Category: II Corinthians

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Something’s Missing

I used to imagine myself dressed in the armor of a knight. I saw myself going out to fight some giant or fierce dragon only to discover that I had forgotten part of my armor. I would have the helmet, the sword, and the leggings but I was missing my breastplate. I had nothing to protect my vital organs.

One day I was reading in Ephesians. In the last chapter of that book Paul gives a list of the armor that God has given us. There was a verse I had been missing. It all but jumped off the page at me.

“Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.” Ephesians 6:13-15 NLT

That was it! I was missing my body armor. Another translation of this verse calls it the “breastplate of righteousness”. I had never considered myself righteous – Jesus is the one who is righteous. Righteous means that we are in right standing with God; so much of my life I wonder if I was good enough for God to love me.  I wasn’t alone.

For years Christians have been duped into thinking of themselves as second rate or lower-class citizens. I certainly had. This is completely contrary to God’s view of His children.

 “When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new! 18 All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between himself and us. And God gave us the work of bringing people into peace with him. 19 I mean that God was in Christ, making peace between the world and himself. In Christ, God did not hold people guilty for their sins. And he gave us this message of peace to tell people. 20 So we have been sent to speak for Christ. It is like God is calling to people through us. We speak for Christ when we beg you to be at peace with God. 21 Christ had no sin, but God made him become sinso that in Christ we could be right with God.” II Corinthians 5:17-21 ERV

Oh, my goodness, did you read that? Our Father has made us new. He has placed us in right relationship with Himself. He is not holding us guilty for our sins because Christ took them and their penalty. Now He is asking us to tell others that they can be right with Him too.

This should remind us of the diamond cutter removing the dirt and crud that was encrusted around the precious stone. Cut away the sin and the Father’s right there polishing us, another facet is shining.

Since that day, I have never imagined myself without my body armor. I am righteous because Jesus took my sin making me right with God.

…We have been made righteous – we are “right with God” because of Jesus. Let’s show the world our true value and worth. We are bright, shiny, new because of Jesus!

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When God When

It seems when it comes to answered prayer we often times have the wrong perspective. We want to see an immediate change in our situations and if we don’t, we become discouraged and began our lament of “When God, when”.

God lives in the now, that happens when you are eternal, having no beginning and no end. The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. The events that happened at creation are just as current to the Lord as this morning’s breakfast.

The answer to our prayers, according to the Scripture, comes when we ask.

“Ask and it shall be given you” Matthew 7:7

“Call on Me and I will answer thee” Jeremiah 33:3

“Come boldly to the throne of grace and find help in time of need” Hebrews 4:16

“Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.” Daniel 10:12 NLT

Our part is to ask, to call and to come. God’s part is to give, answer and help. He always does His part! We are the ones who have set up a time table and we often times think that God should respond accordingly.

However, we don’t always receive the answer on our schedule because God’s eternal timing is different from ours but He ALWAYS answers.

“but a thousand years  mean nothing to you! They are merely a day gone by or a few hours in the night.” Psalm 90:4 CEV

I can accurately say that none of us have waited one of God’s days for an answer to prayer.

The year of 2020 is almost over and you may be saying “When God, when”. Trust me when I tell you this. God is working, even when we don’t see it. The Apostle Paul said this to the Christians who lived in the ancient city of Corinth.

“God says, “I heard you at the right time, and I gave you help on the day of salvation.” I tell you that the “right time” is now. The “day of salvation” is now.” II Corinthians 6:2 ERV

Let me encourage you to remain confident, don’t let go of your hope. Trust God! Listen to the Scriptures. God says the right time is now; help is here!

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Not About Me

Every morning for the last nine plus years I have traded emails with a friend who lives in the Northwest. We share our morning “coffee”. She tells me all about her previous day and I tell her about mine.

There are days when one or the other of us start our email by saying “I need this to be all about me”. That’s what friends do!

We listen, without condemning. We don’t have to make things better or give advice sometimes we just need to listen. Many times at the end of one of those pour-your-heart-out exchanges we will say “thank you, I knew you would know what I should do” because once we’ve talked through things, although it’s in an email, and unburdened ourselves we know what to do.

