Galatians 6:7-9 (February 8, 2010)

Scripture:

Galatians 6:7-9 Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool.  For a person will reap what he sows, because the person who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up.

Observation:

It is a sad mark of a life without faith that someone would think that God can be ridiculed without consequence.  When there is no basic fear of judgment or recompense – that is, when we think we can get away with anything not just before humanity, but before heaven – there is extreme danger.  We all wear our works in our bodies, minds and souls.  The corruption is profound and as personal as the self-centric mindset that was its seed.  There has and will always be an alternative sowing – to the Spirit in service and obedience to the God-exalting believer living by faith.  It’s never done perfectly but when we plant such seed regularly, the crop produced is both in us and others.  It’s joy instead of depression, ever new and everlasting expressions of life  instead of creeping loss of the capacity to truly and fully live.  But there is even a danger in that sowing – that we’d get tired and give up.  The arrival of blessing as the coming of the harvest is NOT under our control.  The life of faith must never regress into seeing, then believing.

Application:

Going LIFO (last in first out) – let us not give up in doing good and being faithful to our calling.  We don’t need to see anything through human eyes to tell us what we’re doing will bear fruit and produce God’s crop.  We only need to know how plants grow.  Seed – water – crop.  That’s all and that’s complete.  If crops take a longer than we think to sprout, we should know they’ll be more fully formed when they do come up.  We may even be called to the land of promise before we see them; the sowing must go on nonetheless.  But we also take heart as we see the glory being formed in our lives – this is from God, not from do-gooding or pleasing people (though blessing DOES please people and it IS doing good).  And let us reach out to those who have cast off God as an illusion or worse and find the wick that might somehow burn with the flame of faith.  The image of God is still there if they would only grasp.  It’s ours to be patient, faithful and loving.  Whatever witness we are called to be, let us embrace that, exchanging grace for even the worst venom spewed our way.  Is that easy?  No, quite impossible without God.  But again, His harvest is a resilient one; we can see that if we only look.  If we are truly wounded, it’s necessary to convalesce and get healed.  But if we are made healthy, it is for the battle of faith and the glorious life of a farmer.  Seed – water – crop.

Prayer:

Lord, let us pick up our bag of seed again if we have put it down.  Let us embrace the job You have for us, and with all we are and all we have, serve the Lord of the harvest.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

Galatians 4:1-7 (February 5, 2010)

Scripture:

Galatians 4:1-7 Now I mean that the heir, as long as he is a minor, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. But he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.  So also we, when we were minors, were enslaved under the basic forces of the world.  But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights.  And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls “Abba! Father!”  So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son, then you are also an heir through God.

Observation:

In the ancient world, 25% of the people were slaves, owned by masters.  Children of slaves were likewise slaves, and the property of the household that fed, clothed and housed their parents.  Here we have a vivid picture of the family of humankind growing, as children, under the watchful eye of Almighty God.  He is the master, but what holds the people in slavery is their sin (John 8:34).  The “basic forces” are those spiritual entities (i.e. Satan and his minions) who hold fast those under sin’s dominion in their servitude to their own destructive practices.   But the appearance of Jesus – not just historically in 0 A.D. but chronologically in our individual lives – and his accomplishment of our redemptive work on the cross enabled believers to become slaves no longer but adopted children.  We are, then, full-fledged members of God’s family with Jesus as our Brother and God as our Father, and heirs to all heaven’s riches and rewards. 

Application:

Have we truly grasped this?  Can we say “Abba! Father!”, calling God our Daddy in as intimate and confident a way as a four-year-old can look up to his earthly father, his hero of heroes?  This is what was bought for us on the cross, and walking in a lesser revelation is to go back to being slaves, trying again to earn our way into the family.  It was God’s kindness that resulted in our adoption but we MUST believe it and apprehend it in our faith.  There was a date of Christ’s historical appearing but we also need to have a date for His appearing in our lives by faith as Savior and Lord, for our adoption papers are signed in His blood which speaks a better word than the blood of Abel (Hebrews 12:24) who was the original earthly martyr slain for his faith.  Jesus’ blood still cries out from the ground and calls us no less than His siblings and heirs of an unspeakably enormous estate.

