Deuteronomy 4
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Deuteronomy 4:1-2, Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.
Now that the historical review has ended, chapter 4 marks the beginning of the instruction of the rules and laws the people of God were to follow. There is definitely a conditional nature to these instructions. If the Israelites follow them, God will provide and take them into the promised land. If they do not follow them, then the opposite will be true. In this chapter, most of the instruction has to do with idolatry. God's people are only to worship him and him alone. Moses' words in verse 40 provide a concise summary of the teaching up until this point, Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the Lord your God gives you for all time.
Let's pray...Lord, Help us even today keep your decrees. Help us follow you and you alone. How easy it is for us to get distracted. Help us refocus so that you are center of our lives. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Deuteronomy 3
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Deuteronomy 3:26-29, But because of you the Lord was angry with me and would not listen to me. “That is enough,” the Lord said. “Do not speak to me anymore about this matter. Go up to the top of Pisgah and look west and north and south and east. Look at the land with your own eyes, since you are not going to cross this Jordan. But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.” So we stayed in the valley near Beth Peor.
Moses revisits once more the act that prevented him from entering the promised land. God has had enough. God tells Moses to go to the top of Mr. Pisgah. From this point, the entire land of Canaan is visible. God could sense Moses' anguish and in his grace, allowed Moses to at least see the promised land. While Moses could lay eyes on the land, it would still be Joshua who would lead the people into the land. God tells Moses to commission Joshua to the task. He would be the successor.
I can only imagine the pain and guilt Moses must have been experiencing. He spent forty years doing what he could to lead a disobedient people. While he fell short, it had to have been incredibly difficult to not see the journey to the end.
Let's pray...God, We don't always understand your ways but we know that they are higher than ours. Lord, I pray that we can stay focused on you and grow in our walk. When we get distracted, we pray that you lead us back to the path. Lord, help us finish this journey strong in the faith. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Deuteronomy 2
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Deuteronomy 2:14-15, Thirty-eight years passed from the time we left Kadesh Barnea until we crossed the Zered Valley. By then, that entire generation of fighting men had perished from the camp, as the Lord had sworn to them. The Lord’s hand was against them until he had completely eliminated them from the camp.
Moses continues his walk down memory lane, recounting to the Israelites more about their disobedience. He speaks specifically of the entire generation of men who died as a result of their disobedience to God's commands. With these two verses, Moses brings to a close the description of the desert wanderings. There is a definite shift. Now, he begins to speak of the victories that this new generation of Israelites experience as they make their way to the promised land. He makes it clear that all the victories belong to God. The people on their own are weak and would fail. God is the one who provided the victories that allowed them to take the land.
We can also count on God to provide victory in our own daily battles. This does NOT mean that God will rescue us from all unpleasant and undesirable situations. We will have to face hardship. But we can know that God will be with us and see us through the battle. He offered the Israelites physical victory in the middle of a swordfight. He provides us emotional and spiritual victories in the midst of our struggles and promises to make good come from them (Romans 8:28). Most importantly, because of Jesus' death and resurrection, he achieved victory over death and darkness. As a result, we also have the ultimate victory and can rest assured that we will spend eternity with Jesus.
Let's pray...Lord Jesus, Thank you for the victories you provide. Help us remember that you are always with us. God, I'm thinking right now there may be someone out there who is questioning you. I ask that you provide them assurance that you are with them to the end, providing small victories on earth and eventually the ultimate victory. Lord, help us focus more on the things of your Kingdom and less on the things of this world. In Your Name, Amen.
Deuteronomy 1
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Deuteronomy 1:34-38, When the Lord heard what you said, he was angry and solemnly swore: “No one from this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your ancestors, except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land he set his feet on, because he followed the Lord wholeheartedly.” Because of you the Lord became angry with me also and said, “You shall not enter it, either. But your assistant, Joshua son of Nun, will enter it. Encourage him, because he will lead Israel to inherit it.
Today begins our journey into the book of Deuteronomy. The purpose of this book is to be a covenant renewal, a reaffirmation of the commitment made between God and his people at Mt. Sinai. Thus, this first chapter provides an overview of what occurred from the point that God made a covenant with the people and then during the forty years that Moses led the people in the desert.
