Fighting "Friendly" Fire.

2 Corinthians 10

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. – Vs 5 NLT

When I think of this verse, it has almost always been out of its context. In other words, I tend to fail to read it or use it within the context in which Paul first penned it under the influence of the Holy Spirit. If you read it in one of the more traditional translations you'll see what I mean. The New American Standard Bible translates it this way: "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." I read that and automatically think of it as a personal statement. This is something that I am supposed to be doing in my own life. In other words, this verse is about me taking every one of my thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. I am supposed to destroy speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God in my life. While that is probably a wise and true thing to do, it is NOT what Paul meant. When he said, "for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses" (Vs 4 NASB), he wasn't referring to "fortresses" in our own lives as believers. He wasn't talking about doing spiritual battle with the forces of the enemy attacking us personally. No, this chapter is about war being waged within the church. Paul's leadership is being attacked from within. There are those in the church in Corinth who are questioning his leadership. These individuals were questioning Paul's apostolic authority and following "false" apostles. He describes them as such in the next chapter: "For such men false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:13 NASB).

These men were apparently Hebrew believers (11:22) who claimed to have a spiritual superiority over Paul (10:7) and who were trying to take advantage of the rest of the believers in the church (11:20). These people were claiming that Paul had no divine influence in his life. That's what Paul meant when he described them as, "people who think that we live by the standards of this world" (Vs 2 NIV). They were attacking Paul's leadership, authority, divine direction, and his integrity. And he viewed it as a war. "We are human, but we don’t wage war with human plans and methods" (Vs 3 NLT). Instead, "we use God’s mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds" (Vs 4 NLT). Paul knew this was a spiritual battle. He knew he had to "break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God." He had to use spiritual weapons to "conquer their rebellious ideas." He had a responsibility to "teach them to obey Christ" (Vs 5 NLT).

The war goes on today. Even within the church of Jesus Christ. There will always be those who question the authority of leadership. There are those who come into the church with selfish motives and destructive desires. They will either unwittingly or knowingly keep people from knowing God. They will foster rebellious ideas against leadership in the church. Paul says the way to handle these kinds of people is to battle with them in the spiritual realm. Through prayer and in the power of God. He knew he needed God's help in destroying "fortresses" – those false arguments and reasonings people use to fortify and defend their opinions. He knew he needed God's help in exposing their "speculations" – those ideas that are hostile to God. He knew he needed God's power to tear down the "lofty ideas" – those barriers or walls of ideas erected by men that were keeping others from having access to the gospel.

That's the battle and it is still going on today. This isn't just about me fighting my own little spiritual battle inside my own life. This is about the spiritual integrity and health of the church. Paul was willing to fight for it. Not just to defend his name and reputation. Not just to protect his power base. But because the gospel was under attack. He had been given a job to do by God and he was going to do it. He was going to fight to protect the flock in Corinth and to finish what God had called him to do. "Our goal is to stay within the boundaries of God’s plan for us, and this plan includes our working there with you" (Vs 13 NLT).

Father, give me an increasing heart for the local church and the global church. It is under attack today. From within. There are those who would love to distract us and ultimately destroy us from within. Open our eyes to the spiritual warfare taking place inside the body of Christ today. Give us boldness to speak up and to tear down false ideas and destructive ideas that would prevent others from knowing the truth of Jesus Christ. Raise up more Pauls in the church today. Amen

When We Give, Everyone Gets More.

2 Corinthians 9

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. – Vs 12 NIV

Paul has been talking about giving. He is encouraging the Corinthians believers to take part in raising financial support for the church in Jerusalem where the people are undergoing financial hardship and religious persecution. He has used the Macedonion believers as examples of what it means to give. Now he continues to exhort the Corinthians to be a part of this vital ministry by reminding that this is about more than just giving money. Ultimately, this is about God's glory. Our giving goes beyond the meeting of some other person's financial need. That is just the beginning. First of all, when we give, we allow God to give back to us. "You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others" (Vs 7-8 NLT). When we give cheerfully, willingly, and generously, we give God the opportunity to give back to us. This is not the reason we give. In other words, we don't give to get. God is not some kind of investment strategy for financial security. No, we give because it is a characteristic we have as one of His followers. We give and God gives back to us so that we might be able to give again. We meet the needs of others and he meets our needs. It is the law of sowing and reaping. "Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop" (Vs 6 MSG). We can't out-give God. He will give us all we need to give and to live, and even more beyond that in the way of righteous living. "For God is the one who gives seed to the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will give you many opportunities to do good, and he will produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched so that you can give even more generously. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will break out in thanksgiving to God" (Vs 10-11 NLT). The end of verse 11 tells us of someone else who benefits from our generous giving. It's God. When we give to meet the needs of others, they are blessed and respond in thanksgiving to God. Paul says that our giving is evidence of our obedience to God. It is an outward act that shows what is going on inside us. "For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all" (Vs 12-13 NASB).

We give and others get. The ones in need get much-needed financial support. We get the blessings of God in the form of a miraculous sufficiency in everything. He gives us what we need to meet our own needs, but also to continue meeting the needs of others. He makes sure we can continue being generous and not run out of resources. So those we support get and so do we. But then the most important recipient is God, because He gets praise and glory for being the One who made it all possible. He gets the honor of being the One who gave us the heart and the capacity to give in the first place. He gets the recognition for being the One who supplies all the resources to meet the needs of His children all across the world. God gets the glory!

So why don't we give more? I guess because we don't believe the law of the harvest. We live as if the seed we have is all we have. We are afraid to sow it because we don't trust that it will come back to us. There is a great deal of trust involved in this process. Those in need are having to trust God to meet their need. Those of us who are being led by God to meet that need are having to trust Him that He will meet any needs we might have as a result of our giving. But Paul reminds us that our God can be trusted. If we sow, we will reap. He will multiply our seed for sowing and increase the harvest of our righteousness. We will never run out of seed. Do you believe that? Are you willing to put it to the test? Jesus Himself said, "If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving––large or small––it will be used to measure what is given back to you" (Luke 6:38 NLT).

Father, I want to be more of a giver. Forgive me for not trusting You to meet my needs if I meet the needs of others. I can't out-give You. Give me the boldness to step out in faith and begin to live a life of generosity. So that you might receive glory. Amen

Giving Comes Naturally To Those Given To God.