Self-centeredness is never good for a relationship. True friendship, true love is selfless.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. Whoever puts his trust in God’s Son will not be lost but will have life that lasts forever.” John 3:16 NLV

God loved so much He sent His Son. When Jesus came to earth it wasn’t about Him it was about rescuing us.

“A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.” John 10:10 CEV

When the angels filled the heavens two thousand years ago proclaiming the birth of Jesus, they gave “Glory to God in the Highest”. The message wasn’t about them – they were only the messengers.

We also have the opportunity to be messengers of God’s goodness and love. It’s not about me, it’s about what Jesus has done in our lives.

“You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” II Corinthians 4:5-7 NLT

We have a great treasure bottled up within us. It’s the light of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. It’s not about me, it’s about His light shinging through me. I just want to be the vessel that brings His light to the world.

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Forgive and Forget

We’ve all done things that we hope no one will remember. It could be something embarassing or possibly it was something horrible.

The phrase forgive and forget brings comfort and peace when facing our past. Often forgiveness comes easier than the forgetfulness. Too many times we remember our own failings and shortcomings long after others have forgotten them.

It is this very reason that I am so thankful for what I found in my Bible reading yesterday. I’ve read these verses hundreds of times before.

In the Old Testament, the Jewish people were required to come to the priests and bring sacrifices for their sins. The priests would offer the animal, blood would be shed and forgiveness would be given.

But…they had to come on a continual basis. Always facing the fact that they had sinned. Never finding freedom, true freedom, to go forward and live in peace. Forgiven but not forgotten. Held as prisoners to their actions.

Until…Jesus came.

“But Christ offered only one sacrifice for sins, and that sacrifice is good for all time. Then he sat down at the right side of God. 13 And now Christ waits there for his enemies to be put under his power. 14 With one sacrifice Christ made his people perfect forever. They are the ones who are being made holy.

15 The Holy Spirit also tells us about this. First he says, 16 “This is the agreement I will make
 with my people in the future, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts. I will write my laws in their minds.”

17 Then he says, “I will forget their sins and never again remember the evil they have done.” 18 And after everything is forgiven, there is no more need for a sacrifice to pay for sins.” Hebrews 10:12-18 ERV

Jesus made one offering for our sins. He was the sacrifice and because of what Jesus did God, the Father, has chosen to forgive us and has forgotten all that we have done. He refuses to remember it any longer.

Forgive and forget!

God doesn’t want us living a life of guilt. He doesn’t want us held prisoner to our past. He wants us enjoying the freedom, true freedom, that we can experience because of His love.

“When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new! 18 All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between himself and us. And God gave us the work of bringing people into peace with him. 19 I mean that God was in Christ, making peace between the world and himself. In Christ, God did not hold people guilty for their sins. And he gave us this message of peace to tell people.” II Corinthians 5:17-19 ERV

What a wonderful Father we have! He has forgiven all, forgotten all and He will never bring up our past. Our sins weren’t insignificant, not at all. However, the sacrifice that Jesus made is so much greater than our sins.

I feel like the Apostle Paul in the verses above – God gave me the work of letting people know that we have peace, real peace, with Him.

Thank God for the new life He gave us. If you’re bothered by things from your past tell the Father about it. Talk it out and then walk away knowing it’s Forgiven and Forgotten!

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Mistaken Identity

Yesterday Dave and I went for drive to some small ranching towns near where we are camped. I was talking about a friend who lives there and how it’s been over thirty years since we’ve seen her. I wished we had thought to contact her and tried to arrange a meet up.

We stopped at a bar-b-que place for lunch and were seated near the window. Dave looked out and said “I think that’s her”. I did a double take and sure enough, it looked like her. I headed out of the restaurant and down the street. I called her name but no response. When I got closer I realized it was a case of mistaken identity and I apologized to the woman.

It was a disappointment to say the least.

Has anyone ever mistaken you for someone else? I know I’ve had it happen to me a few times. It’s pretty easy to do. It’s also something that happens every day when it comes to character.

A person who is clean and sober runs into someone they knew when they were an addict and they get treated as if they hadn’t changed. A person who was selfish and self-indulgent turns over a new leaf but they’re held at arms length by those they have slighted.

