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2 Corinthians 13:5

     Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you, it means you have failed the test.

     Paul wrote these three short sentences to the Corinthian church, but what a vitally, important message it speaks to us today. Many people in Paul’s day called themselves followers of Christ or Christians, but didn’t walk the walk. All the right words came out of their mouths, but their actions didn’t line up with their words. Paul was getting really tired of the whole scenario. There was a lot of ground that needed to be covered to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and if the “so called” Christians couldn’t even get their act together, then how in the world were they going to impact others with the gospel of Christ? Paul had led by example, preached the Word of God, and personally poured himself into their lives, and they still weren’t getting it. So here, at the end of the book of 2 Corinthians, he lays it all on the line. He tells them to forget about everything else that had happened in the past, and boiled everything down to these three short verses. In reality, he was telling them to step away from the church,  to step away from others that called themselves Christians and ask themselves a question; a question that only they could answer. “Could they tell that Jesus Christ lived in them?”

     Today, in this short devotion, I pose the same question to you. “Can you tell that Jesus Christ lives in you?” You may understand who Jesus is, and understand what he did while he walked this earth, but if you call yourself a Christian, is there evidence that he lives in you? Do you commune with him on a regular basis? Do you listen for his voice? Are you allowing him to mold you and shape you into his image? Do you live only to serve and obey him and not worry what everyone else around you is doing? It is a test that only you can answer; you can’t copy from the person next to you. Why call yourself a Christian if you don’t want him living in you and impacting your life? I challenge you to take the time to examine yourself and take the test. Would you pass or fail?

     Quiet yourself today, and examine your faith. Does Jesus Christ truly live in you? Do you constantly desire to move closer to him? Be honest with yourself and then go to him with your answers. He desires to hear from you, he desires to change your heart and life. Make today the day that you pass the test with flying colors!

Have a great day!

Is that a sign of weakness?

2 Corinthians 12: 7-10

     But to keep me from getting puffed up, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from getting proud.

     Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

     We’re never told what Paul’s thorn in flesh was, but whatever it was, it must have been chronic and debilitating especially since he begged the Lord to take it away three different times. Instead of becoming bitter and resentful toward the Lord for not answering his desperate plea, he simply accepted the thorn and learned to lean on the Lord to help him live life in spite of it.

     Often times, a thorn in the flesh or hindrance would be a big enough road block to keep a person from moving forward in their ministry and life, but not in Paul’s case. He was determined to spread the Good News about Jesus Christ regardless of his circumstances. He understood the fact that God’s power was displayed in his weakness. We also need to understand that truth.  When we recognize our limitations, we are forced to rely on God’s strength and ability, which is right where he wants us to live.  And if we don’t get to that point on our own, then he’ll give us a thorn in the flesh in order to make the point completely clear.

     In my own personal case, my thorn in the flesh is fear, to the point that it can be debilitating and overwhelming. For many years, it held me back from accomplishing God’s will in my life, which happens to be ministering to and mentoring women. After being held captive for many years, I chose to no longer accept the fear or let it hold me back from being all that God had called me to be. In order to accomplish that, I had to begin to step through my fears and have the faith to believe that God would meet me at my point of need.

      The Lord has brought me a long way, but I still deal with fear on a regular basis. He's not delivered me from it completely, but rather chooses to leave it as my thorn in the flesh, so that I will continue to rely on Him. Each time I step in front of a crowd to deliver God’s Word, or step onto a plane to be His representative on a short term mission’s trip, an amazing thing happens……God shows up!!  I want you to understand the point that I’m trying to make here. The Holy Spirit doesn’t show up until I make the first move. Strength, peace and empowerment doesn’t come until I take that first step. It is then and only then that His strength is made perfect in my weakness. At that point, He is able to accomplish great and mighty things and I am simply the yielded vessel that He is able to work through.

     I believe that he hasn’t delivered me from my fear for a reason. Without the fear, I could possibly become prideful and independent, learning to rely on myself and my abilities to carry me through. By always having the fear present, forces me to rely on Him and His abilities to accomplish the task. As uncomfortable as it is, I have learned to be content with my weakness because I know that He will make me strong.

