2 Corinthians 1-6: A True Testimony

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.  2 Corinthians 4:7-9 NIV

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.- 2 Cor. 4:16-18 NIV

For all of us, when we go through those tunnels of despair when it seems there is no end in sight, when we are overwhelmed with the deterioration of our bodies or the events unfolding around us, these words offer hope.  We are temporary vessels, jars of clay not meant to last, but to be used and used until we are used up.  Most of us fight being used all the way, but it is to no avail.  It is part of God's plan, that's what we're put here for.  The treasure is not the jar, but what resides inside.  The world is full of crystal vases that have nothing inside.  It is the common, everyday nature of our faith that displays God's glory. The way we walk through our trials is a truer testimony than any words we could ever say. 

2010 Post - 2 Corinthians 1-6:  Faith not Sight

1 Corinthians 12-16: Of First Importance

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. - 1 Cor. 5: 3-8: 

This is the message of most importance.  Among the hustle and bustle of this season, the trappings and the trimmings, the giving and receiving, we overlook the gift of most importance.  God appeared.  He appeared in the flesh, he died for our sins, he was buried, he was raised and he appeared to the twelve, to hundreds of others and he appeared to Paul.

He has appeared to countless others down through the ages.  He has appeared in word and in deed.  He appears when we least expect it and certainly when we least deserve it, but he appears.  The vision of him and his truth becomes seared in our memory.  It is more than we can describe and  it keeps our faith alive. This is the true gift this time of year, he has appeared.  He appeared and we are forever changed.  Love is here.  We love him because he first loved us.  Everything Paul said about Christ is true. This is the message of first importance. 

2010 Post - 1 Corinthians 12-16:  Seek the Giver Not the Gift

1 Corinthians 7-11: What More Do I Need to Know?

We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the man who loves God is known by God. - 1 Cor. 8:1-3 NIV

Never before has so much knowledge been accessible.  We are bombarded with facts and fiction daily.  Knowledge may be power, but it is not always good for us.  What was the tree in the garden that Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat?  It was the tree of knowledge, the knowledge of good and evil.  Since time began, we have all wanted to know it all and it will always be our downfall.  It is not possible for us to know it all, but yet the smallest bit of knowledge makes us all think we are experts when in fact, the more information we have the more confused many of us become. 

At this point in life, I'm not sure I care to stuff any more facts in my head.  I don't need to know anything more than the author of the universe and the amazing fact that he knows me.  That's pretty amazing if you think about it.  He knows me.  He has known me since time immortal.  He has known me and called me by name.  What more do I need to know?

2010 Post - 1 Corinthians 711:  Run to Win

1 Corinthians 1-6: Body, Mind and Spirit

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.- 1 Cor. 6:19-20 NIV

It is difficult for us to separate the whole of our being into it's parts:  body, mind and spirit.  Even those that can do so, find themselves concentrating on one at the expense of the others.  In our time, we concentrate more on the body than on the mind or the spirit.  We pamper ourselves endlessly.  We push ourselves to the limit of endurance to make the body beautiful with diet and exercise or we stuff it with food and resist any exertion at all.  We spend a fortune on clothes and creature comforts.  An entire industry has developed around cosmetics and another around medicine to eliminate all but the most minor symptom.  All at the neglect of our mind and even more importantly the spirit. 

Perhaps if we could see ourselves as three  parts, just as God is three parts, we might behave differently.  Should we take care of our body?  Of course, just like we should take care of our mind and our spirit.  We should care for them all as if they were a gift from God, which of course they are.  We are not our own but we are very valuable.  We were bought, purchased by the Father at an enormous cost, the life of his Son.  It is him we should worship, not our bodies.  The actions of our life, our body and mind should all honor God and the price he paid for us.

2010 Post - 1 Corinthians 1-6:  So None Can Boast

Romans 11-16: Live at Peace

   Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
   Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.Do not be conceited.
   Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.- Rom. 12:9-18 NIV

I have to remind myself of this occasionally:  to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.  It is this mindset that keeps me at peace.  Peace is not external, it is internal, but it is brought about by external actions, my own external actions, not the actions of others towards me.  Peace comes from loving others, from putting others first, from being devoted to others well-being over my own.  Peace comes from not being proud or conceited.  It comes from loving all men regardless of their status or financial situation.  Peace comes from love.  There is no other source.  In a world where we see so little peace, it is incumbent upon us to be the provision.  Especially in this season, we cannot just proclaim peace, we must be a living demonstration of that peace., the peace that defies all understanding, the peace that comes from sincere love.  This business of peace depends on us, not on others. We are called to reflect the source of that peace.  There is no higher calling.  We are to live at peace.

2010 Post - Romans 11-16:  Doxology

Romans 6-10 Nothing Can Separate Us

For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. - Romans 8:3 NIV

Law, rules, regulations do not change us, they cannot and will not change mankind.  The Pharisees kept revising the law to make sure it covered every little possibility of sin, but none of their efforts ever changed the heart of even one man.  In the same way, we can regulate and regulate, but all it does is point out the gap between us and God.  For many of us, it appears that this country and the whole world perhaps, has started down a slippery slope that can only end in disaster.  We can spend all of our time, pointing out the failures of others or of the law.  But it will not change the course, it will not change what lies before any of us.  It will get worse and it may get a lot worse for some of us.  We cannot stop the consequences of sin and we cannot stop the plans of God.  All we can cling to are the words of someone like Paul who could foresee a bleak future for his mortal body, but hope for a life in Christ.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:37-39 NIV

Nothing, not any natural disaster, not any bank failure, not any governmental collapse, not even a descent into lawlessness and chaos can separate us from the love of God.  Nothing.

:2010 Post - Romans 6-10:  Zealous Pursuit of Righteousness

Romans 1-4: Perfection

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
  But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.- Romans 2:19-24 NIV

I tend to be a perfectionist, or at least I used to.  I was not perfect, I knew it, but I didn't want anyone else to know that I made mistakes. What a miserable position I found myself in..  Each mistake I made would lead me to the same dilemma:  Do I confess that I have made a mistake, or do I hide it as if it never existed.  Both prospects left me with a sinking feeling. 

I finally learned not to expect too much of myself, that I was incapable of perfection and that confession was good for the soul.  In fact, it was the lack of confession that always ended up festering inside of me. 

It's the same way with sin.  All have sinned.  All of mankind, and no matter what we may think about others, whether it seems like they are sinless or desensitized to their sin, they suffer the same internal consequence that we do when we sin.  It festers and eats them up; imperfection does that.  But as Paul says, there is a remedy.  We are set free by the grace of God and the redemption that came by Jesus.  We are set free from that horrible recognition that we do not measure up.  None of us can ever measure up, but we can all be set free.

2010 Post - Romans 1-4:  Sin and Righteousness