In today's focus verses, we see the consequences of the Israelites' covenant disobedience. They did not trust God and obey his commands to take the land that the Lord was giving to them. As a result, God promised that those of that generation would not enter the promised land, including Moses. In fact, only Joshua and Caleb, the two trusting explorers who advocated on behalf of following God's commands to take over the Amorites' land, would be allowed to enter with the younger generation. Joshua would take over the leadership from Moses at the appropriate time.
As I read this text, I can almost hear Moses' frustration with the people. He seems to blame them for not being able to see the promised land. Yet, God made it clear that it was Moses' own lack of trust that kept him from entering the land. In Numbers 20, Moses had a rock and water incident that clearly demonstrated his own lack of trust. You may want to read through it later for more context.
For me, this all points to humanity's brokenness and disobedience. Would we have been more faithful and trusting than the Israelites? Probably not. But God knew that. He knew that there had to be another way. So he made another way: Jesus Christ. More on this in the days to come.
Let's pray...God, We know that we are sinful and disobedient. We see ourselves in the plight of the Israelites. How thankful we are that you created a way for us to be reconciled to you, to have a relationship with holy God. Thank you for Jesus, Lord. In Your Name, Amen.
2 Corinthians 13
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2 Corinthians 13:5-6, Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.
We have come to the final chapter in 2 Corinthians and Paul has some strong closing comments for the Corinthian church. The Corinthians want evidence that God is speaking through Paul. Paul turns the argument around and tells them to assess their own faith. According to Paul, they should be examining themselves, not cross-examining him. Paul wants the Corinthians to look closely at their own behavior and attitudes. Do they point to faith in Jesus? This is the test to which he is referring.
It is so much easier to point a finger at others and criticize their behavior, speech, and lifestyle, than it is to examine our own. I can't help but be reminded of Jesus' words in Matthew 7:3-5, Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Just as the Corinthians wanted to focus on what they perceived as Paul's weaknesses, we also get fixated on what we see are the problems of others. All the while, we feel perfectly comfortable with a massive plank in our own eye.
Ask God to reveal to you the times in which you were quick to judge others rather than examine your own life and faith.
Let's pray..."Lord Jesus, We fail you over and over again. Forgive us for the times in we judge others, look down on our neighbors, or arrogantly think we are better Christians than the next person. God, reveal to us where we fall short and where you want to see us change and grow. We need you desperately, Jesus. More of you, less of me. In Your Name, Amen.
2 Corinthians 12
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2 Corinthians 12:8-10, Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul continues this discussion on boasting but it takes a definite turn. When he finishes with the "foolness" boasting about his attributes (which you recall he did to make a point to his rivals), he quickly states that he will only boast in his weaknesses. Why? Because in our weaknesses, God demonstrates his power. In our weaknesses and shortcomings, Jesus has room to do his work. We only think our earthly attributes make us strong. It is truly our weaknesses that make us strong because that's where God comes in and demonstrates his miraculous work.
What are your weaknesses? Rather than lamenting about them, have you ever thought that Christ might use them for his glory? Take a moment and spend some time in prayer, submitting your weaknesses, really your whole life, to Jesus today.
Let's pray...Lord Jesus, When I am weak, you are strong. Help me remember that. Lord, please take my strengths, my weaknesses, my whole self. I surrender all to you. In Your Name, Amen.
2 Corinthians 11
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2 Corinthians 11:21-28, Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea. I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
Up until this point, Paul has avoiding boasting and self-aggrandizement. Because of this, he has gotten slammed by his rivals. Now, he asks the Corinthians to bear with a little foolishness as he boasts. He seems to think there is no other way to address these charges against his authority as an apostle and Christian leader than to clearly articulate why he is qualified.
But unlike his rivals, Paul makes it clear that he knows boasting is nothing but foolishness because it leaves God out of the equation.