     What is your thorn in the flesh? Do you continually pray that God will remove it? Try something different today. Thank God for that thorn and ask Him to help you accept that weakness, step through it by faith and minister to someone else, in spite of it. Let a new measure of faith arise in you today and take a giant step toward Jesus. Then watch Him take a extra giant step toward you.

Have a great day!

Deceived or Devoted?

2 Corinthians 11:2-4

     I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. For I promised you as a pure bride to one husband, Christ. But I fear that somehow you will be led away from your pure and simple devotion to Christ, just as Eve was deceived by the serpent. You seem to believe whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach about a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.

     As with any good Pastor/Spiritual leader, Paul was very concerned about the Corinthian congregation and their walk with the Lord. He loved them, cared for them, prayed for them and took personal responsibility for them. After all, he wanted them to stand before God pure, holy and righteous. And that could only be accomplished through acceptance of the blood of Jesus and total devotion to Christ and His Word.

     Unfortunately, many preached a gospel based on things other than Jesus Christ and His resurrection, and the Corinthian believers were being tempted and deceived into believing the lies. Paul was trying to convince them to stand strong in their faith and not be lured away with each new passing fad and doctrine.

     Wow, I could go a hundred different directions at this point! Take a look around us and our world right now. We are confronted with new doctrines and points of view on a daily basis. Everyone seems to be seeking God through a new channel or direction, most of which don’t line up with the Word of God. Many don’t even believe the Bible to be God’s inspired word, so they believe anything that is thrown at them that tends to resemble Christianity. God’s heart has to be breaking.

     Why do we make things so difficult? The Bible and Christianity have been around for thousands of years and have proven themselves time and time again. All we have to do is open the book and read it. It’s that’s simple. Everything we will ever need to know is in the book. God hasn’t changed, there’s no new way to get to Him, no matter what anyone else may tell you. He is the one, true, living God; He always has been and He always will be. If we will seek Him, we WILL find Him.

     I believe our problem is that we want to live a Christian life and be accepted by God on our own terms, without changing our lifestyle. We don’t want to change; instead we want God to change to accommodate us. Well, to be blunt, it’s never going to happen. Let me repeat what I said earlier, God doesn’t change and neither does His Word. So it’s up to us to decide whether we’re going to accept His Word, lock, stock and barrel or snuggle up next to the latest and greatest new concept in religion. One leads to life everlasting and the other leads to death and destruction. The choice is ours.

     Where are you in your relationship with the Lord? Do you study the Bible for yourself or do you only listen to others explain it to you? Do you have a longing to dive deeper into what it means to be a true follower of Christ, but unsure of what that will mean for you? Take some time today to get completely alone and contemplate these questions. Sincerely tell God your desires and reservations. Ask God to give you the hunger to know Him and His Word more intimately.

Have a great day!

Keep looking up!

2 Corinthians 9:12,17-18

     Oh, don’t worry; I wouldn’t dare say that I am as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, and measuring themselves by themselves. What foolishness!

     As the Scriptures say, “The person who wishes to boast should boast only of what the Lord has done.”

     When people boast about themselves, it doesn’t count for much. But when the Lord commends someone, that’s different!

     When was the last time you heard someone boasting about themselves and their accomplishments? When you walked away, what was your view of that person? If you’re like me and most other people, we don’t think too highly of people that like themselves too much.

     Then why do we continue to boast about ourselves when we don’t like when others do the same thing? It’s obviously all part of our sinful, fallen nature and in a nutshell, it’s call pride! The Bible and these few verses are very clear that we are NOT to go around boasting about ourselves, but rather give glory to God for everything. We can do nothing without the Lord. The fact that we even woke up this morning and are able to read this devotion is only because God continues to give us breath and a heartbeat. Thank Him for that!

     Comparison is a dangerous trap that we get ourselves into. Women are especially vulnerable to this action. We think if we can look like, talk like, and act like someone that we admire or look up, then we will have finally attained or measured up to society’s standard and then we will be accepted, loved and admired. In the end, that way of thinking and acting only leaves us empty, lonely and unfulfilled. It is only when we live up to God’s standard that we will understand who we truly are and experience true fulfillment and acceptance.