2 Corinthians 8

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. – Vs 7 NLT

I love The Message paraphrase of this verse: "You do so well in so many things – you trust God, you're articulate, you're insightful, you're passionate, you love us – now, do your best in this, too." Paul was encouraging the Corinthian believers to follow the example of their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ in 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" (Vs 2-3 NLT). In spite of difficult circumstances and financial tough times, these people were giving sacrificially, above and beyond even their ability to give. They had taken up a collection for the believers in Jerusalem who were also undergoing persecution and financial difficulty. They could have easily opted out and excused themselves from giving, but instead they excelled at it! So much so, that Paul used them as examples to the believers in Corinth.

The Corinthians believers excelled at a lot of things: faith, speaking, knowledge, enthusiasm, and love. But they were obviously slacking in their practice of grace giving. It would seem that they had yet to support Paul in any of his missionary endeavors. And now that he was raising money to take back to the church in Jerusalem, they had yet to contribute to that either. It would seem, that to Paul, the gracious giving of their finances to help support and encourage other believers was just as important as any other acts of faith or service they may accomplish. Look at what Paul says about them. He says, " They begged us again and again for the gracious privilege of sharing in the gift for the Christians in Jerusalem" (Vs 4 NLT). They begged us again and again. They pleaded with Paul to take the money they had raised for the Jerusalem church. Their giving was a natural outflow of their relationship with God. "This was totally spontaneous, entirely their own idea, and caught us completely off guard. What explains it was that they had first given themselves unreservedly to God and to us. The other giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives" (Vs 5 MSG). Giving came naturally to them because they were given to God. They were sold out to God for His use and His will. So when God laid it on their heart to help their fellow believers by giving, they could not resist. They HAD to give.

What a convicting chapter this is. How many times have I failed to give because I didn't think I could afford to give. Or how many times have I given, but only what I could afford to give. No sacrifice. No pain. These people weren't giving out of their abundance, but out of their need. They were giving to others what they legitimately needed for their own existence. And they did it willingly! In doing so, they were following their Savior's example. "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" (Vs 9 NLT). It reminds me of Paul's words in Philippians chapter two:

Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross. – Philippians 2:5-9 NLT

Jesus excelled at giving. So should we. Jesus gave all He had. So should we. Jesus gave till it hurt. So should we. Jesus gave willingly and sacrificially. So should I.

Father, forgive me for my selfishness. Thank You for this reminder to give. Not reluctantly, but willingly and sacrificially. But I know it will only happen as I give myself to You completely. Selfishness is just a reminder of my own self-centeredness. It reveals that I am not as sold out to You as I should be. If I truly belong to You, then all I have belongs to You. Then giving it away to others becomes not only easy, but enjoyable. May that be increasingly more the case in my life – with Your help. Amen

Godly Sorrow.

2 Corinthians 7

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. – Vs 10 NLT

It seems Paul had written a third letter to the Corinthian believers that we no longer have. He refers to it in this chapter. Evidently Paul had addressed a difficult topic in his letter that had brought sadness to his readers, because he wrote, "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" (Vs 8 NLT). We're not sure what the content of that letter was, but it was strongly worded enough so that it caused the believers in Corinth to reconsider their ways and make changes to their behavior. "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" (Vs 9 NLT). Paul's words, though hurtful, were in the end helpful. They caused his fellow believers to have to take stock of their lives and repent of their ways. His words caused sorrow in their lives, but that sorrow led then to seek repentance – to turn away from sin and seek salvation.

Sometimes that is how God works in our lives. Through His Word or the words of one of His messengers, He convicts us of sin and creates in us a sorrow for our actions. But at that point we still have a choice to make. We can wallow in our sorrow and sadness, or we can choose to turn away from our sin and seek salvation. We can choose to repent. In the Greek the word repent means "a change of mind, as it appears to one who repents, of a purpose he has formed or of something he has done." It carries the idea of guilt, but with reformation. It is to change direction through changed behavior. Repentance includes reformation and restoration. We must come to God, confess our sin, turn from it, and then He restores us. He brings us salvation by saving us from our own sinfulness.

But if all we do is experience the guilt and the sorrow, it will produce nothing. There is not benefit. Paul says that kind of sorrow only leads to death. "But sorrow without repentance is the kind that results in death" (Vs 10b NLT). That's worldly sorrow. It is a sorrow without benefits. It produces nothing of value – only death. But godly sorrow brings about effective change. "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" (Vs 11 NLT). Godly sorrow produced a positive response. They reacted, not with debilitating guilt and regret, but with positive steps of repentance and reformation. They did everything they could to make things right. They went from guilt to innocence. Instead of death, they experienced renewed life.

God is speaking to us daily through His word. He convicts and challenges us. He exposes areas of our lives that need to change. We can ignore His words. We can experience guilt because of them. But He wants our sorrow to lead to salvation. He wants our remorse to lead to repentance.

Father, thank You for the convicting power of Your word. It has so often challenged me and exposed areas of my life that need to change. Thank You that it brings about a sorrow, but a sorrow that leads to repentance, not just guilt and regret. You have given me the power to turn from my sin and to seek change. I can experience a sorrow that leads to repentance and reformation. I don't have to remain as I am, but can become increasingly more what You want me to be. Amen

Stand Out From the Crowd.

2 Corinthians 6

Therefore, come out from them and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. – Vs 17a NLT

We are to be different. As Christ followers, we are called to a life of distinctiveness and difference. Ours is not to be a life marked by commonality and more-of-the-sameness. No, we are to stand out from the crowd. Not in a prideful, arrogant way, or in order to draw attention to ourselves, but because we are children of light living in the middle of darkness. Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection has given us new life. He has given us new power through His indwelling Holy Spirit. We are new creations. "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!" (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT). "For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives" (Romans 6:4 NLT).

We are not the same anymore. We have been changed and are being changed with each passing day so that we have a greater and greater resemblance to Jesus Christ. "And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more" (2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT). So instead of blending in, we should stand out. We should be distinctively different. But the sad case is, for many of us, we tend to look and act like the world around us. We have lost our distinctiveness. We have failed to be unique. How? By buying into the lie that to reach the world we must be like the world. We believe that in order to become like them to be liked by them. But Jesus warned His disciples, "The world would love you if you belonged to it, but you don’t. I chose you to come out of the world, and so it hates you" (John 15:19 NLT). In His High Priestly prayer, He asked the Father, "I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They are not part of this world any more than I am" (John 15:15-16 NLT). We are not of this world anymore. This world is no longer our real home. We are not to have a love affair with this world. Yet we are to live in it. And we are to make a difference while we are here. But we can't do that if we lose our distinctiveness, if we lose our unique flavor as followers of Christ. "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. You are the light of the world––like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father" (Matthew 5:13-16 NLT).