In our focus verses, Paul begins his foolish boasting to counter the attack of his rivals. From reading this, we can guess that those opposing Paul took pride in their Jewish heritage, in their ministry work, and in their visions and revelations. Paul matches them point for point. But he does so knowing it's all a bit ridiculous. The only thing that really matters is boasting about God.
Paul's original discourse with the Corinthians about boasting is found back in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31. Reflect on the difference between this and what Paul is expressing in today's passage, Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.
Let's pray...Lord Jesus, Help us boast only in you. We so often become obsessed with ourselves, our own needs, our own desires. We play one-upmanship games with other believers. Forgive us, Lord. Help us have laser focus on you and the people you call us to be. More of you, Jesus, and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.
2 Corinthians 10
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2 Corinthians 10:3-4, For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
After a lengthy discussion on the collection for Jerusalem believers, Paul returns to the issue of defending his love for the Corinthians and his authority as an apostle. Paul is concerned with his own reputation but he is more concerned with saving the Corinthian church from these rivals who are promoting a false Gospel.
It's interesting that many people read Paul's epistles and think of him as uncompromising and even harsh at times. But that apparently isn't the Paul that the Corinthian church witnessed. They thought of Paul as weak and timid. In our focus verses today, Paul is defending himself against such accusations. He is not timid but bold. However, he doesn't wage war in the typical sense. He wages war with God's power. Thus, we can suppose that Paul fights with spiritual weapons such as prayer and divine wisdom.
According to the Scripture, these weapons allow him to demolish strongholds. The Corinthians would have been familiar with strongholds, places with much fortification to help defend against attack. But it would have also been common knowledge that no amount of fortification could defend against a strong, forceful offensive attack. The power of God, Paul's spiritual weapons, were much stronger than anything that his rivals could present. Paul stands ready to attack the "stronghold" erected by those in Corinth who oppose him and slander his name. No amount of verbal attacks on his character, no intellectual arguments, no worldly debate could match the power in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul was on the side of Christ and that was his most effective weapon.
Do you make use of spiritual weapons?
Let's pray...Lord Jesus, So often we try to go it alone. Forgive us for that, Lord. We need you to fight our battles. In Your Name, Amen.
2 Corinthians 9
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2 Corinthians 9:6-8, Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
In this chapter, Paul is continuing his discussion on giving. Paul is trying to rouse some enthusiasm amongst the Corinthian believers on the topic of giving, specifically giving to the destitute believers in Jerusalem. They were initially very interested and enthusiastic but apparently, they haven't followed through on their commitments.
Our focus texts offer some interesting thoughts. You reap what you sow, not just with material resources but also in other ways. This idea is found throughout Scripture but most notably in Jesus' teaching in Luke 6:38, Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
But it also suggests that giving is an individual decision of the heart. We don't give for public recognition but to please God and demonstrate his love to others. God doesn't want us to give out of a sense of obligation but truly out of a kind and generous heart. All we have comes from God, we are simply giving a portion back to God's work in this world.
Finally, Paul is suggesting that when we give to God's work, we will be blessed. God will ensure that our needs are met. Notice Paul doesn't say that our wants will be fulfilled but rather our needs. We will have what we need to be content.
What does it take for you to be content? Do you give with a cheerful heart?
Let's pray...God, Now we have had two chapters in a row on giving. What are you trying to teach us? Lord, all we have is yours. We truly want to give generously and cheerfully to expand your Kingdom. Reveal to us where we fall short. In Your Name, Amen.
2 Corinthians 8
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2 Corinthians 8:1-7, And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you —see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
There is significant need among the believers in Jerusalem and Paul is imploring the churches in Macedonia and Greece to give, not out of obligation but truly out of love for their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Those in Jerusalem were Jewish believers who the Gentile Corinthians had never met. This offering would not have been part of a tithe, but rather over and beyond their normal giving, in order to help those who needed it.
While the Macedonian churches were located in a fairly wealthy and prosperous area, that doesn't mean all the churches were affluent. There were some among them who were wealthy but many more were just working class or poor. And yet, Paul is calling them to give anyway. He has called all the Macedonian churches to give; this includes Corinth but also Philippi and Thessalonica. He is asking the Corinthians church to finish up their previous collection, keeping in mind the extreme need in Jerusalem. This is not a command, by any means, but rather encouragement to do what is right.
