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Devotional Reading, September 5, 2024

2nd Corinthians 13:4

 4 For indeed he was crucified by reason of weakness, but he lives because of God’s power. For we also are weak in him, but we will live together with him, because of God’s power toward you.  

The Son of God chose the weakness of humanity when he came incarnated as Jesus. But he lived and lives now as a resurrected man and as the Son by God's power. Paul says he too is weak in his humanity but lives powerfully by the Spirit of God. He can therefore use that power -- not the power of the flesh -- to correct and instruct the Corinthians and to do so effectively. That is what I desire to do. I want to be effective for the kingdom of God and the salvation of men and women. 

Devotional Reading, September 4, 2024

2nd Corinthians 12:15

 15 Now I will most gladly spend and be spent for your lives![ 

For Paul it was all about those who he had brought to the Lord. He desired that they be made complete in Christ. He was not interested in groupies. He was not interested in his reputation. He was interested in them. That is not as easy as it seems. Ego (pride) gets mixed with the purest of motives so easily. The desires of the flesh get mixed in as well. We are all plagued by these things, and only by God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit may we rise above them. 

One of the benefits of growing old is that to some degree these drop away. But never entirely. Every one of us needs to have the mind of Christ. Every one of us needs the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. Every one of us needs to walk in the Spirit. I as much as anyone. 

Devotional Reading, September 3, 2024

2nd Corinthians 11:19

 20 For you put up with it if someone makes slaves of you, if someone exploits you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone behaves arrogantly toward you, if someone strikes you in the face. 

It is a great sadness that some who claim the calling of Christ to serve turn to commanding the church for their own benefit. As they do, they bring disrespect upon the name of Christ. Paul was right to call them out. We recoil from calling out those who are blights upon "our love feasts."  I know that I recoil. Lord, give me your Spirit of discernment and the courage to speak straight when it comes to immorality and unChristlike leadership.  

Devotional Reading, September 2, 2024

2n Corinthians 10:4-5

the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments 5 and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ.  

Paul was determined to confront the men who were misleading the church and those in the church who were living immorally. But he did not depend on shouting more loudly than they did. He did it by the power of the Holy Spirit. That power applies truth to the hearts of those who hear it. It brings conviction and repentance and change in the people who hear them. 

Lord clothe my words with such power for you.  

Devotional Reading, September 1, 2024

2nd Corinthians 9:19

13 Through the evidence of this service they will glorify God because of your obedience to your confession in the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your sharing with them and with everyone. 

The primary evidence of our faith is love for one another in the community of God.  And that love is revealed when we act to bless and care for one another.  I fear there is too little of that in the church today, at least in America. Paul was gathering an offering to provide for the saints in Judea during a time of drought and want. That offering would be evidence that the saints in Europe loved the saints in Judea. Every indication is that they gave generously. Even to the point of their own financial suffering. My question is have I? 

Devotional Reading, August 26, 2024

2nd Corinthians 5:30

20 Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making his plea through us. We plead with you on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God!” 

What a sacred commission! I went for many years as a believer without that sense of urgency -- and honor. I in these last years, in my weakness, have taken this charge up with more purpose and prayer. I want to invite people to be reconciled to God. It is the most critical and urgent message of this age. May God ber gracious and give me fruit for my labor.  

Devotional Reading, August 25, 2024

2nd Corinthians 6:3,4

 If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing, 4 among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God. 

Sadly, the gospel is veiled for many people today. It is veiled to many of the people I converse with on the internet.  They choose to believe what other skeptics and cynics tell them without investigating themselves. And I could be among them. I went through serious doubt over several years as a college student. But God saw me through that. He opened my heart and mind; he led me in my own investigation, and he brought me out the other side as a believer much firmer in faith. 

Today, fifty-five years later I see in the gospel Christ, the image of God, and I rejoice and am amazed by the beauty and truth of what I see. Thank you, Lord, for guarding my way and unveiling my mind and protecting me from the god of this world.  