Prayer:

Father, again we need to grasp truths and hold them close to our hearts.  You have revealed great mysteries to us and You did so for a very powerful reason – we are to know who and WHOSE we are, deeply and unmistakably.  Grant us faith to walk in that knowledge.  In Jesus’ name,

amen.

 

Galatians 1:15-17, 2:1 (February 4, 2010)

Scripture:

Galatians 1:15-17 But when the one who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not go to ask advice from any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before me, but right away I departed to Arabia, and then returned to Damascus.
…
2:1 Then after fourteen years I went up to Jerusalem  again with Barnabas, taking Titus along too. I went there because of a revelation and presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did so only in a private meeting with the influential people, to make sure that I was not running – or had not run – in vain

Observation:

Which way is it?  Did Paul have to get advice from humans or not?  If the revelation was enough for him to go into Arabia and then return to Damascas, why did he have to have a meeting with influential people to demonstrate the gospel he preached to the Gentiles?  Who were these “influential people” and why did their opinion matter?  The answer is that BOTH revelation AND human counsel is necessary for the believer to know God’s path.  And both the revelation and counsel must align with the God’s written word, the BIble.  The believer hears from God and runs it by faithful people.  It’s a remarkable “from birth” calling that lays out a destiny of faith for our lives and that is without human origin or plan.  But it’s a likewise remarkable humility that we review our plans before human counsel.  The nature of those people – the “influential people” as Paul calls them – is also vital because they must be like-minded and like-called so they will understand and never negate the very nature of our calling and the people we are in Christ.  And the implication is that the details of our steps can be corrected or modified by the counsel we receive.  Counsel is not inconsistent with calling.

Application:

Do we know our calling?  It’s as clear as the spiritual gifts and fruit that are already in operation in our lives.  It is the immature believer that constantly searches for God’s will rather than asking for a fuller living of the will of God he/she is already walking out.  We need to know that the calling we have is from birth – it’s not the same as Paul’s and thank God for that because most are not equipped or anointed to walk as he did.  But also, we should know that it includes such things as our vocation (yes, our secular jobs) and even our hobbies – the constructive use of our time that gives us pleasure apart from salaried toil.  The second question is: have we received counsel?  Not time on a couch answering questions posed by a note-taking mental health worker (no slam on that, either), but just friends who care about the things we care about, who can help us live more fully for the Lord in all the places we find ourselves.  Likewise, we are to serve as counsel for others, because we have growing lifetimes of knowledge and wisdom to give and we mustn’t horde that.  Paul lived a joyful life – despite devastating trials and challenges – because he was where God wanted him and allowed reliable human counsel to hone – fine tune – his walk.  Let us pursue the same balance of calling and counsel, for it’s God’s best for each of us.

Prayer:

Father, it is our desire to walk in fullness, filled with the Holy Spirit and knowing our calling with great certainty.  Show us the counselors in our daily lives – those You have put there for us to help and be helped by.  Open our eyes to see that, in Jesus’ name amen.

 

2 Corinthians 13:8-10 (February 3, 2010)

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 13:8-10 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth.  For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And we pray for this: that you may become fully qualified. Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive I may not have to deal harshly with you by using my authority – the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!

Observation:

The overriding concern Paul had is that the truth of the gospel be presented and lived out.  It dominated his thoughts and words to the Corinthians.  He would undergo personal weakness, even tragedy, that his children in the faith would grow and be strong.  Their sin HAS to go, it HAD to be eradicated from their lives for them be strong, though.  Throughout the letter as here in the end, Paul’s tone, his biting sarcasm and non-mincing of words was towards one focus – repentance and humility among God’s people.  He wrote that way so that they would listen and act upon the word of the Lord so that when he was next with them he would not need to enact disciplinary actions against individuals.  It is clear that some had not received and acted upon his correction; problems persisted in the second letter that were present in the first.  And Paul was a person of authority – the church was not a group of independent gatherings, loosely agreeing on principles of faith.  It had hierarchical structure, and in that structure Paul was an authority over the churches.  However, that authority had the focus of growing believers in their faith, not destroying them in their rebellion.  And that was a far more desirable application for him, he was best at that.