Giving does not come naturally to human beings. We seem to have this need to keep things for ourselves. We tend toward selfishness over sacrifice. Generosity is something that God nurtures in our hearts. Jesus taught often about being generous. Think about Matthew 6:19-21, Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The beauty in this Scripture is that it demonstrates that when we invest in the things of God, our heart will be pulled in that direction as well. We start by giving sacrificially and God changes our heart.
What's been your experience with giving? Do you tithe? If you don't, then what keeps you from giving on that level? Have you ever given above and beyond the tithe, as Paul was encouraging the Corinthians to do? What motivated that giving? How has God blessed your giving?
Let's pray...God, All we have is yours. Help us learn to be generous with what you have generously provided. Guide us to give of ourselves and our resources sacrificially. Lead us, guide us, direct us. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
2 Corinthians 7
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2 Corinthians 7:2-4, Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.
Paul continues to express his love and dedication to the Corinthians. Despite their disobedience and their lack of confidence in him, Paul has confidence and love for them. In fact, Paul says that he would live or die with them. He is making the point that their relationship as brothers and sisters in Christ will not end with physical death. They are united for eternity. This means something!
Have you ever considered that you are united with your fellow believers for eternity? This usually brings me great joy. I've met Christians all over the world who I know I won't ever meet again in this earthly life. But yet, we will be together in heaven forever. At the same time, there are believers who I know with whom I've never quite gotten along. Guess what? I also will spend eternity with them. Our bonds as Christians brothers and sisters are strong, friends.
Is there a Christian brother or sister with whom you have disagreed and you need to make amends? Our allegiance to Jesus should always trump our individual disagreements. I'm not saying to be a doormat. However, think about the disagreement, pray about it, and see how God wants you to proceed.
Let's pray...Dear Lord, We thank you for your amazing love and forgiveness. We are so broken and flawed. We mess up a lot. God, if there is someone with whom we need to make amends, particularly another believer, please help us find a way. Lead us, direct us, convict us. In your name, Amen.
2 Corinthians 6
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2 Corinthians 6:14, Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
Paul wants the Corinthians to know that there are boundaries surrounding the behaviors of the covenant community. As we have discussed in previous chapters, most of Corinth consisted of individuals who worshipped multiple gods; idolatry and sexual immorality were a part of the pagan existence. Now, people are coming to know Jesus and entering the Corinthian church. This requires a huge shift in thinking about what is acceptable. Paul continues to teach that while they have freedom in Christ, that is not an excuse for behavior that displeases God. They are called to holiness.
It is from that place that Paul tells the Corinthian believers not to be yoked with unbelievers. A yoke refers to the wooden crosspiece that was fastened over the necks of two oxen and attached to a plow or cart that they are to pull. When one animal is yoked to another, generally the stronger animal can help make up for the inadequacies of the weaker animal. Think about Jesus' words in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” When we are yoked together with Jesus, he helps lighten our load and provides rest for our souls.
But Paul is saying NOT to be yoked with those who are not Christ-followers. As in the reference from Matthew, being yoked with someone suggests a close, almost intimate relationship. Do not yoke yourself with someone whose values, attitudes, and behaviors are fundamentally different from your own. Paul is referencing marriage but also other relationships. Do not bind yourself to people who have a worldview that is opposed to your own.
I want to be clear; Paul is not saying that Christians aren't to associate with unbelievers. Frequently, Paul encourages believers to eat with those who don't yet believe and build relationships with those who need to know the hope of Christ. But having an unbelieving friend or acquaintance is totally different from an unbelieving spouse, business partner, or bestie. Set your boundaries.
Let's pray...Lord Jesus, We give you our whole lives, including our relationships. Guide us to those people to whom you want us to minister and help us be fruitful. Guide us to those with whom you want us to build relationships and help us be good ambassadors for you. But also help us know when where we need to set our boundaries. We need you. Guide us, lead us, direct us. In Your Name, Amen.