We are called to live distinctively different lives. We are called to uniqueness, not uniformity. We are called NOT to live like the world, but to live like Christ in the midst of it. To be salt and light. To add the distinctive flavor of Christ-likeness and the illuminating influence of our Spirit-filled lives. We are to make an impact on the world. Jesus prayed that we would: "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father––that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me" (John 17:20-21 NLT).

Father, You have called me to a life of distinctiveness. But I struggle constantly with conformity to this world. My flesh wants to fit in rather than stand out. I fight the desire to be loved by the world. But Your Son didn't die for me so that I could remain just like I was. He died to give me new life and a new message of hope to a lost and dying world. Help me to live a life of separateness, a life of distinctiveness. Help me to be the salt and light You have called me to be, so that the world will see the difference You can make in a man's life and believe in Your Son who makes it all possible. Amen

WANTED: Dead of Alive.

2 Corinthians 5

So our aim is to please him always, whether we are here in this body or away from this body. – Vs 9 NLT

Our aim is to please Him – always. Paul had one overwhelming ambition in his life – to please God with his life. He longed to be with the Lord, but was not content to wait for death and eternity to begin living a holy life, wholly pleasing to God. He was going to do it even when he was occupying this temporary dwelling called a human body. In chapter four he referred to his body as an earthen vessel or clay pot that was filled with the priceless treasure of God's gift of salvation. Paul's body, though having been beaten and abused time after time in his service for God, contained the Holy Spirit of God. Yet he says, "Our dying bodies make us groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and have no bodies at all. We want to slip into our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by everlasting life" (Vs 4 NLT). Paul looked forward to eternity, but he was not so heavenly minded that he was no earthly good. He was busy serving the Lord, making it his ambition to please God with his life as long as he had life. He makes it quite clear that he would prefer to be with the Lord. "Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord" (Vs 8 NLT). He understood that the Holy Spirit was given to us as a kind of "down-payment" or pledge to remind us of eternity. "God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit" (Vs 5 NLT). God has created us to share eternity with Him. That is our ultimate purpose. But Paul was going to take advantage of every moment of his life on this earth and ensure that he lived a life that was pleasing to God. Thinking about eternal life and the reality of having a renewed body gave Paul courage to live life for God on this earth (Vs 6). It allowed him to live by faith and not by sight (Vs 7). It gave him all the motivation he needed to live a life that was pleasing and acceptable to God.

Father, I want my life to be pleasing and acceptable to You. I want to live the life You have given me on this earth to the fullest and with my goal clearly to please You with all that I do. I understand that any ability I have to please You comes from Your Spirit within me and because of what Christ has done for me. I am a clay pot that contains the priceless treasure of salvation. That is what gives my life value and worth. That is what makes me pleasing to You. May I live my life in such a way that the truth of the life-transforming power of Jesus Christ is evident in my life each and every day.  Amen

Jars of Clay.

2 Corinthians 4

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. – Vs 7 NIV

This is the verse from which this blog derives its name: Vessels of Clay. It is one of my favorite verses because it reminds me of the miracle and mystery of the Gospel message. That "this precious treasure – this light and power that now shine within us – is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own" (NLT). God has placed the priceless treasure of salvation through the death of His Son in this frail, sometime failure-prone body. Why? So that everyone around me might see that anything I do of any worth is based on His power and not mine. It fits right in with our verse from yesterday: "It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God" (2 Corinthians 3:5 NLT).

We hold the light of God's truth regarding salvation and sanctification in our earthly bodies. We are common, everyday clay pots – worth little or nothing and having no value in and of themselves. Yet God has chosen to place His own Spirit within us. He has determined to make us the receptacles of His divine power. It reminds me of 2 Timothy 2:20. "In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a utensil God can use for his purpose. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work." You see, the value is NOT in the container, but in the contents of that container. It is God's presence and power that give us worth. This is the message Paul conveyed to the believers in Colossae. "For it has pleased God to tell his people that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. For this is the secret: Christ lives in you, and this is your assurance that you will share in his glory" (Colossians 1:27 NLT). His presence sanctifies me, sets me apart. His presence makes me holy – I belong to Him and now exist for His use. I am a "vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work" (2 Timothy 2:21 NASB).

Father, thank You choosing to make me a vessel for honor by filling my life with Your presence through the death, burial, and resurrection of Your Son Jesus Christ. I am amazed that you would use me, and thrilled that You do. I bring nothing to You, but You have given all to me. Amen

Consider the Source.

2 Corinthians 3

It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God. – Vs 5 NLT

What a timely reminder. My only power and success comes from God. Not from me. I can't produce anything of lasting value by myself. Oh, I try. Every day I attempt to do things in my own power and strength. But the long-term results are less-than-stellar. In fact, there are no long-term results of any lasting value. God is the source behind anything I produce that is of value. But it is so easy to forget that fact. I can begin to believe my own PR. I can become a victim of my own reputation. I start to believe what others think and say about me. But Paul reminds me that it isn't about me. It's about God and His Son Jesus Christ. It is they who made me, saved me, are sanctifying me, and empowering me to live a godly life.

As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness! And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature. So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better. Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patient endurance leads to godliness. Godliness leads to love for other Christians, and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone. – 2 Peter 1:3-7 NLT

God has given me all the resources I need to live a godly life. I find the power I need in the truth of the Gospel message, where I find His promises for not only eternal life, but for this life. "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come" (1 Timothy 4:8 NIV). A life of godliness holds promise for this life – right here, right now. I don't have to wait for heaven! Paul reminds me, "I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need" (Philippians 4:13 NLT). The strength I need comes from Him. The power I need comes from Him. The godliness I desire comes from Him. Anything of value that comes from my life is a result of Him.

And every day I am being transformedincreasingly into the likeness of Jesus Christ – through the indwelling power of God. "And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more" (2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT).

Father, thank You that my adequacy comes from You and not me. Never let me forget that I am completely dependent on You for what I need for life and godliness. You are at work in me, transforming me into the likeness of Your Son. Any progress I see is a result of Your work, not mine. Any glimmer of godliness in me is the work of Your Spirit, not my own effort. My power and success comes completely from You. Amen

Captive, Yet Captivating.