Application:

Focus upon the gospel.  What would Jesus do?  It matters much more than we think, both in the small areas as in the large.  We need to acknowledge Him all our (small) ways that he would make our (large) paths straight (Proverbs 3:6).  Authority is given to church leadership primarily to make us better, more developed people of faith.  But if we persist in sin, claiming rights or establishing our own authority above that which has been put in place by God, we have established a stance that will be given over to destruction, and us with it if we do not repent.  Avoid the argument that cites the rebellious attitudes and acts of others and says “nothing bad happened to them” because we do not know the =end of things or even the true state of things in the present.  It’s all appearance and veneer.  So, we should heed the quiet voice before the loud voice is needed to tear us down as we live obstinate lives.  There is an escalation of confrontation we need to learn – as both confronter and confronted – in Matthew 18:15-17.  We need to learn to soften our hearts and where they are hard, get help.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for the correction You send, because You love those whom You chastise.  We receive it as life-giving wisdom.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

2 Corinthians 12:19-21 (February 2, 2010)

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 12:19-21 Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up.  For I am afraid that somehow when I come I will not find you what I wish, and you will find me not what you wish. I am afraid that somehow there may be quarreling, jealousy, intense anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip,arrogance, and disorder.  I am afraid that when I come again, my God may humiliate me before you, and I will grieve for many of those who previously sinned and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and licentiousness that they have practiced.

Observation:

After a long passage of citing his experiences, qualifications and hard work for the people of Corinth and in general service as Apostle, Paul writes the concluding words – his REAL concern for them.  “Super apostles” had come into their midst, denegrating Paul and wow-ing the people with their great speech and flattery.  But Paul’s whole point in ministry was never to build himself up, to defend his credentials or establish his qualifications as a pastor or teacher.  It was to build THEM up, presenting THEM before Christ as true servants of God.  Paul’s concern is, then, that the people will have learned self-promotion from these super apostles, they may, instead of serving each other, become used to serving themselves.  We know this had been a stronghold in their church at many points in his first letter.  Paul wants to see them progress past selfishness into holiness, selfLESSness and service to God.  He does not want to have to go back to square one.  He wants them to grow as servants of God, laying down the things of the flesh and taking up Christ.

Application:

Beware of self at every juncture.  In fact, beware of others promoting self at every juncture, because that is a very easy sinful practice to learn.  The immediate rewards are evident and the methods are easy if not even subtle.  We need to be spending ourselves for others, for that builds up the Body and exalts Christ.  Seeing THAT imitated, with yet more others spending themselves for yet more others, is our reward.  It is one thing to keep a resume’ – like the long list of things Paul had done for Jesus – but let it serve to proclaim God’s faithfulness, not our own courage or great faith.  We stand only by grace; we must never forget that.  We need to know that deeply inside and proclaim it with words and deeds.  Only then will we be true disciples and other people learn to be likewise.  And, as the vice list is cited at the end of the passage, only then can we turn from sin – for what is sin but promotion of the self, promotion of the flesh?

Prayer:

Father, if we need to go lower in service, so be it.  Let us see Your hand molding us into the image of Christ, that we might be made like Him, the Great Shepherd, servant of all.  Build Your Kingdom in and through us this day.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (February 1, 2010)

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we live as human beings, we do not wage war according to human standards, for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ.

Observation:

The battle of the thoughts is not without physical and verbal manifestation.  Personal action to negate the effects of strongholds in our lives and the lives of others is called for, as is confrontation and argument.  But the struggle within the mind with the skirmishes of ideology and world-view, certainly precedes and precurses any outward conflict.  The arguments are within, where we identify and rectify positions, philosophies, beliefs and moral stances that are contrary to the counsel of God in the Holy Spirit.  Capturing thoughts may seem like a lot of work, but we don’t do it alone.  The Spirit is within us to sift thoughts and arrest notions down to the slightest whim that would establish and build a different kingdom in our hearts.