2 Corinthians 5
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2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
The first ten verses of this chapter are worth reading and reflecting on if you didn't have the opportunity to do so. Paul is tackling the difficult topic of what happens to us when we die. In Paul's culture (as in ours), there was fascination but also fear regarding the end of physical life. This piece of Scripture discusses the future resurrection and transformation of believers and the certainty of being with Jesus after death. We can be assured of this based on God placing the Spirit within us (Paul calls it a deposit). The Holy Spirit offers us assurance of salvation and that this earthly life is not the end.
Now, let's take a moment and talk about the focus verse, one of my favorite verses of Scripture. Paul starts with the statement, "Therefore..." because the previous statement pointed out that Christ is no longer viewed from a human perspective, as he is God. Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior and his life, death, and resurrection form this radical, fundamental breakthrough for all creation. Because of this, things are different. God's Kingdom has been inaugurated and a new way of doing life is here. So, if someone is in Christ, meaning they have accepted Jesus and are united with a life-giving Savior, then this new way of living and being has started. They are no longer the same person. They are being transformed from the inside out by the power of the Spirit of God. The old person, the "pre-Jesus" life, is in the past. They now do life differently - new attitudes, new behaviors, new ways of thinking - focused on the ways of Jesus rather than the ways of the world.
I want to add that becoming a new person is a choice. Others call it a process. It's both really. Becoming the person that God created us to be in Jesus Christ is not going to simply happen by accident. We participate in the process. The Holy Spirit works in us and we cooperate with God in the transformation. What has your "becoming a new creation" process looked like? None of us have arrived either. What are the places in your life in which God may be still calling you to change to look more like Jesus?
Let's pray...Almighty God, You are holy and perfect and we are not. Help us see others through your eyes, to be more loving, patient, and kind. Where we need to change, make that obvious to us. We know we are new creations, help remind us of that often, Lord. We love you and give you glory. More of you, Jesus, and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.
2 Corinthians 4
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2 Corinthians 4:7-9, But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
Jars of clay would have been a fairly normal sight in Paul's day. They were basic, earthenware vessels, used for everything from cooking utensils to toilets. They were inexpensive but breakable, and could easily be knocked over and damaged.
Paul is saying that the Gospel is an amazing treasure. And we, as Christ-followers, get to be the vessels that hold the Good News of Jesus. God chooses to store his greatest treasure in our own weak and flawed human bodies. They aren't too unlike the clay jars, common and fragile. Yet, God chooses us. In all our brokenness, God chooses us. In the mess of the world, God chooses us. In the midst of hardship and oppression, God still chooses us. We get to be the bearers of the greatest news in the history of all humanity. God chooses us. Just let that sink in a bit.
Let's pray...Lord Jesus, Thank you for allowing us to be the vessels who carry the Good News. I pray that I can do a better job sharing the Gospel with others rather than simply keeping it hidden within me. Give me promptings from the Holy Spirit today to share with others. In Your Name, Amen.
2 Corinthians 3
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2 Corinthians 3:12-18, Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
This is an interesting chapter. In the beginning of the chapter, Paul is explaining why he doesn't need letters of recommendation. Apparently, this was a common practice to provide letters that verified the authenticity of an apostle or leader. Paul mentions providing them in some of his other epistles but does not feel the need to have them for the church at Corinth. After all, he founded the Corinthian church so they should be well aware of his gifts and skills as an apostle. This whole discussion gives us a bigger picture of what Paul is dealing with - people are challenging his credentials and leadership. This must have been very distressing for Paul, who put so much love and self-sacrifice into his churches.
In our focus verses, Paul moves on to a discussion about boldness and spiritual blindness. He can be bold because there is no veil separating him from God. Remember, Moses had to pull a veil over his face when he went to speak with God to protect himself and the Israelites from God's powerful glory. It also reminds me of another veil - the curtain that separated the priest from the holiest of holies in the temple, where God's presence dwelt. Under the Old Covenant, there were many veils which served to protect people from God's power and glory. While it was for their protection, It was also a physical and spiritual separation. Paul makes the point that even then, while the veil was technically gone, the Jews still behaved as if it was there; they experienced a spiritual blindness of sorts. But in Christ, there is freedom. There doesn't have to be separation from God or blind adherence to the Old Covenant. Christ introduced a new way of doing life, where the veil is gone, and we can now contemplate God's glory. In fact, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can day by day be transformed into his likeness.