Devotional Reading, Aug. 22, 2024

2nd Corinthians 3:18

18 And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

One of the most significant verses in my life in recent years. It reminds me again and again that I need regularly be gazing on Jesus. It is by that means and especially the glory I see in him that I am changed by the Spirit into his likeness. He has placed in my hear the desire to be like him. He has provide the means by his Spirit. Thank you, Lord. 

Devotional Reading, Aug. 18, 2024

2nd Corinthians 1:10-11

He delivered us from so great a risk of death, and he will deliver us. We have set our hope on him that he will deliver us yet again, 11 as you also join in helping us by prayer, so that many people may give thanks to God on our behalf for the gracious gift given to us through the help of many. 

Paul is most likely writing about the strong opposition he experienced from the silversmiths in Ephesus. His description here of his situation is more serious than in Acts. What is significant for me is that Paul attributes his rescue to the prayer of many. That is an encouragement for me and many that prayer is vital. 

How is that possible? Doesn't God hear and answer the prayer of one just as he answers the prayers of many? I do not have a definitive answer, though what Paul says here leaves me with the value of the praying of many in concert. It is probable that by God's design -- as it is in many things -- that he has decreed that we are partners with him in the administration of his purposes. He waits for us to join with him in ordering the world spiritually. In simple words, God waits for us to pray and join him in his purpose before he acts. 

That underscores how important my prayer and yours are. Given that, I will pray the more seriously for the needs and the dangers faced by my brothers and sisters, and I will as the Spirit enables pray for that which is God's purpose for them. 

Devotional Reading, Aug. 16, 2024

2nd Timothy 2:19

19 However, God’s solid foundation remains standing, bearing this seal: 

“The Lord knows those who are his."

The Lord knows those who are his, and he keeps them. Our emotions and faith and commitment to the Lord vacillate. But the foundational and unshakable truth is that we and in particular, I am kept by him. And for that I am eternally grateful. It is because of his holding onto me and not my holding onto him that I stand in faith 65 years after placing my faith in him. Thank you, Lord. Thank you.   

Devotional Reading, Aug. 14, 2024

Galatians 6:8

...the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 

Paul does not mean that such a one earns eternal life. He means he enjoys life that is eternal here and now and forever. Too many believers live for eternity to the neglect of the present. That is a gnostic-like idea.  The here and now is a wonderful blessing and a school in which we learn the depth of the grace of God and the power he gives to live LIFE in the midst of the death of this present world system. I am finding that to be gloriously true. The life that is eternal life starts now. And I am reveling in it. 

Devotional Reading, Aug. 8, 2024

Galatians 2:15,16

15 We are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners, 16 yet we know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.  

It must have been a significant moment of revelation when Paul realized that Christ Jesus satisfied the requirements of the law and that he, Paul, when he was united with Christ was counted justified because of Jesus' righteousness. For Paul it was wonderful news because he was living under the condemnation of the law and knew, despite outward appearances and serious trying he was not satisfying the law's requirements. But that was not all the good news. He knew he was counted justified because of Christ, but he also knew he was being made righteous in ways the law could not. He was being made righteous by Christ living in him (v. 20). 

I also am thankful for both freedom from condemnation AND the sanctifying work of Christ in me. Like Paul, I know I could not make myself righteous and am incredibly thankful that God soved that fault in me through the Lord Jesus. 

Devotional Reading, Aug. 7, 2024

Galatians 1:15

15 But when the one who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, 

The revelation of the gospel of Jesus Christ was a deep, spirit level learning time for Paul. It provided that foundation of his preaching and the motivation for his mission. But I don't believe it was entirely unique to Paul. The same thing happens to every believer, though perhaps not in the same detail as Paul received it. In whatever detail we receive this revelation it is life changing. It changes our view of the world and God's activity in the world, and especially the centrality of Jesus, God's Son in God's interaction with men. 