2 Corinthians 2

But thanks be to God, who made us his captives and leads us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now wherever we go he uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Good News like a sweet perfume. – Vs 14 NLT

The picture Paul uses here is that of a conquering king or general leading a victory procession through the streets of his home town with his captive enemies being paraded behind him as a visible sign of his power and triumph. Paul says that he is one of Christ's captives. He has been "conquered" by Christ and made His slave. This was not a negative to Paul, but a positive. In his letter to the Romans he says this, "Don’t you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval" (Romans 6:16 NLT). Paul viewed himself as a willing slave to a new Master – God the Father. His life had been captured by the victorious effort of Jesus Christ on the cross. Christ had defeated sin and death, and now was leading Paul and others in a daily victory celebration that was visible for all to see. This procession is a demonstration of His power. Our place in that parade tells others that we serve a new master and that we no longer serve sin. Unlike conquered soldiers, who were humiliated in the streets and later executed, we are now citizens of the very kingdom we used to war against. We enjoy all the rights and privileges as citizens of the kingdom of God.

Our lives give off a fragrance, an aroma, based on the knowledge we have of Jesus Christ and His life-transforming, sin-defeating power. Again, Paul uses the imagery of the victory procession. At the head of the parade, incense was burned. It was a tangible manifestation of the victor's achievement. We are that incense. Our lives are to give off a sweet-smelling aroma to all those watching. But verse 15 also reminds us that "our lives are a fragrance presented by Christ to God" (NLT). God is pleased when He sees us being led by Christ. When our lives are "in line" with Christ, it brings joy and pleasure to God. But those in the crowds who are watching this victory parade are also able to "smell" the aroma we give off. Paul says, "To those who are perishing we are a fearful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved we are a life–giving perfume" (Vs 16 NLT). Some look at this victory procession and only see death and defeat. They live for the wrong kingdom and do not look on Christ's victory as a pleasant thing. They only see enslavement. They smell death and defeat. They want nothing to do with Christ or us. But others, who are "being saved," are attracted to what they see. They are intrigued by this victory celebration. They look at our lives and are attracted. They are those in the crowd of bystanders who see Christ's victory with a new sense of hope.

"In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance" (Vs 14 MSG). Are people breathing in the exquisite fragrance of the knowledge of Christ from my life. I hope so.

Father, I want my life to be a pleasing aroma to You. And I know that it is because it is all based on what Christ has done, not what I am doing. He is the victor, not me. He is the deliverer, not me. You are pleased because of what He has done. I am His slave. And as long as I willingly remain His slave, my life will bring a pleasing aroma to You. It will also give off a fragrance to all those around me. Some will be attracted to it, others will be repulsed by it. I don't need to worry about their reaction, but I just need to remain obedient to Your Son. Help me to do so. Amen

God-dependent. Not self-dependent.

2 Corinthians 1

We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have been honest and sincere in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own earthly wisdom. That is how we have acted toward everyone, and especially toward you. – Vs 12 NLT

"We have been dependent on God's grace."

Isn't that what we all want to be able to say as Christ followers? Yet we find it hard to look at life that way. I would rather not have to admit that this thing called the Christian life is NOT about me and my ability to pull it off. I don't want to acknowledge that it is first and foremost about the grace of God and the unmerited, unwarranted favor He shows me each and every day as one of His children. This is HIS story and I am just a bit player in it. But so often I want to make the story about me. I tend to view God as a participant in my drama, stepping into the scenes of my unfolding life story as I deem it necessary. I am the star and He plays a supporting role in my story.

But Paul knew better. He was fully aware that he owed everything to God. His salvation was a gift from God. But so was his daily sanctification. His ability to endure the pressures associated with his calling were a gift from God. The fact that he could say that he and his associates had been "honest and sincere in all our dealings" was the result of the grace of God. It wasn't about Paul. It was about God. It wasn't because he was smart or more talented than the next guy. No, it was because God had showered His grace on Paul. The Message paraphrases verse 12 this way: "But it wasn't by any fancy footwork on our part. It was [God] who kept us focused on him, uncompromised." Paul even attributed his ability to stay focused on God to God. He was 100% completely, unequivocally dependent upon God for anything and everything. And that is how each of us should live as followers of Christ. God-dependent, Christ-focused, and Holy Spirit-empowered. It reminds me of the great old hymn, I Need Thee Every Hour.

I need thee every hour; stay thou nearby;  

temptations lose their power when thou art nigh.

I need thee every hour, in joy or pain;

come quickly and abide, or life is vain.

I need thee, O I need thee; every hour I need thee;

O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee.

I need Thee every hour. Every hour I need Thee. Is that really true? Can I really say that and mean it? I want to. Because I have learned and am learning that my wisdom, intelligence, talent, and overall abilities are no match for this journey called the Christian life. I need the grace of God each and every day of my life. And thankfully, His grace is free each and every day of my life!

Father, thank You for Your abundant, amazing grace. May I grow increasingly ever dependent upon it. And may I never forget that I can't live this life without it. Amen

A Few Last Words.

1 Corinthians 16

Be on guard. Stand true to what you believe. Be courageous. Be strong. – Vs -13 NLT

As Paul closes out this letter to the Corinthians believers, he gives them a few last words to encourage them in their faith until he should get to see them again. Verse 13 of 1 Corinthians 16 has become one of my favorites over the last few years. It has actually been one of the key verses I have used in our ministry to men at Christ Chapel for almost five years. In the New American Standard Version it reads this way, "Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong." It is a powerful call to men that gives them four action items to consider. But the truth is, this verse is not just for men. It is for all of us as believers.

Be on guard

We must be ready at all times. Like sentries guarding the gate to a city, we must have our eyes open to the realities of the spiritual war in which we are engaged. We can't afford to act as if we live in peacetime. We can't fall asleep at our post and not expect the enemy to back off in his relentless attach against us. We are to remain alert, awake, vigilant – at all times. The Greek word means "to take heed lest through remission (lack of labor) and indolence (laziness) some destructive calamity suddenly overtake one." We've got to remain spiritually alert.

Stand true to what you believe

Stand firm. Hold your ground. Paul urges us to persevere and not give up. But we are to persevere based on the truth of what it is we say we believe. Do you believe God is in control? Then stand firm. Do you believe Jesus died for your sins? Then stand firm. Do you believe the Holy Spirit lives within you and provides the power you need to live the life you've been called to live? Then stand firm. We are to stand firm based on the faith we have in truth of the gospel. We are not to waver from it. Yet that is exactly what the enemy wants us to do. Which is why we must remain alert. He wants to get us off focus and off task. He wants us to waver in unbelief. We must stand true to what we believe.