David, the shepherd boy, had a case of mistaken identity. Golaith, the seasoned warrior, mistook David for an unskilled, scrawny youth. What Golaith didn’t see was the bold, God-fearing, young man who had killed a lion and a bear. Goliath’s case of mistaken identity brought him to his death.

“Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory.” I John 5:4 CEV

We are as guilty as Golaith in some of our misjudgements.

We look in the mirror and see ourselves as weak or inadequate. Moses told God that he couldn’t deliver the Israelites because he stuttered. But God saw the man Moses was on the inside and used him anyway. I’ve heard it said that God doesn’t choose the qualified, instead He equips the willing.

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” II Corinthians 5:17 NLT

What are some of the things you, or others, have been saying you can’t do? You’re not qualfied, you’re not equipped to handle. We have a new identity – we are empowered by God for the task at hand.

“I can do all things because Christ gives me the strength.” Philippians 4:13 NLV

Don’t look back at who you once were. Look forward at who God has called you to be!

I am so thankful for my new identity in Christ!

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Comfort & Joy

No, this isn’t going to be a blog with a Christmas theme. We’re still about five weeks from that. This has been a very rough year for many, I think we all thought we would be on the road to normal by now. Yet, we’re still being distanced from family and friends.

There is a real sense of loss. Some losses are small – gatherings, celebrations, luncheons, one-on-one times and others have faced life-changing, life-ending circumstances on their own. Those who so deparately need to be comforted have been without support.

Who can they turn to? How do we help?

I hesitate when answering these questions because some will find my answer trite or cliche`. However, it is the most profound and impacting action I know. We pray!

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Father who is full of mercy, the God of all comfort. 4 He comforts us every time we have trouble so that when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us.” II Corinthians 1:3-4 ERV

Reaching out in prayer to the Father, who is the God of all comfort, on behalf of those who are hurting is powerful. Before Jesus died, leaving his disciples in a desparate emotional state, he told them that when He went away the Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit, would come.

“But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate[a] won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.” John 16:7 NLT Footnote a for verse 16:7 Or Comforter, or Encourager, or Counselor. Greek reads Paraclete.

The Holy Spirit is able to comfort me in Arizona at the same time He is bringing comfort to you in Nebraska. His presence can be felt the world over. He isn’t limited. When I can’t be with someone that I love and I know they are going through a very difficult time, my prayer goes something like this: “Father God, you said that you are the God of comfort and I believe that. Right now my friend is going through a very, very difficult time and they need Your comfort. I ask for the Holy Spirit to bring comfort to their heart. Wrap Your loving arms around them and let them sense Your peace. Please send someone to extend Your comfort in a personal way. I thank you. In Jesus name.”

And if we can be there in person, we don’t need to know the right words to say because there really are no words. A genuine hug, a hand to hold and tears shed will speak to their heart.

God will never abandon us in our time of need but He won’t force us to accept His comfort either. He’s right there the moment we cry out to Him. He knows our heartache and He is able and willing to bring healing and comfort in our grief.

“God blesses those people who grieve. They will find comfort!” Matthew 5:4 CEV

My prayer is for all who need to be comforted. “Lord Jesus, shower them with Your love and wrap them in Your comfort this very hour.”

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Adding Strength

I don’t often stay in bed past 3 am. 3:30 is late but this morning it was 4:05! Yikes, the day is half gone – not really but that was the first thought I had when I saw the clock. The coffee was already brewing so that was a blessing.

I’ve come to realize when I do sleep in that my body obviously has a need for more rest and I am grateful. Grateful that the Lord has promised to provide the strength I need.

“Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” II Corinthians 12:9 NLT

Sometimes we have a mindset that we should be able to handle more things on our own. We should just buck up, push through and handle it. Whatever “it” is. But God doesn’t want us handling things on our own. He wants us drawing on His strength.

I do have days when I get weary. I end up getting grumpy. I don’t like it when that happens.

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9 NLT

When I focus on me, I’m focused on a very small target and the world goes by around me. A world that I should be looking to impact, a world that I should be looking to bless! They need me – they need me to be loving and gracious, they need me to be an example of my Father.