     He has a plan and a purpose set forth for you and I. Take the time to figure out what that plan and purpose is and walk in it. Quit looking to the left and right, comparing yourself to others that don’t have a clue to the true meaning of life. Keep looking up! Put your focus on the one that has all the right answers. He WILL lead you and guide you, if you will let Him. Then at the end of the day, you will be able to boast about what God has done because you understand and realize that you can do nothing on your own.

     Are you stuck in a rut today? Searching for more meaning and direction? Tired of putting forth so much effort but feeling like you’re spinning your wheels? Ask God to give you a new focus; one where you must rely on Him for everything. Ask Him to give you a new measure of faith in order to step out into this new focus. Thank Him for another new day. Boast to someone else today about something that the Lord has done in your life.

            Have a great day!

Fighting fair!

2 Corinthians 10:1-8

     Now I, Paul, plead with you. I plead with the gentleness and kindness that Christ himself would use, even though some of you say I am bold in my letters but timid in person. I hope it won’t be necessary, but when I come I may have to be very bold with those who think we act from purely human motives. We are human, but we don’t wage war with human plans and methods. We use God’s mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds. With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ. And we will punish those who remained disobedient after the rest of you became loyal and obedient.

     The trouble with you is that you make your decisions on the basis of appearance. You must recognize that we belong to Christ just as much as those who proudly declare that they belong to Christ. I may seem to be boasting too much about the authority given to us by the Lord. But this authority is to build you up, not tear you down. And I will not be put to shame by having my work among you destroyed.

     How many times do we face situations where we feel like we need to take full control in order to achieve the desired outcome? We feel that without our intervention, nothing will be accomplished. From a human standpoint, that is wise thinking, but from a spiritual standpoint, nothing can be farther from the truth.

     We are human, but we are commanded to use God’s mighty weapons to wage war against the enemy. These battles come against us in many different forms, such as; arguments, jealousy, misunderstandings, and control issues. And we try to fight them in our own earthly wisdom and human tactics and the results are usually explosive. When we fight fire with fire, the result is more fire, when in reality; we hope to achieve a smooth, calming stream. We become reactors rather than relinquishing control to the one who can truly make a difference in the situation.

     Here are some of the weapons that God equips us with: prayer, faith, hope, peace, love, wisdom, His Word, and the Holy Spirit. The next time you’re tempted to step in and take control of a situation, I challenge you to stop and pray first, and then ask the Holy Spirit how to proceed. When we go into battle using God’s weapons rather than our own, the results are much more satisfying and eternal. Read Ephesians 6:10-18 for further study on God’s mighty weapons and spiritual warfare.

     Are you a control freak? When was the last time you relinquished control over to God for a situation in your life? Think about a situation that you are presently dealing with in your life, and consider releasing it to the Lord’s control. Commit to taking your hands off, and allow the Lord to resolve it, in His way and His time. Allow this to be a new beginning as to how you deal with situations from this point forward.

Have a great day!

Why are you alone?

2 Corinthians 8:16-24

     I am thankful to God that he has given Titus the same enthusiasm for you that I have. He welcomed our request that he visit you again. In fact, he himself was eager to go and see you. We are also sending another brother with Titus. He is highly praised in all the churches as a preacher of the Good News. He was appointed by the churches to accompany us as we take the offering to Jerusalem – a service that glorifies the Lord and shows our eagerness to help. By traveling together we will guard against any suspicion, for we are anxious that no one should find fault with the way we are handling this generous gift. We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to know we are honorable.

     And we are also sending with them another brother who has been thoroughly tested and has shown how earnest he is on many occasions. He is now even more enthusiastic because of his increased confidence in you. If anyone asks about Titus, say that he is my partner who works with me to help you. And these brothers are representatives of the churches. They are splendid examples of those who bring glory to Christ. So show them your love, and prove to all the churches that our boasting about you is justified.

     In this short passage of scripture, Paul is emphasizing accountability and partnership. God did not place us on this earth to be an island unto ourselves, maneuvering through life’s journey all alone. He understands our deepest need for companionship and encouragement, and often times, he specifically places others into our lives to meet those needs. Sometimes, due to past hurts and disappointments, we choose to isolate ourselves and reject all forms of intimate friendships, keeping all relationships superficial and distant. At the end of the day, this is a very dysfunctional and disabling way to live life and ministry.