Be courageous

Act like men. The actual Greek word means "to show yourself a man." Paul is saying we are to act like men, not boys. It is almost as if he is saying, "act your age!" We are to grow up and man up. We are soldiers in the army of God and we have a mission to accomplish. We must not cower in fear or run away from the battle. We must engage. Not in our own strength, but in the power of God. He is the Lord of Hosts – the Lord of armies. We fight for the winning side. So be courageous.

Be strong

This is not a call to become something we are not. It is a call to increase in what we already have. To grow in our strength. The Greek means "to increase in strength; to be strengthened." As we are alert, stand firm, and show courage, we will increase in strength. We will see our faith increased. We will see our patience increased. We will see our hope increased. As we fight alongside God, we will grow stronger. We will see His power revealed in and around our lives and our strength will increase.

Four powerful admonitions we all need to hear. But Paul doesn't stop there. He adds one more thing. In the next verse he adds to one little caveat: "And everything you do must be done with love" (Vs 14 NLT). Love must permeate all we do. Love is why I stay alert, show courage, act like a man, and grow in strength. I am to be motivated by love for others. I am alert so that I can protect and defend those around me. I am courageous so that I can encourage the faint-hearted. I act like a man because I have a job to do and I care for others. As I grow in strength I am able to love others even more. Everything I do is to be done with an attitude of selfless, sacrificial love.

We live in difficult days, but God has given us everything we need for life and godliness. He has given us one another. He has given us His Spirit. He has provided us with His power. He has showered us with His love. So, be on guard, stand true to what you believe, be courageous, be strong, and let everything you do be done with love.

Father, may these verses be a picture of my life.  Amen

The Gospel Gap.

1 Corinthians 15

Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved… – Vs -12 NASB

Paul was writing to believers in the city of Corinth. These people already had a relationship with Jesus Christ. They had already placed their faith in His atoning work on the cross. But Paul finds it necessary to remind them about the gospel message that he had preached to them initially. He says it is the same message "by which also you are saved." He then goes on to explain once again what that message included:

•  Christ died for our sins (Vs 3)

•  He was buried (Vs 4)

•  He was raised on the third day (Vs 4)

•  We have eye-witness proof of His resurrection(Vs 5-7)

•  He also appeared to Paul (Vs 8)

This message is the basis of their salvation. The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is what we place our hope on for the future. His resurrection is central to our faith. Without it, "our preaching is in vain, your faith also is vain" (Vs 14 NASB). "And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless, and you are still under condemnation for your sins" (Vs 17 NLT). The message of the resurrection of Christ is a non-negotiable element of the gospel story. There is no story without it.

But not only does the gospel save us, it continues to save us. This is not a one-time deal. We aren't just saved at the moment we place our faith in Christ. We are being saved daily. The gospel story goes on. The Good News is ongoing good news. It didn't stop at my conversion, but continues on through my transformation or sanctification into Christ-likeness, and will not stop until my ultimate glorification when the Lord returns. The gospel is more than just a ticket to heaven. It is the means by which I live the life I have been called to live. It is the story of redemption and restoration that is ongoing in my life every day. I must go back to the message that "Christ died for our sins" each and every day. When I sin today, and I will (in fact, I already have), I must go back to the cross and remind myself that He died for that sin as well. He has paid for that sin. I must confess it, repent of it (turn from it), and accept His forgiveness for it. I must daily take my sin back to the cross and be reminded of the price He paid there so that I would be free from slavery to sin in my life. The cross reminds me that I am free. I don't have to pay for my sin, because He already has.

Paul tells the Corinthians that not only are they saved by the gospel, they STAND on the gospel. "Now let me remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then and still do now, for your faith is built on this wonderful message" (Vs 1 NLT). We stand on the gospel message every day of our lives. It is our foundation for living in this world. The Greek word for "stand" is hestime and it has a range of meanings. But I think Paul has in mind the idea of "to cause a person or a thing to keep his or its place." The message of the gospel causes us to remain firm even in the midst of all the uncertainties of life. We go back to the gospel each and every day and find our hope, assurance, and comfort. He really did die for my sins. He really did pay the price I couldn't pay. He really did rise again. He really does sit at the right hand of the Father. He really is coming again some day.

But the fact is that Christ has been raised from the dead. He has become the first of a great harvest of those who will be raised to life again. So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, Adam, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man, Christ.  Everyone dies because all of us are related to Adam, the first man. But all who are related to Christ, the other man, will be given new life. – 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 NLT

We are saved by the gospel. We stand on the gospel. It is our hope from beginning to end. In his book Respectable Sins, Jerry bridges talks about preaching the gospel to himself daily. Here is how he describes it:

Since the gospel is only for sinners, I begin each day with the realization that despite my being a saint, I still sin every day in thought, word, deed, and motive. If I am aware of any subtle, or not so subtle, sins in my life, I acknowledge those to God. Even if my conscience is not indicting me for conscious sins, I still acknowledge to God that I have not even come close to loving Him with all my being or loving my neighbor as myself. I repent of those sins, and then I apply specific Scriptures that assure me of God’s forgiveness to those sins I have just confessed

I then generalize the Scripture’s promises of God’s forgiveness to all my life and say to God words to the effect that my only hope of a right standing with Him that day is Jesus’ blood shed for my sins, and His righteous life lived on my behalf. This reliance on the twofold work of Christ for me is beautifully captured by Edward Mote in his hymn “The Solid Rock” with his words, “My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” Almost every day, I find myself going to those words in addition to reflecting on the promises of forgiveness in the Bible.

Stand on the gospel. It is a firm foundation, the solid rock, a reliable resource for life in this world.

Father, thank You for the gospel.Thank You that I can stand on it every day for what I face in this life. Let me preach it to myself daily. Let me never forget that through the gospel, You have given "everything we need for living a godly life" (2 Peter 1:3 NLT).  Amen

Body Building.

1 Corinthians 14

Since you're so eager to participate in what God is doing, why don't you concentrate on doing what helps everyone in the church? – Vs 12 MSG

If you're not careful, you could easily get hung up on all the talk about tongues and gifts in this chapter. Churches have split over interpretation of what Paul is saying. Arguments have been had. Friendships have been ended. But I think the real issue Paul is making has to do with the overall health of the body of Christ. Paul begins the chapter by commanding the Corinthians to "pursue love." That is what chapter 13 was all about. The supremacy of love in all things. Now he tellsthemto chase after it. And while you're loving one another, go ahead and pursue spiritual gifts, but always do it with love as the motivation. Even spiritual gifts can be used in unspiritual ways if we're not careful. But if they are done in the context of sacrificial love, spiritual gifts can be powerful tools in the life of the church.

