Month: February 2017

Godly Grief

shutterstock_478301269.jpg2 Corinthians 7:2-10

2 Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. 8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.

10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

Each one of us is surrounded by relationships. Some of those relationships are casual in nature. Some are friends we see and enjoy some common interest with. Some are even more meaningful because of things that we have gone through together. And then there is a level of relationship that surpasses each of these. There is an opportunity to pursue and experience deep meaningful relationships that add value to our lives in some amazing ways.
In this passage, Paul is describing a deep personal connect with people that are a part of the Church in Corinth. There is history with these people. They have a deep sense of longing and care-and even more, there is a commitment by Paul to say the things that are painful and have potential to inspire growth.
I was recently having a conversation with a close friend and they spoke some much needed words of truth to me.  It was difficult to receive but they were exactly the words I needed to hear and have provoked some new growth in my life. This person saw something in me that I was either unable or unwilling to see. They loved me enough to say the tough words, because they really do want me to experience more in my life with Jesus.

Who has permission to say the tough words in your life?  Who has given you permission to speak truth into their life?  Are you willing to speak it?  We need to purposely pursue people who will speak truth even when it is difficult to hear.

Jesus, help me to receive truth from others, even when it hurts.  Help me to be bold enough to speak the truth in love to others.

Equally Yoked; Temple of God

shutterstock_145590730.jpg2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
    and I will be their God,
    and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore go out from their midst,
    and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
    then I will welcome you,
18 and I will be a father to you,
    and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”

7:1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Which is easier, to lift somebody up or to pull somebody down?

Paul gives a very clear warning in this passage.  Be careful who you yoke yourself to.  Yokes are still used today, but were much more common in the time and place where Paul was writing this letter. Yokes are like large wooden stocks that were used to link oxen or other large animals together for plowing (see above image).  Now imagine if these two animals had no interest in going the same direction.  One of them would lose.

Again, which is easier, to lift somebody up or to pull somebody down?

Paul warns those who are serious about following Jesus to not “yoke” themselves to an unbeliever.

This does not mean to avoid unbelievers or to not be friends with unbelievers.  Paul is warning about a close working partnership such as marriage. (Side note: if you are already married to an unbeliever, Paul makes it very clear that you are to simply be the best husband or wife you can be to represent Jesus to your unbelieving spouse.)  For those who aren’t married, Paul would warn you to choose someone who is interested in moving the same direction. I’ve heard it said this way, “Run after Jesus as fast and as far as you can and then look around to see who is running with you, there you will find who is equally yoked.”

For all of us, the principle is this: do you have others close to you who are serious about following Jesus?  Growing in our relationship with God takes encouragement, support, examples, and accountability. Who are you closest with?  Are you equally yoked?

Father, help me to grow in my relationship with You. Use those who are closest to me to help make that a reality. Amen.

We have Nothing yet Possess Everything

shutterstock_549501532.jpg2 Corinthians 6:1-13

Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,

“In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.

Even the Apostle Paul had distractors. In the first couple of verses, Paul stated his goal. He wanted to preach the gospel so that people would find salvation. He made sure that he would not be a stumbling block. He endured all that was thrown at him. But he did more that endure it. He rose above it. When someone is attacked, there are two ways to response. One is to attack back. The other is to rise above it. He used the difficult situation to demonstrate that Christ was real in his life.

Many times, even when you have good news to share and your presentation is non-offensive there will still be distractors. You can take the low road or the high road. Paul demonstrated love even when he was hated. Someone once said, you never know what’s inside until the glass is shook. Then you see what’s inside.

Paul was shook. What came out was the grace of God that had captured his whole life.

But why was Paul able to rise above the persecution when he was trying to do good? He reveals at the very end of verse 10 his reason. He says, “As having nothing, yet possessing everything.” 

Paul had all he needed for life in the gospel. No one could take it away. He possessed everything that was important. Many times, you response badly because the distractors are trying to takeaway something that you think is important, but it’s not in light of the grace of God and eternity.

Be the gospel to those around you. Live in such a way that is an open door to those who will hear.

Who can you speak the gospel to today? How can you be Christ-like even when there is rejection?

Reconciliation

shutterstock_150038030.jpg2 Corinthians 5:11-21

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Surely you have heard it said that ‘hurt people hurt people’. This is the idea that pain gives way to more pain, and that it is a vicious cycle that cannot be stopped. But this passage shows us how to break free from this cycle: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Do you believe this?

Do you believe that you are a new creation? That every day you can wake up with a new chance at mercy and forgiveness? “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Why does God offer us this chance at forgiveness, daily, even though we have failed him time and time again?