Verse 18 really resonates with me today. "...we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory..." This is sanctification. The more we grow in our walk with Jesus, the more we experience his grace and look more and more like him. A question - do you look more like Jesus today than you did five years ago? Why or why not? What do you want to look like five years from now?
Let's pray...Lord Jesus, we thank you that because of your sacrifice, we can go boldly before your throne of grace, no more veils or separation. We thank you for the freedom found in you. Help us not take this freedom for granted, continuing to strive to grow, learn, and be transformed through your sanctifying grace. More of you, Jesus, and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.New Hope Daily SOAP: 2 Corinthians 3
Pastor Vicki Harrison
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2 Corinthians 3:12-18, Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
This is an interesting chapter. In the beginning of the chapter, Paul is explaining why he doesn't need letters of recommendation. Apparently, this was a common practice to provide letters that verified the authenticity of an apostle or leader. Paul mentions providing them in some of his other epistles but does not feel the need to have them for the church at Corinth. After all, he founded the Corinthian church so they should be well aware of his gifts and skills as an apostle. This whole discussion gives us a bigger picture of what Paul is dealing with - people are challenging his credentials and leadership. This must have been very distressing for Paul, who put so much love and self-sacrifice into his churches.
In our focus verses, Paul moves on to a discussion about boldness and spiritual blindness. He can be bold because there is no veil separating him from God. Remember, Moses had to pull a veil over his face when he went to speak with God to protect himself and the Israelites from God's powerful glory. It also reminds me of another veil - the curtain that separated the priest from the holiest of holies in the temple, where God's presence dwelt. Under the Old Covenant, there were many veils which served to protect people from God's power and glory. While it was for their protection, It was also a physical and spiritual separation. Paul makes the point that even then, while the veil was technically gone, the Jews still behaved as if it was there; they experienced a spiritual blindness of sorts. But in Christ, there is freedom. There doesn't have to be separation from God or blind adherence to the Old Covenant. Christ introduced a new way of doing life, where the veil is gone, and we can now contemplate God's glory. In fact, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can day by day be transformed into his likeness.
Verse 18 really resonates with me today. "...we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory..." This is sanctification. The more we grow in our walk with Jesus, the more we experience his grace and look more and more like him. A question - do you look more like Jesus today than you did five years ago? Why or why not? What do you want to look like five years from now?
Let's pray...Lord Jesus, we thank you that because of your sacrifice, we can go boldly before your throne of grace, no more veils or separation. We thank you for the freedom found in you. Help us not take this freedom for granted, continuing to strive to grow, learn, and be transformed through your sanctifying grace. More of you, Jesus, and less of me. In Your Name, Amen.
2 Corinthians 2
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2 Corinthians 2:1-4, So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.
Paul could not visit the Corinthians because he was forced to make an emergency trip to Ephesus. He sent his previous letter instead. This created discord within the church. Not only were they upset with the tone of the letter but they were upset that Timothy rather than Paul delivered it. As mentioned yesterday, certain individuals had risen up to challenge Paul because of this.
Paul has an interesting response to their challenge. Rather than getting angry, as many of us might, he wants to assure them of his deep love for them and their dependence on one another. He isn't the kind of leader who lords authority over them. (Reread 1:23-24) Rather, they belong to each other. He is their coworker in the movement of the Gospel.
Are you aware that as the body of Jesus Christ, we all belong to God but we also belong to each other. Our work in the Lord is dependent on one another. We need one another. We are not independent contractors for Jesus out there on our own trying to share the Good News. Rather, we are all in this together, helping and supporting each other, praying for one another, and encouraging each other in our work.