     Jesus had 12 disciples, but within those 12 he had an inner circle of 2 or 3 more intimate confidants. These few men were those that he shared more guarded details of his life and ministry. He looked to them for accountability and companionship. In the end, every one of them disappointed and deserted him at his most desperate point of need, but that didn’t change his love and acceptance of them. Because of Christ’s love and unhindered acceptance, most of them went on to become the greatest world-changers for the cause of Christ. Even in the midst of pain and rejection, Christ modeled what perfect friendship, love and accountability is to look like. We have the choice to either follow Christ’s example and include others into our lives and ministries or choose to continue to isolate ourselves and walk out our lives hindered and lonely. The choice is ours.

     Do you have someone that you consider a close, intimate, accountability friend? If not, why? Do you purposely keep people at arm’s length because of past hurts, or do you sincerely desire a close friend and confidant? Have you been the friend to someone else that you desire in your own life? Have you ever destroyed a friendship due to your own lack of loyalty or unfaithfulness? I encourage you to go to that person today, and make things right. Ask God to reveal weaknesses in your own life that are hindering you from developing long-lasting, trustworthy friendships. Begin to work on those weaknesses and challenge yourself to become a more faithful friend. Then ask God to begin to send you divine relationships that will bring about encouragement and accountability.

Have a great day!

Do you need what you want?

2 Corinthians 8:9-15

    You know how full of love and kindness our Lord Jesus Christ was. Though he was very rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

     I suggest that you finish what you started a year ago, for you were the first to propose this idea, and you were the first to begin doing something about it. Now you should carry this project through to completion just as enthusiastically as you began it. Give whatever you can according to what you have. If you are really eager to give, it isn’t important how much you are able to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you don’t have. Of course, I don’t mean you should give so much that you suffer from having too little. I only mean that there should be some equality. Right now you have plenty and can help them. Then at some other time they can share with you when you need it. In this way, everyone’s needs will be met. Do you remember what the Scriptures say about this? “Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough.”

     Christ gave up his throne and position and humbled himself to become a man just so we can experience salvation. In other words, he became poor so we could become rich. He gave up all that he had so we could have everything we need. That is powerful! When was the last time you gave enough of something to become uncomfortable so that someone else could gain what they needed? If Christ gave His all for us, we should at least be willing to give a little of ourselves.

     Paul is encouraging the Corinthian church to follow through on what they had promised to do a year earlier, which was to take up an offering for the Jerusalem church. They apparently had good intentions but failed to follow through with those intentions. Paul was making them live up to their commitments because he wanted to teach them some valuable lessons: 1) they needed to be a people of their word; 2) the principal of sowing and reaping; 3) God gives to us so that we can give to others.

     The last verse in this portion of scripture, Paul is quoting Exodus 16:18, which is in reference to God supplying manna each morning for the children of Israel. God knew that they were in the middle of the desert and had no means for supplying their own food, so each and every morning after the dew dried up; thin, white, frost-like flakes were left on the ground. God commanded that each person was to gather two quarts for themselves each day, no more, no less. So each family went out each morning and gathered manna, the larger the family, the more manna they had to gather, but still only two quarts per person. The smaller the family, the less they had to gather, but still only two quarts per person. With this principal, each family had enough manna to meet their needs for that day, no more or no less.

     Paul was using that story to teach the Corinthians the same principal. God would supply their NEEDS each and every day, no more or no less, as long as they were faithful and obedient to the Lord. The same holds true for us. As long as we are faithful and obedient to the Lord, He will supply or NEEDS each and every day. The problem that we have is our distinction between our needs and our wants. If we are faithful and true to God, often times, He blesses us with our wants, but we need to remember that we can survive in this world with just our needs. Overindulgence on self is not God’s will for our lives. He blesses us so that we can bless others, plain and simple.

     Have you ever gone a day where your NEEDS have not been met? Have you ever taken the time to thank God for meeting your NEEDS, or have you instead grumbled, complained, begged and pleaded for God’s help in paying for your wants? Take some time today to contemplate the difference between your needs and wants. Ask God to show you some things that you may need to get rid of in your life. Take some extra time today to sincerely thank God for all that He has supplied for you.