“God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:19) Please soak that up. We hear it all the time, but just reflect for a minute on the power of those words. God wants YOU. He loves YOU. He sent Christ to die for YOU. Are you feeling the love? Are you feeling warm and fuzzy all over? Don’t stop thinking about this until you do. Because if you miss this one, simple point, you will miss the reason for everything. And I do mean EVERYTHING.

Once we realize how much God loves us, and the price that was paid for us to be reconciled to Him, we have to share that with others. We have been commissioned with this ministry and message of reconciliation. And we do this by not just telling people about it, but by living it out. How about instead of living in the cycle of ‘hurt people hurt people’, we live in the cycle of ‘forgiven people forgive people’.

Who do you need to forgive, and be reconciled to today?  

God, thank you for forgiving me of all of my sins. Help me to live as one who is forgiven, and not one who is broken and hurt. May your love compel me to forgive myself, forgive others, and in turn draw more people to be reconciled to you as well. Amen.

Away from the Body, Home with the Lord

shutterstock_264056435.jpg2 Corinthians 5:1-10

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

How much of your life do you devote to your appearance? Do you spend a lot of time thinking about what you will wear or what your hair looks like? How much money did you spend on your last pair of shoes? How often do you think about your weight? Maybe you want to lose 20 pounds or gain 20 pounds. What about those gray hairs or wrinkles? How much are you working on trying to cover those up? If you are like most people, you probably spend a fair amount of your time managing your outward appearance.

In today’s passage, Paul talks about our earthly bodies. He explains that they are necessary for this life, but they are temporary. Over time our bodies are wearing out and take more work to maintain. Paul then challenges us to change our priority from earthly things which are temporary to heavenly things which are eternal. When our bodies eventually wear out and we come to the end of our earthly days, all that will matter will be how we loved God and how we loved people.

In the midst of managing the day in and day out of life in your earthly body, how can you adjust your focus daily onto the eternal? Consider setting an hourly alarm on your phone for a day to remind you to take a moment to focus on loving God and loving people.

Light Momentary Affliction

shutterstock_219375121.jpg2 Corinthians 4:13-18

13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

What was the first thing you saw this morning?

Perhaps it was the alarm clock. Perhaps you woke up to a kid in your face. Perhaps it was your reflection in the mirror, or your phone, or your dog.

Paul challenges us to look further. To look beyond the things that are seen. To look beyond the immediate to the eternal.

This is good if you didn’t totally like what you saw in the mirror. Paul says, don’t worry. That’s all temporary. You will get older. Things will stop functioning. Gravity will eventually win the war. But don’t lose heart. Instead look inwards.

Are you growing in your faith?

Are you growing in your love for others?

Are you growing in your patience?

Are you growing in your joy, peace, gentleness, and self-control?

The outside will deteriorate with time. But those inward things will last forever. Focus on those things.

Is there an area internally that you need to be aware of today?

Take a moment and ask God to reveal where He wants you to grow today. Focus on the internal, knowing that your investment has eternal gains. And praise God for His promise to raise us when our bodies eventually fail us.

Struck Down, Not Destroyed

shutterstock_356658488.jpg2 Corinthians 4:7-12

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Do you realize how valuable you are?

About 10 years ago a fisherman in the Philippines got his anchor stuck on a rock below the water.  When he dove down to inspect the anchor he realized it had caught on a giant clam. Curious, he inspected this clam to find a large pearl inside.  He kept his newfound treasure under his bed as a “good luck charm” for 10 years while he continued fishing to make a living until recently his home burned down (some good luck charm that was).  In response to the fire he decided to inquire as to the value of his surviving possession.  Turns out this 2.2′ long pearl weighing 75 pounds was worth about $100 million!  I’m guessing he experienced a mix of joy and frustration.  Joy over the revealed value and frustration that he had done nothing with it for the last 10 years.

I believe for those of us who have put our trust in Jesus we are just like that man.

Everywhere you go, you carry the death and life of Jesus.  God in the flesh has come to us to make right all that is wrong.  He is restoring all things beginning with you and with me. And even though we are merely jars of clay we get to carry the most valuable message wherever we go, whatever circumstances we may face, through every trial.  And this message has the power to transform eternities.

One day, we will clearly see how valuable this gift we carry really is.  I believe we will experience joy and frustration.  Joy over the revealed value and frustration that we didn’t do more with it.

How can you share the life of Jesus with those around you today?

It begins with a purposeful death of your old natural ways.  You are incredibly valuable. Don’t let the “old you” get in the way of sharing that value with others.

Father, help me to represent you well today.  No matter what I face today, I know I carry the most valuable treasure with me wherever I go.  Amen.