Application:

Where do we find our doctrine fading?  Is the cutting edge of the gospel turned into a mere spread of gloss over a hardened, obstinate and angrycore?  If so, we need to go to war.  Our weapons are at LEAST the Word of God, prayer and the testimony of our brothers and sisters in Christ.  These combine to comprise a powerful combination of sound doctrine and plain truth that stand up against any level of sophistication employed by our minds.  Our strongholds need to come down, we need to find them and then do it.  Where there is sin, there is likely a seed of rebellion, pride or defense mechanism hiding a false belief.  As Paul said, anything not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23) so our faith needs to invade all the areas of our inner man that we would overcome all strongholds and lies.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for this directive.  Reveal to each of us where we have strongholds and show us what we need to believe or apprehend that is lacking in our faith.  We pray You would help us do the demolition work.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

2 Corinthians 6:4-9 (January 29, 2010)

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 6:4-9 But as God’s servants, we have commended ourselves in every way, with great endurance, in persecutions, in difficulties, in distresses, in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in troubles, in sleepless nights, in hunger, by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by benevolence, by the Holy Spirit, by genuine love, by truthful teaching, by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness both for the right hand and for the left, through glory and dishonor, through slander and praise; regarded as impostors, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well- known; as dying and yet – see! – we continue to live; as those who are scourged and yet not executed; as sorrowful, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Observation:

Paul is not boasting here. He is citing the work – inner and outer – of a faith pioneer. The bad and good circumstance, the unpleasant and pleasant, the sacrifice and reward are in common to some extent with every life ever lived. But it is the life goal that is the backdrop to the whole list of emotional and physical states – Paul is spending his life to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. As a result of that, everything is amplified, the good made better (because it is eternal) and the bad made worse (because it is inspired by hell). But we cannot miss the triumphant declaration in the middle of this run-on sentence – “see! – we continue to live”. The continuance of his life in Christ is for the readers of the letter – the Corinthians – as well as all those who had not yet heard or believed the message of the Cross. They would now know that none of the threats against Paul or the gospel had succeeded – they never could – and their father in the faith was fathering many more.

Application:

For us, tens of generations of believers removed from Paul, we must likewise learn that nothing stops God. Would we cling to comfort, to pleasant circumstances and surroundings? How do we honor the sacrifice of those who came before? Have we paid any such cost and thus, received any such reward? For sure, the Corinthian recipients were not called to the same pioneering life, but it was theirs to remain faithful and support those who were called. Do we, in the same way, support those who risk their lives for Jesus? Do we pray and take their concerns into our very hearts? This is OUR sacrifice to make, as senders, on behalf of those making supreme sacrifices as goers. And it is within our power to encourage and buttress the ministry of those on the field, to the point of visiting them via short term trips. This can be a place where brotherly love is most tender and also powerful. If we make those in the field part of our family we have touched the nations by extending family to them as well. Great is the Lord Jesus Whose Kingdom is without end. Let us grasp what our part is and walk confidently in it.

Prayer:

Father, it is humbling to see the life of your servants who give it all. Yet Your call is upon us all to do what we can to spread Your love and grace to places where darkness reigns. Show us how to be faithful to our calling and grant us the strength inside and out to faithfully run the race. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

2 Corinthians 4:11,16 (January 27, 2010)

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 4:11 For we who are alive are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our mortal body. As a result, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

 ..

4:16 Therefore we do not despair, but even if our physical body is wearing away, our inner person is being renewed day by day.

Observation:

Paul and the other apostles would all die physically for their faith. But that physical death was long preceded by a death of personal agendas, self-esteem and reputation as they proclaimed the death of Christ as the method God uses to save the world. As this happened, new life was springing up within them, even in their physical bodies. For Jesus was raised from the dead and He is also made alive in those who die to themselves to make Him known. And this life spreads to the listener, for Christ’s Kingdom is without end, always expanding, always growing. So if Paul saw his body deteriorating as he spread the gospel – and that happened even as age alone took its toll – he could find real joy to take spiritual inventory and find renewal inside every single day.

Application:

Do we live for our agendas alone, or for the greater program of God? Do we dare to die to our wants and goals, trusting that in Christ there will be new, better life than we could imagine for ourselves when we visualized ourselves exalted with achievements or possessions or honor among people? Once we can do that, we will see a new heavenly life inside, growing constantly. And then we can proclaim the death of Christ for what it is – a life-giving sacrifice that will take all its followers to carrying the same cross and onward to eternal glory. But we MUST embrace that death as a precursor and not shy away from its cost and commitment. This is a challenge for all – even Paul – but one with rewards that can be readily seen. For God has granted for His Word to dwell in us richly, and His promises never fail. Let the body waste away to dust; His light shines from the inside out nonetheless.