Have a great day!

What's in your heart?

2 Corinthians 8:1-8

     Now I want to tell you, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done for the churches in Macedonia. Though they have been going through much trouble and hard times, their wonderful joy and deep poverty have overflowed in rich generosity. For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the gracious privilege of sharing in the gift for the Christians in Jerusalem. Best of all, they went beyond our highest hopes, for their first action was to dedicate themselves to the Lord and to us for whatever directions God might give them.

     So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to complete your share in this ministry of giving. Since you excel in so many ways – you have so much faith, such gifted speakers, such knowledge, such enthusiasm, and such love for us – now I want you to excel also in this gracious ministry of giving. I am not saying you must do it, even though the other churches are eager to do it. This is one way to prove your love is real.

     The Christians in Jerusalem were suffering from poverty and famine, and many churches that Paul had planted were coming together and taking up offerings to be given to the Jerusalem church. In this passage of scripture, Paul is encouraging the Corinthian church to join in the effort. This special love offering was above and beyond the normal tithes that were to be given to the Lord.

     Giving is a natural response of love. As Christians, we are commanded to love one another and share one another’s burdens. When you love much, you give much. Think about your own family and children. The church is our extended family and when any are in need or experiencing trouble and hardships, our natural expression of love should be giving. The world teaches us to look out for ourselves and hoard up all the possessions and money that we can while we’re on this earth, but Christ teaches the direct opposite. When we give things away and bless others, the craziest thing happens; we are blessed above and beyond what we gave away.

      If your child gave away their most prized toy or possession to a less fortunate child, without you encouraging them to do so, what would your reaction be? Wouldn’t your heart just melt at the fact that your child was so compassionate, loving and caring? Wouldn’t you want to bless and reward your child for such behavior? If we as human parents rejoice and reward our children, how much more do you think our heavenly Father rejoices and rewards such behavior? Only if done out of love and compassion though. If we give out of an expectation of receiving, then the deal is null and void. God is looking for a pure heart and pure motives.

     Do you have a giving heart or a selfish heart? How do you view others who are hurting or in real need? Do you long to love others more than what you do? Take some time to today and ask the Lord to break your heart for what breaks His. Ask him to give you a deeper love for those around you, even those you view as unlovable. Do one thing today to reach out and bless someone in need, preferably someone you don’t know.

Have a great day!

It's a matter of trust.

2 Corinthians 7:11-16

Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish the wrongdoer. You showed that you have done everything you could to make things right. My purpose was not to write about who did the wrong or who was wronged. I wrote to you so that in the sight of God you could show how much you really do care for us. We have been encouraged by this.

     In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was at the way you welcomed him and set his mind at ease. I had told him how proud I was of you and you didn’t disappoint me. I have always told you the truth, and now my boasting to Titus has also proved true! Now he cares for you more than ever when he remembers the way you listened to him and welcomed him with such respect and deep concern. I am very happy now because I have complete confidence in you.

     Paul was such an amazing leader and teacher. Not only did he have a way of powerfully bring forth the truth of God’s Word, but he was the ultimate mentor to those who came forward to accept salvation and complete obedience to God. In all of Paul’s missionary journeys, he implemented and planted many churches. Once a church was planted and established, he moved on to the next place where he felt God was leading him to go, but he always kept tabs on each and every church that was in existence. In a time with no internet or telephone service, he had to find a way to keep communication between himself and the churches strong, so he assigned other strong spiritual leaders who traveled with him, to visit these churches on his behalf. They would carry messages of hope, encouragement and sometimes correction from Paul, to these churches. In this case, the letter of 2 Corinthians is written to the church in Corinth, in which Paul is bringing correction and encouragement to the believers gathered there.

     Titus, one of Paul’s traveling companions and partners in ministry, was sent to the Corinthian church as a representative for Paul, to check on the work that was going on there. In this portion of scripture, Paul is complimenting the church for how well they received and welcomed Titus on his behalf. Just like in today’s church culture, we tend to have favorite preachers and leaders, and if they are gone on vacation or out for an extended period of time, we tend to grumble, complain and not always be willing to accept a replacement. Paul knew and understood this fact, and was elated to hear how well they accepted and treated his replacement, Titus. Paul was trying to teach all believers to keep their focus on Jesus Christ, not on the earthly humans that were Christ’s representatives, including himself.  Idol worship can happen within the church too, if we’re not careful! All of us are still just merely human beings, including ministers, and placing them up on pedestals is a dangerous place to dwell. Be careful who and what you idolize. Jesus Christ is the one true God and he will not share his glory with anyone, including His representatives!