 

Light of the Gospel

shutterstock_108783638.jpg2 Corinthians 4:1-6

4 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

How well do you push through when things get difficult? Have you ever started something good, but quit because the road to success was filled with land mines all along the way. It just wasn’t worth the effort. I have been there and I am sure you have too.

But like Paul, we have this responsibility to share the gospel. Most of us can identify with the difficulties of being a faithful Christ-follower in sharing the light of the gospel to others. It’s not easy.

How did Paul overcome the difficulties to be faithful in sharing the gospel? First, he realized he was given this ministry out of the mercy of God. He didn’t have to preform, only be faithful. God was the one who opened the eyes of the blind, not you. Boy, does that take the heat off.

He also found that he had to push through the huddles. And there were a lot of them. He saw the distractions as distractions, not roadblocks. With anything good, there will be difficulty. So, you push through to the other end.

The reason Paul was able to see the other side of the problem is because he focused on the unchanging Word of God, not the problem. It’s a great reminder that you stay faithful and focused on the Word of God. Everything else is temporary.

Paul reminds you that ministry is not about you anyway. So, you laid aside your ego to be faithful to share the gospel and allow God to bring the fruit. Reminder, the gospel is light in a world of darkness. The spiritual battle is on.

What has God called you to do in building Christ’s kingdom? What do you need to push through? Check your motives? Is success built around your pride or around God’s glory? What is one step you can take today to be faithful in the midst of difficulty to share the light of the gospel?

Great Hope = Great Boldness

shutterstock_410760634.jpg2 Corinthians 3:12-18

12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Hope changes everything.

Have you ever been through a season of hopelessness? I can look back at situations that left me with a feeling of grief and despair. And the reason those feelings were so strong was because my hope was not anchored where it should have been. The hardships of life can bring us to a place of fearfulness and we might withdraw because of our lack of feeling secure. If you find yourself stuck in this place then it’s time to re-evaluate.

Jesus changes everything.

When Christ came to earth and died for our sins, when He rose from the grave and defeated death, that changed everything. The way to God is now through His Son. The Lord removes the veil and He does it through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit comes into us and does a total transformation. Instead of looking at God’s commands with an attitude of “have to”, little by little we become more like Jesus in our thoughts and actions and we respond to Him with heart that scream “we want to!”

Hope in Jesus changes everything.

The hope we have in Jesus is an all-satisfying never disappointing hope. (Hebrews 6:19) puts it this way, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Paul says this hope is what gives you the ability to have great boldness. Being bold means taking risks with confidence and courage. Taking a risks is typically a scary thing to do but when the Holy Spirit is working in us we won’t shrink back. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. God has called you to something and when your desires align with God’s there is total freedom in that.

What has God called you to today? Maybe He wants you to go to lunch with your co-worker and share your faith in Jesus. Maybe it’s taking the steps to become a foster parent and welcoming a child who is in need into your home. Maybe it’s continuing to tangibly love that family member who doesn’t love you back. Whatever it may be, are you able to boldly say yes? The key is to look to Jesus. Open His book, talk to Him, meet with His people. Ask the Spirit to awaken your heart to see Jesus and to show His love. Don’t waste your time on empty pursuits, but instead run to the one who makes you bold.

A New Covenant

shutterstock_517068982.jpg2 Corinthians 3:1-11

3 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

You ever wake up in the morning and ask yourself, “What am I going to do today?” And then there is that moment where you become fully awake and realize that it is not the weekend or a vacation day? We have a responsibility and so we get up out of bed and go to work. We go back to continuing to do what we have been doing.

Maybe you had an opportunity where you had a job change that allowed you to step into something you were a little more excited about. There is a new opportunity; a new job description to embrace, a new mission to accomplish and something inside you feels alive.

When I said “Yes” to Jesus, there was a new “job description” that I received that is completely independent of what I do vocationally. Paul says that I became a minister of the New Covenant. That’s my lifelong calling no matter what I may do for employment. I am on mission with God to have my broken life placed on display for a broken world to see an all-powerful God do miraculous things in and through!

Let’s be clear: There is nothing “good” that I bring to the table in and of myself when it comes to making a difference in my world. I bring a mass of brokenness and struggle-and then watch God do something with it that I cannot take credit for. The power of God is shown through my weakness to the world, not through my strength.

If I want to be generous with my life, I have to make the conscious decision to not live a life as a victim to my hurts, habits and hang-ups. My story is most relatable to hurting people when I am able to demonstrate that my story is not my identity. Verse 6 demonstrates that my story is about the Spirit bringing life. Do you want to make a generous impact in the world through your life? Lead through weakness!