Let's pray...Lord Jesus, Help us learn to rely on you and one another in our work for the Gospel. Help us live as people who belong to you and to other members of the body. More of you, less of me. In Your Name, Amen.
2 Corinthians 1
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2 Corinthians 1:21-22, Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Now we have come to Paul's second letter to the church at Corinth. Apparently, other leaders have risen up to oppose Paul and he is quite distressed. In his first letter, Paul provides a strong rebuke of the Corinthians about their worldly aspirations, their arrogance, and their shallow view of Christian leadership. This didn't serve to endear Paul to the influencers in the Corinthian church. In this second letter, Paul is attempting to restore his relationship with the church while also offering them wise counsel and not back down from previous statements.
In our focus verses for today, Paul is reminding the Corinthians of God's faithful promises. God has anointed us and put his seal on us. From antiquity to present times, a seal indicates ownership. Our bodies are not our own but belong to God. And God has put his Holy Spirit within our hearts as a deposit, or a guarantee, of what is to come. The promise is that we will be with Jesus at the resurrection and that we will continue to be made into his likeness in the meantime.
How do we know that the Holy Spirit is living within us? How do we know that we belong to God? Think back to your own childhood. How did you know that you belonged to your earthly parents? Besides having the same name, there is an awareness and even a confidence that they are your parents and you are their child. This is obviously an imperfect example because while some earthly parents are responsible, protective, and loving, others are not. But we can know that God our Father is faithful, trustworthy, protective, and loving.
Let's pray...Almighty Father, Thank you for giving us the assurance of being with you someday. Thank you for putting your Spirit into our hearts. I belong to you, totally and completely. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
1 Corinthians 16
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I Corinthians 16:13-14, Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.
This is the final chapter of Paul's first letter to the church at Corinth. For the most part, he gives practical advice and wisdom. He speaks of taking up a collection for the greater church and of welcoming Christian workers who will be coming to their area soon. It's right after this call to welcome and respect the new leaders that Paul makes this statement, "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love."
I think we would do well to also heed this advice. This idea of being on guard or being alert seems to suggest that we are in a battle not just with earthly powers but also against the power of evil. There are forces in this world that work against Jesus Christ and as his followers, the Corinthians (and us for that matter) should be aware, alert, and on guard. Stand firm in the faith is also pertinent. How easy it was for the Corinthians to drift and get distracted. Umm...sound familiar? Remember whose and who you are might be another way to say it; stay focused on the things of God!
Then, there is a call to be courageous and strong. We know from the previous chapters that the Corinthians were arrogant and a bit complacent. Paul is asking them to have courage and do what God has called them to do. Again, I'm thinking Paul could just as easily be talking to the modern church. We have tradition, we have beautiful worship, we have access to all kinds of knowledge, but we don't have courage. This is starting to get personal. Might I add that this kind of strength has nothing to do with physical stamina and the ability to lift heavy weights. This is an internal strength that comes only from God.
Finally, Paul says to do everything in love. Yes, being on guard, standing firm, and having courage and strength are critical but they are all pointless if not done with love. Paul is not calling the Corinthians to use aggression or self-assertion (remember, this is how the Corinthian church viewed Christian leadership). Rather, Paul is saying to exhibit all these qualities while demonstrating the love and grace of Jesus. That means, no bullying people to Jesus, no shaming people to Jesus, no manipulating people to Jesus, but only loving people to Jesus.
Let's pray...God, Help us stand firm and be vigilant but also loving. Oh God, how we need to be more loving. On our own, we mess this up. We need you, Jesus. More of you, less of me. In Your Name, Amen.
1 Corinthians 15
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I Corinthians 15:12-14, But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
Paul is asserting in this chapter that the resurrection of Jesus is central to the Gospel. Apparently, there were Christians at Corinth who were espousing the view that Jesus was not raised and that the resurrection was not true. It's possible that they were reverting to their old Greek view of immortality of the soul and not the body. It's also possible that they were simply skeptics who were trying to poke holes in the resurrection story. But Paul is stating here that if resurrection did not occur, our faith is totally useless. That would mean that Jesus did not defeat death, it would mean that we are misrepresenting God, and it would mean we are still dead in our sins.
