited for seedlings to peek their tender heads out of the ground. We prayed for rain as corn and other plants struggled to grow without the precious water that they needed. We observed the heavy heads that took in a harvest much too small compared to what had been hoped for. And now the ground is frozen over, and the earth waits for another season of growth to come again.

Source

Hope is a funny thing at Christmas time. Almost everyone wants a little taste of it. People want to capture the magic of a feeling that transcends the drudgery of the everyday. But the feelings that they muster up for a time usually fade away as crisp, white snow turns to slush, Christmas cookies are eaten, and family and friends go home, leaving a bleak reality behind. In chapter 9, Paul continues his encouragement for the Corinthians to give liberally to the hurting church in Jerusalem in what is perhaps one of the best passages on giving:

Remember this:  Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Thank you, Paul, for taking the pressure off! No longer do I have to worry about performing and pleasing everyone. No longer do I have to feel like I give and give of myself with nothing leftover to fill my heart. Now, I see that God has designed me in such a way that does not always make sense to my world-bent mind. I am made full when I am emptied out. Do we really understand this radical concept? Just like the widow's jars of oil, I can not experience God's fullness in my life until I am ready to pour out everything I have and everything that I am. In chapter six, Paul was able to boast about pouring his life out for the believers because he witnessed God bringing the increase. He experienced God's strength in helping him to keep going, time and time again, after being so close to starvation, death, and utter destruction.

Why does God call us to this life of sacrificial giving? Why can't we stay in our comfortable, heated homes and watch what is happening to others on the evening news? Why, oh, why do we have to get involved in others' lives when we ourselves might lose everything? "This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else" (verses 12-13).

Because, ultimately, it is about the glory of God.

This season, we can find hope in the truth that there is an everlasting Father who sent His Son as a gift that can never be earned or repaid. We can find salvation by trusting in the life that was poured out 2,000 years ago on a cross. We can find joy in a resurrected Savior who is coming again to gather those to Himself that have accepted His mercy. And we can share with others the unshakable faith that we have in a God who supplies all that we need, both physically and spiritually. This Christmas, we can give our lives in such a way as to make people say, "Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!"

Kindness

The last two days, I posted my thoughts from 2 Corinthians 6 and 7 that I had written out for our church's blog. This is from Wednesday's reading on chapter eight.

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).

In the previous chapter, we witnessed Paul guiding the Corinthian church to restored unity and fellowship with each other and with himself as they overcame issues which had earned them his rebuke. Here we see him reminding his dear brothers and sisters that they need to take their eyes off of their own problems and look to the churches around them. We who are so blessed to have meeting places with heating and cooling, sound systems and projectors, and bathrooms and kitchens cannot imagine what these house churches experienced as many suffered persecution at the hands of neighbors, friends, and even family. Paul sets up the church in Macedonia as an example for Corinth; instead of handing down a commandment, "Give to the church in Jerusalem! After all, you have an obligation...," he shows them model believers in the situation he wants to encourage them in.

Source

Second Corinthians 8:2-4 states, "In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord's people." Paul does not want nor should he need to rebuke the Corinthians for not giving once more for this group of believers in serious need. They already excelled in faith, speech, knowledge, enthusiasm, and love; this gracious act of giving should only be the natural outflow of that lifestyle (verse 7).

Oh, and just in case the Corinthians were not convicted yet, Paul reminds them of one spotless example of sacrificial giving:  "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich" (verse 9). Yes, it was that same Jesus who said, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God" (Luke 6:20). I think that Paul would echo here his sentiment to the Colossian church, "My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:2-3). As we pursue this kind of single-minded love, we find that our riches are not found in things but in Christ and in the family of God—and just as we give to those who are in need, eventually the plenty of others will overflow to cover our own needs.

Paul closes out this chapter by commending Titus and his companions, reminding the church that they have worked hard to guard against any criticism for the way they handled Jerusalem's gift. The point here is not to become distracted by the gift itself, but to see past it to the life Jesus is calling them to.

Take Heart

Yesterday, I posted my thoughts from 2 Corinthians 6 that I had written out for our church's blog. This is from Tuesday's reading on chapter seven.

Source

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

Here we get to witness a shepherd and his flock coming through the other side of what seems to have been an intense conflict. Paul asks the people of Corinth to open their hearts to him and to remember that he has never taken advantage of them. He even goes so far as to say that they have such a place in the hearts of him and those with him that they would live or die with them.