Prayer:

Father, show us where to die this day. Grant us amazing faith that takes this truth into our hearts and sees all that MUST die that Your life can spring up. And show us the inner renewal vividly and tenderly. For You truly love us and have called us unto Yourself. We ask in Jesus’ name, amen.

 

2 Corinthians 3:18 (January 26, 2010)

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Observation:

Paul used the glory of God on the face of Moses when he descended from Mount Sinai with the tablets containing the 10 Commandments (Exodus 34:29ff) as a contrasting point for the new covenant, that is, the gospel.  Moses’ face shone on with glory and it was so bright the Israelites could not look at him, so a veil was put over his face to shield them from it.   THAT veil represents the partial revelation of God through the Old Covenant – Paul is speaking of his Jewish brethren – but in Christ the veil is not only removed, but the people of God ALL have glory shining from their faces as they are being changed into the very likeness of Jesus Christ.  It would seem a preposterous idea since Moses saw the Lord directly – looking upon the very person of Father God (and yet living to tell about it).  Yet the transformation process is just that – if we would grasp it – those in Christ are reflecting the full disclosure of God in Christ, are seated in heavenly places ALREADY (Ephesians 2:6).  The glory is ours and we reflect God’s glory for all the world to see.  It is from one degree to another – praise God – that we can grow in both the revelation and the transformation.

Application:

It is a ploy of the enemy of our souls to make us feel as though we are nothing.  In a way, he’s right, without Christ we ARE nothing.  But we are not without Christ, SO WE SHINE.  It is true that we can easily adopt a self-image so poor that we are literally the only people who believe that about ourselves, but if we would just look up we would see God shining upon us and His glory remaining upon our faces.  We have full disclosure of Who God is and are being formed into the likeness of Jesus, even if we don’t feel holy or righteous or even on the side of “good” sometimes.  Moses was the only person granted the right to look upon God’s glory – until Peter, James and John on the Mount of Transfiguration.  And those three are our forebears in that heavenly gaze.  They wore no veil when they descended from that mountain; we have no record of their faces glowing like Moses.  Yet the glory of God was revealed their lives that followed.  That is to be our testimony as well.  The glory is not for us alone but for the whole world.  Though we might try to veil the glory, we cannot help but shine since we are reflectors.  Take joy in it, it is our family resemblance!!

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for all we have in Christ.  There truly is always more.  We pray to see our growth and pray to see the glory that shines from us; our likeness with You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (January 25, 2010)

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Observation:

God gives mercies and comfort. His mercies are described by Jeremiah as “new every morning” (Lamentations 3:23) and his comfort is readily available for the afflicted. Mercies are applied in forgiveness of sin and comfort is applied as healing for or endurance during suffering. It may be that we need mercies for sins that have CAUSED our suffering and in that case, both are available so that we will not be stuck in some downward spiral of guilt and pain. But this passage says that comfort is not just to rest with us but to be spread among God’s people. This is hardly the purpose for suffering; we know that is for the development of our character in Christ. But it is given in a measure that will help us in times of trouble (Psalm 32:7) and we thus have a deposit of that comfort – an excess as it were – to likewise dispense to others in THEIR trouble.

Application:

Are we suffering? We all do suffer, and we all need God’s comfort when we do. It is available, as close as the Bible we read or the brother or sister we know and with whom we have fellowship. Have we sinned? Even if that sin is the cause of our suffering, we have mercies from God each day; new ones for our new sins. We need to learn that pain and suffering comes from sin and thus, turning away from it is the only solution, but even when have failed to do so we have a readily available source of grace and comfort. And that comfort, like a hug from God the Father Himself, is not ours alone, but to be passed on whenever we see another in need. If we are sinned against, may we apply the mercies that God has by forgiving the offender. And if that offender (or anyone else) suffers, let us extend comfort as we are able and led. That way the Kingdom spreads in the most tender way.

Prayer:

Lord, we thank You for Your tender mercies and comfort. We confess that we need BOTH of them, sometimes in great measure. Help us know deep inside that they are available and that You are able to restore and grant all we need to go on, in regained health and strength. In Jesus’ name, amen.