     Who do you place your trust in? Yourself? Your boss? Your minister? Your husband or wife?  Your doctor? The list could go on and on. Do you immediately turn to God with your situations and troubles, or do you exhaust all other options first before you finally turn to Him? God has representatives on earth that He has placed here for our benefit, but we are not to use these representatives to replace God. I encourage you to go before God today, and lay your burdens at His feet. Stop wandering here and there, looking for one of God’s representatives to give you what only God himself can supply. Make Him your one and only trustworthy source!

Have a great day!

Let me correct myself.

2 Corinthians 7:2-10

     Please open your hearts to us. We have not done wrong to anyone. We have not led anyone astray. We have not taken advantage of anyone. I am not saying this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts forever. We live or die together with you. I have the highest confidence in you, and my pride in you is great. You have greatly encouraged me; you have made me happy despite all our troubles.

     When we arrived in Macedonia there was no rest for us. Outside there was conflict from every direction, and inside there was fear. But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus. His presence was a joy, but so was the news he brought of the encouragement he received from you. When he told me how much you were looking forward to my visit, and how sorry you were about what had happened, and how loyal your love is for me, I was filled with joy!

     I am no longer sorry that I sent that letter to you, though I was sorry for a time, for I know that it was painful to you for a little while. Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to have remorse and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. For God can use sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek salvation. We will never regret that kind of sorrow. But sorrow without repentance is the kind that results in death.

     In this portion of scripture, Paul is picking up where he left off in 2 Corinthians 2:13. He had written another letter to the Corinthian church (which is now lost) bringing correction and rebuke for an unknown situation that occurred in the church. As stated in chapter 2, it brought much pain and sorrow for Paul to write and send the letter, but he knew and prayed that it would bring joyous results, which it did.

     Often times, bringing correction or rebuke into a situation, is very difficult for everyone involved. But when left undone, disastrous results take place. Children left undisciplined result in immature, irresponsible, chaotic adults. The same holds true for Christian believers. Pastors and leaders are held to an expectation by God to bring correction and discipline to those serving under them, who will ultimately answer to God for their responsibility. If left undone, the church is often filled with immature, irresponsible, chaotic Christians, wreaking havoc on those around them and the church body as a whole. Fear of job and financial loss, often paralyzes a leader from making the decision to bring correction and rebuke. Paul, who is an awesome example to us, pushed through that fear and was obedient to his call and responsibility.

     From the other side of the coin, the one receiving the correction has the option of rejecting or accepting the rebuke. Human nature usually reacts in the negative, defensive tone, but in this situation, those involved received the correction and made the necessary changes to bring positive results. As hard as it is to accept and understand, God uses sorrow to bring about positive changes in our lives. If we could just learn to accept God’s correction immediately instead of fighting, fussing and whining, we would see such growth, maturity and joy in our lives.

     Think about the last time you had something sorrowful happen in your life. Could it have been that God was trying to teach you something through that event? Did you ever consider that option? Go back and consider what God was trying to teach you. Rethink and relive the situation and try to take away a new perspective or a new life lesson that you never even considered before. Ask God to reveal it to you.

Have a great day!

Warning, Warning!

2 Corinthians 6:14 – 7:1

     Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can goodness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the Devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:

            "I will live in them and walk among them.

             I will be their God,

             and they will be my people.

             Therefore, come out from them

             and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.

             Don't touch their filthy things,

             and I will welcome you.

             And I will be your Father

             and you will be my sons and daughters,

             says the Lord Almighty."

Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body and spirit. And let us work toward complete purity because we fear God.