This may be longer than normal for me but I find this a very important topic. Some thoughts:
The resurrection is SIGNIFICANT. All that Jesus did, his whole life was vindicated with the resurrection. The resurrection proved that Jesus was who he said he was, God is who he said he was, and affirmed Jesus’ divinity. Think about Paul's words in Romans 1:4 “and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.”
The resurrection is so important in that it provides assurance and hope that our physical death is not the end. It not only points to life after death but also the future resurrection of believers. Let's visit Romans again, 8:11 says, “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” Jesus’ resurrection promises victory over death.
But the resurrection is also TRANSFORMATIVE. It is transformative for us as individuals and for us as the body, for the church. I think the most important aspect of believing in the resurrection is that Jesus’ resurrection is what provides the power to change us now. It provides the power for complete transformation, to bring what was essentially dead to something that is alive and vibrant and productive. When someone says yes to Jesus Christ, a spiritually dead person becomes united with a life-giving Savior. When that happens, his resurrection produces a resurrection in us. The word resurrection actually comes from the same root as resurgence or rising again. We become connected to a life-giving power, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. This resurrection power has the ability to revive us, restore us, renew us, transform us. The apostle Paul states in I Corinthians 5:17, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”
There are certainly no shortage of books that detail the evidence for Jesus' resurrection. One good one that is short and easy to digest is Lee Strobel's The Case for Easter.
What are your thoughts on the resurrection? Spend some time in prayer about this today.
Let's pray...Lord Jesus, You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We are in awe of you and the mystery of faith - you came, you died, you rose. We are grateful and we are changed because of it. Continue to work within us, Lord, to transform us and to form us into the people you have called us to be. In Your Name, Amen.
1 Corinthians 14
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I Corinthians 14:34-35, Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.
The bulk of this chapter has to do with the speaking of tongues. Paul is not against speaking in tongues but he is clear that tongues benefits the speaker more than the listener. Prophecy, on the other hand, benefits the listeners. This is a passage often taken out of context. Yes, tongues are a gift of the Spirit and for many people, tongues provide an intimate way to communicate with God. But within the context of worship, tongues are appropriate only if there is an interpreter. According to Paul, the question to always ask is “Does this build up the body of Christ?”
Speaking of taking passages out of context, I think our focus Scripture for today has been taken out of context often and misused by many. Is Paul saying that women need to always be silent in church? No, he isn’t, as he is supportive of women’s participation in worship in other passages. Just a few chapters before this, in I Corinthians 11:5, Paul mentioned women praying and prophesying aloud in worship.
What does he mean in this text? Keep in mind, this is a pastoral letter that is addressing a specific situation in a specific place. Corinth was a wild, out of control place. These women have grown up being influenced by this environment. Don’t get me wrong, the Greek and Roman world was still highly patriarchal and women had little if any rights or privileges. But in the church, women were valued and had a certain degree of freedom. They could learn, speak, pray, and work alongside the men in many ways. Most likely, in this situation, there was confusion and disorder in the church worship and Paul needed to address it. The Greek word used in the text for speak actually is better translated “chattering.” Most likely, these women were interrupting worship with their constant chattering. Maybe they were asking questions. Maybe they were talking amongst themselves. We really don’t know. The details aren’t available to us.
This leads to an important point. We cannot pick certain Scripture verses and pull them out of their contexts, trying to force an application today. What’s important is to look at what the whole Biblical narrative says about a certain topic. Does the whole Biblical narrative insist women be silent in worship OR do we see women lifted up by Jesus, involved in the ministry of the early church, and working as effective prophets, leaders, and teachers (often praised by Paul)? When one or two verses seem out of place, contradicting the rest of the Biblical narrative, then there is probably a deeper meaning behind them. The key is go deeper, study, learn the context and background, and try to discern the author’s original intention.
Let’s pray…Lord, Help us better understand and discern your Word. For your Word is authoritative, powerful, and life-changing. Give us wisdom as we read it. Meet us on the pages of Scripture and help us be transformed. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.