So Paul says it's OK to be excited about your spiritual gift, but just remember that it's not for you. It is for the rest of the body of Christ. So use it to build up others. Use it to encourage others in their spiritual walk with Christ. The actual definition for the Greek word translated "edifies" is the act of one who promotes another's growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness, holiness. That's why the Holy Spirit gives us gifts. To promote one another's spiritual growth and maturity. To use your gift selfishly is to act like a child. It is to be self-centered and self-absorbed. That's why Paul says, "stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults" (Vs 20 NET). Quit thinking about your gifts with only your self in mind. Think of others.

When the church comes together, we are each to use our God-given gifts, but we are to remember to"Let all these things be done for the strengthening of the church" (Vs 26 NET). We are to build up the body, not ourselves. We are to love others more than we love the recognition of our gifts or any blessing we might receive from using them. It's as if Paul is telling us, "So here's what I want you to do. When you gather for worship, each one of you be prepared with something that will be useful for all" (Vs 26 MSG).

Father, show us how to love one another, even in the use of our gifts. They are Yours and You are only sharing them with us. Help us to give them away selflessly so that the body of Christ might grow and mature together. Amen

All You Need Is Love!

1 Corinthians 13

But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love. – Vs 13 MSG

The Beatles were only partially right. There is coming a day when all you will need is love. It's that day when we stand before the Lord at the end of the age. His kingdom will have come in all its glory and we will have glorified bodies and sinless natures. At that time there will no longer be any need for faith, because all that we have been placing our faith in will have been fulfilled. Christ's kingdom will have come. Our redemption will have been completed. All of God's promises will have been kept. There will no longer be any need for hope. Why? Because our eager expectations will have been met. There will no longer be anything we need to hope for. We will have it all! But in that day, there will be a need for love, because God Himself is love. We will spend eternity loving and being loved. Love is eternal. Love lasts. Or as Paul puts it, "love never fails."

Love is the greatest investment we can make. It's the only thing that lasts. Right now we need faith and hope. We need to use our gifts. But all of those things are useless without love. Paul says that loveless words are useless words. If I have more gifts than anybody, but no love, I'm just a nobody. If I give everything away, including my life, but don't give love, it doesn't profit me anything in God's eyes. God measures everything by love. Love is how the world knows we are His disciples. Jesus Christ was the greatest expression of God's love to us. Everything else has its time and place. Gifts are temporary, but love is timeless. Love is the currency of heaven. It gives everything else its value. It is the gold-standard of life, both now and for eternity. If all our religious actions and activities are not backed by love, they are just empty acts. They have no value. They are meaningless and powerless to produce change.

But love isn't just some feeling. It expresses itself in actions and attitudes. "Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end" (Vs 3-8 MSG).

So in a way, the Beatles were right. All you need is love. Because with love, you will have everything you need to do all you need to do. Love gives meaning to our faith, confidence to our hope, purpose to our gifts, power to our actions, and value to our lives, both in this age and in the one to come.

Father, may I continue to learn the value of love. It isn't just a feeling, it is the essence of who You are and therefore it should be the expression of who I am and what I do. Thank You for loving me so much that You sent Your Son to die for me. May I learn to love others with the same intensity. Amen

One For All and All For One.

1 Corinthians 12

Now all of you together are Christ’s body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it. – Vs 27 NLT

Unity. Diversity. Giving. Receiving. Caring. Sharing. Together.

The body of Christ. What an incredibly unique organism – made up of a host of individuals, but unified by our faith in Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit within each of us. Gifted for service by the Holy Spirit, we are to minister to one another in a spirit of selfless service. "A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church" (Vs 7 NLT). Like the human body, where every single part has a function and a purpose, so each member of the body of Christ has a Spirit-given purpose. No one is more important than the other. No gift is more significant than the other. Each is needed and necessary. But how many of us know what our gift is? For those who do know, how many are actually using it for the benefit of the body of Christ?

We live in an individualized society where the emphasis is all on "me." The world exists for my benefit. Others are here to serve me. I have to look out for "number one." It's every man for himself. But Paul paints a completely different picture for us as believers. We are members of a body, an organism. We are interdependent, not independent. We are unique in many ways, including in our gifting, but it is for a purpose – the purpose of unity. I have something to bring to the body. So do you. Together we complement and complete one another. We are to be, like the Three Musketeers, one for all and all for one. We are not independent agents operating in a vacuum, but team members working toward a common goal and sharing a common purpose. There is a spirit of oneness that should permeate all we do. Paul puts it this way: "If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad" (Vs 26 NLT). We are to grow together.  We are to rejoice together. We are to suffer together. We are to celebrate together. We are to worship together. All for the common good. And all for the glory of God.

Father, thank You for placing in my in the body of Christ and equipping me with the gifts to serve. Thank You for all the other individuals who make up the body and who have gifts I don't have, but that I get to enjoy. What an incredible organism You have created. May we learn to live together in a spirit of unity and share our gifts willingly and regularly. So that Your name might be glorified here on earth. Amen

Eating to Remember, Not to Forget.

1 Corinthians 11

For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. – Vs 36 NLT

I have no idea how many times I have taken the Lord's Supper over the years, but it's been a lot. I became a Christ-follower at the age of seven and have faithfullytaken part in this ordinance of the church since then. But I have not always taken it with a right attitude or with a proper understanding of its significance for my life. I confess that, too often, it has just been another one of those things that you do in church that has little or no meaning at the moment. You just do it. It's like singing the words to a hymn and not really meaning what you're saying. The words just come out without your brain even processing what you are saying. The same can be true when taking communion. It can just become rote and repetitive, lacking in meaning and significance. But Paul says that it should be just the opposite. When we do it, we are proclaiming the Lord's death. We are declaring the reality of the Lord's substitutionary death every time we take the bread and the cup. These elements represent His body and blood, given for us, so that we might have forgiveness of sin and eternal life. Our celebration of the Lord's Supper is a public declaration of our belief in Christ's death on our behalf. We are telling everyone around us that our hope of new life is based on His death. But there is another element that Paul stresses: Jesus' future return. Paul says we are to celebrate communion until He comes again! His death was followed by a resurrection. His resurrection was followed by His glorification. His glorification will culminate with His second coming. The Lord's Supper is not just about His death. It is about His resurrection and His ultimate return. He is coming back! And we are counting on it.