     Too many people take these verses to mean total separation from anyone and anything that doesn’t believe in the same way they do, even to the point of being mean spirited and rude. This is not what Paul was referring to, in these verses. As believers of Jesus Christ, we are to be a light in a dark world, sharing the truth and love of Jesus Christ with everyone and anyone we come in contact with. In order to accomplish this, we must associate and be friendly with everyone. Should we get into deep, intimate personal and business relationships with non-believers? No, that is where the line needs to be drawn. That is what Paul is trying to communicate here. When we are personally intimate with others, spending untold numbers of hours each day with them; we become influenced by their beliefs and customs. And if those beliefs or customs are contrary to the word of God, then we usually become torn as to whether to accept them or not. This is especially true in marriage. Loyalties between God and spouse are challenged, and often result in heartache and stress.

     Making the decision to be loyal to God and His truth before entering into a deep, intimate relationship with someone who doesn’t have the same belief system, will save us from much turmoil down the road.

     Are you entertaining relationships that are in direct opposition to what you believe?( If you’re already married, God does not want you to end your marital relationship, but rather, continue to pray for your unbelieving spouse, as you faithfully serve and love them.) Are you afraid to be by yourself so you befriend anyone that will accept you? Take some time today, to examine your belief system and whether or not it truly lines up with the word of God. Ask God to show you where to make changes in the friendships that you currently have in your life.

Have a great day!     

Stepping Up!

2 Corinthians 6:3-13

     We try to live in such a way that no one will be hindered from finding the Lord by the way we act, and so no one can find fault with our ministry. In everything we do we try to show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in jail, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. We have proved ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, our sincere love, and the power of the Holy Spirit. We have faithfully preached the truth. God’s power has been working in us. We have righteousness as our weapon, both to attack and to defend ourselves. We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us imposters. We are well known, but we are treated as unknown. We live close to death, but here we are still alive. We have been beaten within an inch of our lives. Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

     Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you. Our hearts are open to you. If there is a problem between us, it is not because of a lack of love on our part, but because you have withheld your love from us. I am talking now as I would to my own children. Open your hearts to us!

     Paul always considered what his actions spoke to others. He lived in a place where he understood that one wrong decision or one questionable action could cause just one person to be turned against the truth about Jesus Christ. He goes on to list actions that he considered to be vital in proving his allegiance to his Savior and to his call as a minister of Christ. If we are believers in Christ then we are also ministers, whether we choose to accept that fact or not. Let’s take a closer look at this list of actions to see if we are patterning our life after our forefathers of faith and living up to our calling as ministers for Christ.

          1.    Patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind
           2.    Been beaten
           3.    Put in jail
           4.    Faced angry mobs
           5.    Worked to exhaustion
           6.    Endured sleepless nights
           7.    Gone without food
           8.    Prove ourselves by:
                     a.    Our purity
                     b.    Our understanding
                     c.    Our patience
                     d.    Our kindness
                     e.    Our sincere love
                     f.     The power of the Holy Spirit
           9.    Have faithfully preached the truth
          10. God’s power works in us
          11. Use righteousness as our weapon
          12. Serve God whether people:
                     a.    Honor us
                     b.    Despise us
                     c.    Slander us
                     d.    Praise us
           13. We’re honest
           14. Well known
           15. Live close to death
           16. Beaten within an inch of our lives
           17. Always have joy
           18. We’re poor
           19. Give spiritual riches to others
           20. Own nothing
           21. Have everything


      So, how does your life as a Christian compare to Paul’s? Being a Christian is the most phenomenal lifestyle you and I could ever experience, but to believe that we will never experience anything negative in our life is a lie from Satan himself! In the American Christian culture, God has blessed us beyond measure even to the point that we are like spoiled children. One flat tire, or one hour without electricity sends us into a temper tantrum, whining and crying to anyone that will listen to our pitiful plight. I believe that God is attempting to empower a people that will go forth in His name regardless of the circumstances around them, a people that will believe that they are more than conquerors through Christ, in every situation! Rise up and be all that you were created to be!

 

What do your actions speak to others? Have you ever considered the fact that you are a “minister for Christ?” Having that label placed on you, would you live your life differently? Take some time today to seriously consider the fact that you are a minister. Ask God to reveal to you some actions that you may need to change, in order to step into that role more effectively.

Have a great day!

Today's the day!!

2 Corinthians 6:1-2

     As God’s partners, we beg you not to reject this marvelous message of God’s great kindness. For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, God is ready to help you right now. Today is the day of salvation.