How do we keep from becoming weary; how do we serve with the right attitude?

“Surely you know the truth. Surely you have heard.The LORD is the God who lives forever! He created all the faraway places on earth. He does not get tired and weary. You cannot learn all he knows. 29 He helps tired people be strong. He gives power to those without it. 30 Young men get tired and need to rest. Even young boys stumble and fall. 31 But those who trust in the LORD will become strong again. They will be like eagles that grow new feathers. They will run and not get weak. They will walk and not get tired.” Isaiah 40:28-31 ERV

When we come to the Lord to be refreshed, He will renew our strength. When we see others the way He does, we serve gladly.

Lord, let me see others through your eyes today and renew my strength. I want to be used to touch others with Your love.

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Sweet Perfume

I was reading a verse that I have taught on numerous times this morning and a greater understanding of that verse jumped off the page.

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in victory through Christ. God uses us to spread his knowledge everywhere like a sweet-smelling perfume.” II Corinthians 2:14 NLV

My oldest granddaughter and I share this verse with just one word – ALWAYS! In the King James version it is translated “always triumph”. And that’s what I have taught on many times but this morning’s focus was on the second half of the verse.

The sweet perfume.

When I read those words I was reminded of Mary, who came in to a dinner where Jesus was enjoying the evening’s repasse with his disciples and Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Lazarus was her brother. She wanted to honor Jesus. He had caused her brother to triumph over death.

In her hands she carried a box of expensive perfume. Mary poured the perfume on Jesus’ feet and then wiped them with her hair. The fragrance filled the room. Judas Iscariot protested that the perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor. Jesus silenced him and said that her actions were actually preparing him for his burial.

“Jesus answered, “Don’t stop her. It was right for her to save this perfume for today—the day for me to be prepared for burial.” John 12:7 ERV

Mary left that place with the odor of sweet perfume in her hair. I’m sure that when she went to the marketplace the next day, Mary took with her that sweet smell of her worship of the Lord. I’m sure that when asked “what’s that fragrance you are wearing” she told of Jesus and her encounter with Him. She spread the knowledge of relationship with the Lord, the triumph over death.

The sweet smelling perfume!

Another thought that came to mind was the instruction that the Lord gave in the Old Testament about the sacrifices they offered.

“I am building a temple where the Lord my God will be worshiped. Sweet-smelling incense will be burned there, and sacred bread will be offered to him. Worshipers will offer sacrifices to the Lord every morning and evening, every Sabbath, and on the first day of each month, as well as during all our religious festivals. These things will be done for all time, just as the Lord has commanded.” II Chronicles 2:4 CEV

Sweet-smelling incense was a part of the sacrifice offering.

When the Jewish people smelled the incense they knew that sacrifices were being made. Praise and repentance were taking place and the sweet odor from the incense made them aware of what the Lord had done. When their children or foreigners in their midst ask “what’s that sweet smell” they were able to tell of their wonderful God who delivered them from Egypt and helped them defeat their enemies.

I believe that this is what Paul is referring to here as he writes to the Christians in the church at Corinth. When the world sees the victories that we experience in Christ, we always triumph, our praise of God and His power rises like a sweet-smelling perfume. And when people ask “why do you always have such a sweet disposition” “why don’t you worry or fret” we can share the knowledge of God who always causes us to triumph!

Let the sweet smell of God’s love and goodness permeate the atmosphere of your world.

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Staying Focused

Some mornings I get up and have to put drops in my eyes. They have gotten dry during the night and it becomes hard to focus. The drops do the trick and after a few blinks I begin to see things clearly.

What helps you focus at the beginning of each day?

For me it’s rising to the quiet of the house, brewing coffee and taking time to listen to the Holy Spirit. It hasn’t always been that way but now it has become my strength and the purpose for my life.

I remember those time when my world was selfishly all about me, doing what I wanted without any guidance from the Father. “I could handle this. I didn’t need any outside help.” I never really thought to ask for His help or His direction. I just got up and ran things my way. Oh, I was so wrong, so very wrong.