So when we take part in the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, we are to do so with our eyes on the past, the present, and the future. We are to remember what He has done, what He is doing, and what He is going to do. He is going to finish what He started. He is going to complete the task He began. The redemption of man and the recreation of the world, restoring order to God's creation. So the Lord's Supper is less a memorial than it is a celebration. It is to be hope-filled and future-oriented. His death leads to life.

Father, thank You for reminding me that Your Son is returning and that every time I take the elements I am to remember that fact. Without Your Son's sacrificial death, there would be no hope for the future. There would be no salvation. But because He came and died, rose again, and is going to return again, we have hope for the future. Amen

When Man-Pleasing Is God-Pleasing!

1 Corinthians 10

I try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what I like or what is best for me, but what is best for them so they may be saved. – Vs 33 NLT

If you take this verse out of its context, you can end up taking it to extremes. You could come to all kinds of wrong and unbiblical conclusions that Paul never intended. Remember, he is talking about being sensitive to the weaker brothers around you. They are less knowledgeable about the things of God. They are not yet able to enjoy the new-found freedoms they have in Christ. They are still impacted by their past. In Paul's case, the people to whom he was writing were coming out of various pagan cults that worshiped idols. They were trying to make a clean break with their past. But more mature believers were causing them to stumble by buying and eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols. They felt free to do so because they knew there were no such things as other gods. There was only one God. So in their minds, they were free to purchase high-grade meat at low prices. But in doing so, they were causing their weaker brothers to stumble. Why? Because their consciences were telling them that it was wrong. But if they followed their brothers example and ate meat sacrificed to idols like they did, then they would end up violating their consciences and live in guilt.

Paul continues this discussion in chapter 10. He talks about the need for us to live as examples to those around us, especially our weaker brothers and sisters. He wants the believers in Corinth to be wise in their behavior and think about the ramifications of what they are doing. While "everything is permissible"— not everything is beneficial. While "everything is permissible"— not everything is constructive (Vs 23 NASB). He says, "do not seek your own good, but the good of the other person" (Vs 24 NET). This is the central theme of this portion of his letter to the Corinthians. He wants them to glorify God by seeking the welfare of others.

We have to think about the consciences of others. We cannot allow our freedoms to trump their consciences. Paul makes that clear in verses 28-29. "But suppose someone warns you that this meat has been offered to an idol. Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person" (NLT). Just because you CAN eat it, doesn't mean you should. Just because you CAN have a glass of wine with your dinner, doesn't mean you always should. Just because you CAN go to an R-rated movie, doesn't mean you should. If our actions might cause a brother to struggle or stumble, we should be willing to give up our rights. We need to love them enough to say no to our desires. Now are we to live our entire lives according to the consciences of others? Paul answers that question. He says, "If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it?" (Vs 30 NLT). We shouldn't be condemned. As long as we are doing it for the glory of God (Vs 31). But when Paul says, "Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do all for the glory of God" (Vs 31 NLT), the "whatever you do" part includes not eating or drinking. Even the willful abstinence from certain things can be done for the glory of God if our motivation is the good of others. So if I choose to give up serving alcohol in my home because a weaker brother may struggle with Christians drinking, then I am glorifying God with my actions. Why? Because I have put the welfare of a brother in Christ above my own. I have shown God that His desire for unity is greater than my desire to have my own way. His will takes precedence over my rights. And He ends up being glorified.

Father, I want my life to glorify You. Forgive me for allowing my rights to become an idol in my life. Help me to die to self and live for the sake of others. Even if it means giving up those things that are rightfully mine to enjoy. I want to live my life so that all I do is done for Your glory and not mine. Amen

Run To Win!

! Corinthians 9

Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win. – Vs 24 NLT

Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win! (MSG). Sounds like a no-brainer doesn't it? After all, doesn't everyone run to win? No, some just run for the fun of it. Others do it just to be a part of the competition. But not everyone who enters a race does so with the mindset that they have a legitimate, realistic chance to make it across the finish line first. But when it comes to our spiritual lives, Paul seems to believe that we need a winner-takes-all attitude. No second place finishes. This has less to do with the idea of winning or success than it does to our motivation and its impact on our effort. If I don't think I can win, I won't put my full effort behind it. If winning isn't a possibility, then losing becomes not only a reality, but an inevitability.

Paul wanted to end well, so he determined to run well. He embraced the idea of beginning withthe end in mind. He had a hard-and-fast goal or objective he was trying to reach. Paul was big on the idea of knowing where you're going. Compete like you want to get there – and ahead of the pack, not at the end of it. Paul says, "So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified" (Vs 26-27 NLT). Paul was willing to work at reaching his objective. He was willing to discipline himself for the purpose of reaching his goal: Godliness. He told Timothy to "discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness" (1 Timothy 4:8b (NASB). Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Have an aim. Have an objective. Paul had one. Do you?

In his book, Search & Rescue: Becoming A Disciple Who Makes A Difference, Neil Cole has this to say: "In writing his last words to his spiritual son, Paul was looking for something that would inspire Timothy to fight the good fight and finish the read as a hero, just as Paul had done. He knew that continuing on in life without transformation is not success but failure. Sometimes I fear that parents and pastors alike will be content if their children and parishioners just hold on and do not fall away. I can understand this fear, but simply holding on is not godly faith. Jesus didn't die and rise again so that we can stay the same, and for Paul this was abject failure. We are to more than mere survivors; we are to be victors in Christ." No running just to run. No mere surviving for us Christ followers. We are to run in such a way that we may win. Victory is the goal. Godliness is the objective. But finishing well requires that I run well. In other words, to win!

Father, I want my goal to be godliness. I want to run with my eye on the goal. I do not want to settle for just being in the race. I don't want the T-Shirt, I want the crown. Show me how to run the race before me with an attitude that says I am going to win in the end. Help me keep my eyes fixed on the finish line. Amen

When Rights Become Wrong.

1 Corinthians 8

But God [does] care when you use your freedom carelessly in a way that leads a Christian still vulnerable to those old associations to be thrown off track. – Vs 9 MSG

"I'm free in Christ!"