What are all of these words leading up to? "I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds" (2 Corinthians 7:4). It appears that while going through some very significant difficulties in Macedonia, Paul received good news from Titus, who had just returned from Corinth. As a shepherd does, he had corrected his flock with the authority given to him, and there was, of course, some discord for a time as they struggled under that discipline. Yet, "even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it--I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while--yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance" (verses 8 and 9).

Oh, what good news for Paul! His spiritual children had received their discipline as if from a father, and observed Paul's love for them through it all. Their concern for Paul was renewed (verse 7), increasing his joy. They had cleared their consciences and witnessed what unity should look like. And they experienced God's purpose in the trials and conflicts He allows into our lives, "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death" (verse 10).

Christians can take heart in the fact that God does not waste any of the brokenhearted moments of our lives, but He uses them to make us more like His Son. But what a waste to experience sorrow as a result of our sin! Can you imagine how different Paul's letter would have been if Titus' report had been filled with descriptions of a broken church, full of indignant, bitter men and women who had written off their leader for daring to point a finger at them? The loss that they would have experienced would have been far greater than the brief moments of grief they experienced as they wrestled with the chastisement laid upon them. And, oh, the gain! Every struggle with sin in which we submit to the victory already won for us through Christ grants us a greater sense of the grace of God and encourages the Body as we have renewed unity, having nothing to separate us from our Father or the family of God. Take heart! He has overcome.

You Can Have Me

Our church has been reading a chapter in the New Testament every weekday, with someone from our church submitting a devotional on the church blog. This week has been my week, and even though this first one was posted Monday, I thought I would start sharing these thoughts with all of you, as well. If you would like to read more, you can find them here. Monday, I blogged on Second Corinthians chapter six.

"...I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2b).

Paul entreats us not to "accept this marvelous gift of God's kindness and then ignore it" (verse 1, NLT). This Christmas, more than ever before, I have felt an urgency--almost like a heaviness in my chest--for making the most of this time of year by sharing the hope of the Good News of Jesus Christ. What have I accomplished this year if I make a show of making my home all cozy with decorations, surrounding my tree with gifts, and, oh, yes, worshiping a tiny baby in a manger, too? "Hey, facebook friends, don't forget that I'm a Christian and I'm putting Christ back in Christmas." But am I really?

Source

Paul ensures the Corinthians that he and the other believers partnering with him in God's work have laid down their lives for the sake of the ministry:

• enduring troubles, hardships, and distresses

• beatings, imprisonments, and riots

• hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger

• purity, understanding, and kindness

• in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love

• in truthful speech and in the power of God

• with weapons of righteousness

• through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report

• genuine, yet regarded as impostors

• known, yet regarded as unknown

• dying, and yet living on

• beaten, and yet not killed

• sorrowful, yet always rejoicing

• poor, yet making many rich

• having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

These men weren't boasting.

This is what their lives were all about. "To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some" (1 Corinthians 9:22). In Philippians 2, he instructs them to rejoice as he rejoices over his own life being poured out. Why? Because his boasting is not in himself but in laboring for the sake of the Gospel and for the sake of the Church. Paul understood that the Corinthians and the Philippians, the Jews and the Gentiles, needed to see his genuine love for them; thus, he and his comrades did not withhold their affection from them.

Who are you pouring out your life for in genuine love through the Holy Spirit?

From here, this chapter shifts gears, as Paul warns the Corinthians against idolatry, commanding them not to "be unequally yoked with unbelievers" (verse 14). The Reformation Study Bible summarizes it this way:

The prohibition against being yoked together with unbelievers must be considered in situations where significant control over one’s actions would be willingly yielded to an unbeliever through a voluntary partnership or association. Neither Paul nor the rest of the New Testament tells us to have no association at all with unbelievers (Mark 2:15–17; 1 Corinthians 5:9-10). But we are told not to be “yoked together” with them in such a way that they significantly influence the direction and outcome of our moral decisions and spiritual activities.

Tying this back to the first part of the chapter, it seems as though God is calling us out as His own people, special and set apart. We are to surround ourselves with others who are walking in the light of God's grace. We would do well to remember that we are sons and daughters of the Almighty God (verse 18). Then, learning from and being encouraged by these other believers, we do not hoard the grace and mercy of Christ--we do not hide our light under a basket--but we proclaim that today is the day of salvation. We proclaim it with our very lives.