For me that revelation has been progressive, and it has made my faith even more sure (2nd Peter 1:18,19). I cannot thank the Lord enough for that progressive revelation of Jesus to me. 

Devotional Reading, Aug. 4, 2024

Habakkuk 2:3

Even if the message is not fulfilled right away, wait patiently; 

for it will certainly come to pass—it will not arrive late. 

The message is that God will right the wrongs and injustice inflicted upon Israel by Babylon. He will pay back Babylon for the violence they have done. BUT NOT NOW. 

That waiting for God's justice is hard. It requires endurance and faith. Lord, give us that endurance and faith as we also wait. 

Devotional Reading , July 31, 2024

2nd Timothy 3:5

5 They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power. 

This is not a new thing. Throughout the history of the church there have been imposters. But certainly, today it is the case. Jesus' caution about being weed pullers is apropos. I need to remember that and not be looking for weeds among those who ask for support overseas - or here at home. I need to encourage and support those who are genuine and praise the Lord that the gospel is being proclaim whether by imposter or genuine. It is the Spirit of God who convicts and convinces of sin and of righteousness and judgment to come. 

Devotional Reading, July 27, 2024

1st Timothy 4:8

[G]odliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.”  

Godly living is the best life one can live. It is a life of peace and goodness. It blesses those around us and results in being blessed by those around us. It provides a wonderful example for our children to follow. It is productive for the kingdom of God and provides us a warm welcome into the heavenly kingdom. I certainly have been blessed as I have followed the Lord in his manner of life. 

Devotional Reading, July 26, 2024

1st Timothy 3:16

16 confessedly, great is the secret of piety -- God was manifested in flesh, declared righteous in spirit, seen by messengers, preached among nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory! 

This is a difficult passage to translate, but the point is fairly easy to understand: Jesus the Divine Son came in the flesh. He was affirmed the righteous Son by the Spirit. He was revealed to angels and men who would be his messengers, preached among the nations, believed on in the world and taken up in glory. 

Sung as a hymn, it praises Jesus who is revealed as God's Divine Son and as the Father's answer to our need and to the need of the whole world. He is the reason for and source of godliness and the only appropriate response to this wonderful revelation.  

Devotional Reading, July 18, 2024

2nd John 1:2

...because of the truth that resides in us and will be with us forever. 

By this time John is old. He describes himself as the elder and that may mean either one in the office of elder or as one who is old -- or both. "Truth" here is just as inconclusive as "elder." It may mean the body of truth passed down from the Lord to the Apostles. Or it may mean the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth (John 16:13). Or both. But in either case, the Holy Spirit and the word he has inspired is the arbiter of what is taught by a itinerate preacher. 

This is the test that John tells the church to apply to all who come bringing a word of teaching: Does it ring true according to the already received message, and does it ring true according to the Holy Spirit's voice in the church? But there is one other: Does it promote love for the brethren? That is pretty comprehensive. 

If it does not, then have nothing to do with this preacher. I am faced with that long distance as I interreact with people in far places. Does it ring true and does it promote love. I look to the Holy Spirit to guide me. 

Devotional Reading. July 17, 2024

1st John 5:6

6 Jesus Christ is the one who came by water and blood—not by the water only, but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 

John is arguing that the Son and the efficacy of his sacrifice for sin is founded upon three facts. The first is the fact of God the Father's affirmation of him at his baptism (the water). The second is the confirmation of the Son's dedication to the mission of the Father when he died for our sins on the cross (the blood). The third is the testimony of the Holy Spirit to each of us that Jesus is the Messiah and Savior and that his death is efficacious for the forgiveness of sin. 

As I think through that this morning, I am thankful anew for God's plan and purpose in Jesus to bring about my salvation and for the witness of these three -- three witnesses are sufficient to make the case -- that affirm to me that the salvation God promised is completed in Jesus. Thank you, Lord.