That's a wonderful statement that any believer in Christ should be able to make. We are free. Free from slavery to sin. Free to live a new life. Free from having to try to earn favor with God through our own feeble attempts at keeping some impossible set of rules. Jesus Himself said, "So if the son sets you free, you will be really free" (John 8:36 NET). So we really are free. But with that freedom comes a degree of responsibility. Because of our faith in Christ, we have been made aware of certain truths we didn't know before. We have knowledge of certain realities we didn't know before. We know we can't earn our way into heaven. We know there is only one true God. We know that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to God except through Him (John 14:6). We know we are saved by grace through faith any not according to our works so that none of us can take credit for it (Ephesians 2:8-9). We know we are not defiled by what we eat, but by what we say and do (Matthew 15:11). But Paul says that all this knowledge can end up making us arrogant and prideful. Especially when it comes to how we act around those brothers and sisters who don't know as much as we do. Knowledge puffs up. Love builds up.

Love trumps knowledge. Knowing all the things listed above is great, but is we allow that knowledge to get in the way of our love for our fellow believer, we have missed the point. Not everyone who attends church with us shares the same degree of knowledge or spiritual insight. There are new believers who bring to the table some immature beliefs and worldly viewpoints. They may bring inaccurate doctrine or teaching from a previous church relationship. They may bring a hodge-podge of religious and psychological input that is unbiblical, but in their mind it is real. We may have the desire to correct them, but Paul seems to be calling us to love them first. He is dealing with practical issues of faith. In his day it was the believers freedom to eat meat sacrificed to idols. The logic went like this: Since God is the only god,  idols are nothing more than man-made objects. Therefore the meat that was sacrificed to them was not polluted or unclean, because that god did not exist to begin with. So Christians were free to buy this meat from the priests who ran the temples to those gods. Their knowledge of the truth gave certain believers in the Corinthian church the freedom to eat this meat with a clear conscience.

But there were others in their fellowship who did not have the same level of knowledge. They had come to Christ out of a pagan background, having at one time worshiped those false gods. They had eaten that meat sacrificed to an idol. Now that they were Christians, they felt compelled to leave all that behind. They wanted nothing to do with their former way of life, including buying and eating meat sacrificed in the temple of their former god. Now they saw their fellow believers doing just that. They were confused. They were torn. And because of the actions of their more knowledgeable brothers, they were stumbling – falling back into their old habits and wrestling with their old beliefs. This is where Paul draws the line on our rights or freedoms. He says, "But you must be careful with this freedom of yours. Do not cause a brother or sister with a weaker conscience to stumble" (Vs 9 NLT). Sure, these more mature believers were free to eat that meat. That was not the point. The point was that their love for their weaker brother should outweigh their right to take advantage of low-priced, high-quality meat. Did they have a responsibility to share their knowledge of the truth with their weaker brothers? Yes. But until they did, they had a responsibility to love them in their ignorance. Otherwise, "… because of your superior knowledge, a weak Christian, for whom Christ died, will be destroyed" (Vs 11 NLT). Knowledge puffs up. Love builds up. Knowledge can lead to pride. Love leads to sacrifice. You can be right and oh so wrong. To stand for our rights and to cause a brother to fall at the same time is sin. Paul makes it clear. May we have the attitude that Paul had. "If what I eat is going to make another Christian sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live––for I don’t want to make another Christian stumble" (Vs 13 NLT).

Father, thank You for the freedoms I have in You. Thank You for the rights and privileges that are mine because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. But may I never allow my freedoms to become a stumbling-block to another brother in Christ. I want my love for them to far outweigh my love for my own rights. May I learn to give up everything in order that they might not fall into sin because of me. Open my eyes and help me see where my freedoms might be causing another believer to sin against his or her conscience. Amen

Undivided Attention.

1 Corinthians 7

Now I say this for your profit; not to make things hard for you, but because of what is right, and so that you may be able to give all your attention to the things of the Lord. – Vs 35 BBE

Distractions. We all have them. They're a normal part of life and they're all around us. Especially when it comes to pursuing a deeper relationship with God. I mean, have you ever sat down to spend some time reading your Bible, only to find that your mind wanders off in a thousand different directions? You can't concentrate on what you're reading. You keep thinking about things you need to do that day. Every little noise distracts you. Things in the room that would normally be of little or no interest to you suddenly seem to have some kind of gravitation pull that slowly pulls your mind away from what you're doing

Distractions come in all shapes and sizes – family, friends, work, entertainment, noise, worries, cares, bills, dreams, the newspaper, television, etc. Paul even seems to say that being married can be a distraction. That's a tough one to understand considering all that the Bible has to say about the God-ordained institution of marriage. I think Paul was for marriage, but he was more for the Corinthians each being sold-out followers of Jesus Christ. So he encouraged them that "whatever situation you were in when you became a believer, stay there in your new relationship with God" (Vs 25 NLT). If you were unmarried when you came to Christ, stay that way. Don't let getting married become your obsession. But if you find yourself lacking in self-control and overcome by sexual desire, then get married (Vs 9). If you were married when you came to Christ, stay that way. Don't seek to get out of it. Instead, honor each other and pursue Christ-likeness together.

Then Paul says something really interesting. It's in verse 29: "Now let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is very short, so husbands should not let marriage be their major concern" (NLT). It's as if Paul is saying that due to the nature of the times in which we live, we should prioritize our lives in such as a way that even being married does not become a distraction when it comes to our devotion to God. And let's face it, the cares and concerns of married life CAN become a distraction if we let them. Paul wants his readers to be free from concern. But that's not always easy.Why? Because "… a married man can’t do that so well. He has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife" (Vs 33NLT). But if his wife shares his passion for the things of God then he doesn't have to spend his time trying to please her. If he shares his wife's passion for spiritual growth and inner transformation, then she won't have to distract herself with trying to keep him pleased. That is why we are called to oneness in marriage. We are to be unified in our desire for God and our pursuit of spiritual things. In marriage, we can and should share a common love for the things of God and experience undistracted devotion to the Lord. Weshould encourage each other to put God first. If my wife is up having her time in the Word and I have to make my own breakfast, so be it. If I need to take care of the kids one night a week so she can attend a Bible study, I should be more than happy to do so. My greatest desire for her should be her spiritual maturity. And the same should be true of her for me.

Yet we find ourselves distracted by so many things: Work, kids, soccer and piano practice, volunteer opportunities, housework, yard work, paying the bills, watching TV, reading books, etc. And our interests become divided (Vs 34). We lose sight of what is really important. The things of God.

Father, I find myself so easily distracted. I feel like every little shiny thing that gets dangled in front of me distracts me and turns my attention away from You. I thank You that You have blessed me with a beautiful, godly wife and wonderful children. May we grow in our unity and common desire to put You first in all things. Forgive me for letting the things of this world draw me away from You. Show me how to lead my wife and kids into sharing a common devotion for You. Amen