     In these two short verses, Paul is pleading with anyone reading this letter, that he wrote to the Corinthian church, to understand and accept God’s plan of salvation. In verse 2, Paul is repeating a line that was proclaimed by the prophet Isaiah in the book of Isaiah 49:8. This was a promise that God made many, many years before through the prophet Isaiah, that at just the right time, he would hear our desperate cries for help and send Jesus Christ to provide salvation and help for our troubled souls. All we would have to do is accept that help.

  Have you accepted this help from the Lord? Are you crying out each and every day for an answer to your troubled heart and life? Do you yearn for more out of life? It’s as simple as asking the Lord to take control of your life and believing and understanding that by the shedding of His blood on Calvary that He has made a way for you to be in right standing before God. Take some time right now to simply sit in quiet stillness before God and ask him to be your Savior, not just for today, but for each and every day for the rest of your life. This is one decision that you will never regret! Make today YOUR day of salvation!

If you took the time to accept God’s salvation for yourself, or you renewed your relationship with the Lord and would like to know what steps to take next, feel free to email me at hargrovewendy@yahoo.com.

Have a great day!

 

Where's Your Zeal?

A few weeks ago, a few friends of mine asked me if I would share my own personal daily devotion with them through email or facebook. So on Monday-Friday of each week I have not only shared my devotion, but also added some comments and questions to ponder. This has turned into a bigger project than what I orginally expected it to be. I am now taking this one step further and adding it to my blog site. If you would like to receive these on a daily basis, then I encourage you to become one of my followers on this site. Studying God's Word on a daily basis is one of the greatest things you can do for yourself! Let this be a jumping off point for you into a deeper relationship with the Lord and His Word!


2 Corinthians 5:11-21

It is because we know this solemn fear of the Lord that we work so hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. Are we trying to pat ourselves on the back again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart before God. If it seems that we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Whatever we do, it is because Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live to please themselves. Instead, they will live to please Christ, who died and was raised for them.

So we have stopped evaluating others by what the world thinks about them. Once I mistakenly thought of Christ that way, as though he were merely a human being. How differently I think about him now. What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!

All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did. And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others. We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, "Be reconciled to God!" 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.

Paul starts off by letting the Corinthian church know that his ministry was not about him being arrogant or patting himself on the back. He had a sincere heart to serve the Lord with his very life and make sure that everyone he came in contact with knew about the salvation plan of the Lord. Paul was radically passionate about what he was doing, which probably made him look pretty crazy to the outside world. His image or what he looked like to others meant absolutely nothing to him, all that mattered was that he brought glory to God by touching lost souls.

In the American Christian culture, we have allowed image and pride to creep into our ministry circles. Lost souls and bringing glory to God isn't always the major focus. How we are perceived by others seems to top the priority list instead. Focus is placed on things like the beautification of the church buildings, official counts of church attendance, outward appearance of our physical bodies. Don't get me wrong, those things in and of themselves are not wrong. We need to have excellence in all that we do for the Lord, but when those things trump or overrule our true purpose, then we are bringing glory to ourselves rather than to God.

Check your own heart today. Why do you call yourself a Christian? Is it to walk out your true calling and purpose, or simply to look good to those around you? Do you live out and model the true characteristics of that title or do you give others reason to label you as a hypocrite? I know, it's a tough question, but each of us needs to be able to answer it, honestly.

Paul goes on to say, that if you are really a Christian or Christ follower, than your life has to change. In other words, because you have a new focus, which is Christ Jesus, you begin to think and act differently. Not because there is a list of rules that must be adhered to, but instead, you have a new mindset and you don't want to act and think like you used to when you didn't understand what it meant to be a real Christian. Your new desire is to be more and more like Christ, which in turn, drives you to tell others about what Christ has done in your life. Once you realize the fact that, "once you were dead, and now you're alive", you can't help but shout it from the rooftops, and want others to experience the same freedom and hope that you now have.

Do you still have the same zeal and excitement that you once had for serving the Lord? Take some time today to think about and honestly answer that question. If your answer is "no", then ask the Lord to show you why. And then ask Him to show what steps you may need to take to reignite the passion, love and excitement in your Christian walk.

Have a great day!