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!

Who do you look to?

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!