“At noon the whole country became dark. The darkness continued for three hours. 46 About three o’clock Jesus cried out loudly, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” This means “My God, my God, why have you left me alone?” Matthew 27:45-46 ERV

Jesus spent his entire earthly stay focusing on the Father, doing the Father’s will and bringing glory to Him. Now in the darkness Jesus knew that He had been forsaken or left alone! This broke Jesus’ heart.

God the Father had to turn His focus away from Jesus, his beloved Son, to us so that Jesus could pay the penalty for our sin on the cross. At that time the Father put us and our relationship ahead of His love for Jesus. We became His primary focus.

“But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us.” Romans 5:8 ERV

“Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could be right with God.” II Corinthians 5:20 ERV

The experience of that separation from the Father was almost unbearable to Jesus. He paid the supreme sacrifice. Not only was the Father’s focus on us and the relationship we can have with Him but it was also what Jesus was focusing on.

“Let us keep looking to Jesus. Our faith comes from Him and He is the One Who makes it perfect. He did not give up when He had to suffer shame and die on a cross. He knew of the joy that would be His later. Now He is sitting at the right side of God. 3 Sinful men spoke words of hate against Christ. He was willing to take such shame from sinners. Think of this so you will not get tired and give up.” Hebrews 12:2-3 NLV

Whether your quiet time is first thing in the morning or another time during the day stop and think what it cost for you to have this wonderful privledge of coming into the Father’s presence. Make it your focus! Don’t take it for granted.

“May you have loving-favor and peace from Jesus Christ Who is faithful in telling the truth. Jesus Christ is the first to be raised from the dead. He is the head over all the kings of the earth. He is the One Who loves us and has set us free from our sins by His blood. 6 Christ has made us a holy nation of religious leaders who can go to His God and Father. He is the One to receive honor and power forever! Let it be so.” Revelation 1:5-6 NLV

This amazing relationship is available to all, to whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. He is worthy of our focused attention – He is worthy of it all!

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Making A Way

I recently had a conversation with a friend who said “I know God is going to work things out, I just don’t see how”. I have been there so many times…more times than I am comfortable with but each one of those situations has bolstered my faith when the next circumstance comes.

Knowing that God is in control and that He is working things out even/especially when we can’t see what’s going on is a great place of peace and comfort. He delivered Noah in the flood, David from Goliath, Daniel from the lions, Joseph in Egypt, Paul in prison, the thief on the cross and He won’t quit with us or those we love!

“Great blessings belong to those who are tempted and remain faithful! After they have proved their faith, God will give them the reward of eternal life. God promised this to all people who love him. 13 Whenever you feel tempted to do something bad, you should not say, “God is tempting me.” Evil cannot tempt God, and God himself does not tempt anyone. 14 You are tempted by the evil things you want. Your own desire leads you away and traps you. 15 Your desire grows inside you until it results in sin. Then the sin grows bigger and bigger and finally ends in death.16 My dear brothers and sisters, don’t be fooled about this. 17 Everything good comes from God. Every perfect gift is from him. These good gifts come down from the Father who made all the lights in the sky. But God never changes like the shadows from those lights. He is always the same. 18 God decided to give us life through the true message he sent to us. He wanted us to be the most important of all that he created.” James 1:12-18 ERV

Sometimes we get things backwards. Sometimes we say God is testing me or putting me through this trial to see what I’m made of. God doesn’t do that. When the trials, tests and temptations come they come from our own making or the influence of Satan in the world. God steps in to give us the strength to win the battle.

Noah had no idea how long he would be in the ark. David collected five stones for his sling; he didn’t know the first one would kill the giant. Joseph served thirteen years as a slave in Egypt before he was promoted. Paul was stoned, shipwrecked, beaten and imprisoned, but he said those were light afflictions and that God’s grace was sufficient in every situation.

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” I Corinthians 10:13 NLT

In Sunday’s worship service we sang the song “Way Maker”. The lyrics in that song that mean the most to me are these: “Even when I don’t see it, You’re working, Even when I don’t feel it, You’re working, You never stop, You never stop working, You never stop, You never stop working”.

God never stops working – He makes a way for us. God will lead us into victory. Thank Him for all the good and perfect gifts that He has provided.

“Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ…” II Corinthians 2:14

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