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2 Corinthians 6-7 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is 2 Corinthians 6:1-7:16.

“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever. What agreement has the temple of God with idols?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16a).

Do not over-simplify this passage by trying to make it about marriage or business partnerships between Christians and non-Christians. That isn’t what it is about at all. In fact, if it were about marriage, then it contradicts what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7:12-16. In that passage, he tells believing spouses not to leave unbelieving spouses. If this one is about marriage, he tells the believing spouse to “go out from their midst” in 2 Corinthians 6:17. God’s Word doesn’t contradict itself.

What then is Paul’s point? Notice the bookends of this section. In 2 Corinthians 6:13, “In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.” And then in 2 Corinthians 7:2, “Make room in your hearts for us.” This last half of the letter is Paul’s warning that some of these Christians have jumped out of the frying pan only to land in the fire. That is, they have left their idolatry to become Christians but now that they are Christians, they are following false teachers that are leading them back into idolatry. They are following false apostles. Paul is pointing out that the Corinthians need to keep their hearts open to Paul and the true apostles instead of following those who will lead them back into their fleshly passions.

2 Corinthians 10-12 are filled with this same sentiment. Notice especially, 2 Corinthians 11:12-15; 12:11-13.

So what does this passage have to do with me today? It means I need to open my heart to what Paul and the true apostles who were the conduits of the Holy Spirit’s revelation. I must not simply follow after any and every teacher who says something I may like to hear or who encourages me down the paths of my least resistance. They have opened their hearts to us, let’s make room for them in our hearts as well.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? Click here to add your input.

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

Acts 19-20 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is Acts 19:1-20:38.

“And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32).

I have to be in God’s word today. Why? Not because it is my Christian homework assignment. Not because I have to read 5 chapters or 30 minutes per day to go to heaven. Not because my mother told me to. I need to be in God’s word today because I need to be built up. I want the inheritance. I want to be sanctified. I want to know Jesus. The Bible is where I meet Him.

When Bible reading becomes a checklist homework assignment, it doesn’t help me at all. While it remains my lifeline to God, I grow. That is why what we do here at giveattentiontoreading.com is so important. This time in the word, the discussion, the help, the encouragement is all about getting into the word of God’s grace. It is about getting closer to Him and letting Him fill us with His grace and strength.

That’s why I always end these posts by saying,

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? Add your input by clicking here.

Today’s reading is Luke 1:1-2:52.

“After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers” (Luke 2:46-47).

I’ve often wanted to jump to the last half of this statement. I want people to be amazed at my understanding and answers. But notice where Jesus began. He began with listening and asking questions. That is where I need to begin. The only way I can have great answers and great understanding is by first learning to ask good questions and then listening to others good answers.

I need to do the same in my own personal study. I need to learn how to ask good questions about this book I’m reading. Then I need to listen to the Word for the answers God is giving.

Further, I need to do the same when I study with others. Instead of thinking, “I’m the preacher, listen to my amazing understanding and answers,” I need to provoke more communication and discussion by learning how to ask good questions and then listen to what other learners have also gained.

Today, I need to learn to do what Jesus did, Listen, Ask, Answer, and Learn.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is 2 Timothy 2:1-3:17.

“…always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7).

I have heard this passage referenced for years. In fact, I have referenced it for years. Usually, this verse is pulled out when talking about some preacher, teacher, or elder who keeps vacillating on some issue. This verse is especially handy when trying to push someone into making up their mind about some tough doctrinal question. If he won’t make up his mind quick enough, we can just point out how wicked he is because he keeps learning but doesn’t come to the truth. Of course, he only comes to the truth if he agrees with the one who is using this verse to push him.

There may be an appropriate application of this verse to that situation. However, in the immediate context, I’m no  longer sure Paul is talking about that person. Look at the preceding verses. He is talking about someone beset by recklessness, carelessness, lack of control, and sin. I can’t help but think of John 8:32. “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” The issue is not that these people study and study an issue but never make a decision about it. The issue is they keep learning about God’s will but they aren’t letting it change them. They aren’t being set free by it.

I must let God’s word change me. If I don’t, I may know a whole lot about it, but I’m never really arriving at the knowledge of the truth. If I knew the truth, it would set me free.

Keep the faith today, and keep reading.

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Mark 3:1-4:41.

“‘If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.’ And he said to them, ‘Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you’” (Mark 4:23-24).

I have ears; I need to hear. This is great. Jesus didn’t say if I was just one of a specially chosen few I could get it. He didn’t say I could try and try and try and maybe someday He might bestow a gift of understanding on me. Rather, He said if I pay attention and give diligence to what He has to say, more will be added to me. What a relief. I’m not spinning my wheels spending time in His word. If I pay attention to what He says, Jesus will bless me. If I blow it off and only take a dip in it every now and then, I probably don’t need to expect much. But what confidence I can have that if I focus on Jesus’ word, I will be blessed by Him and more and more will be heaped on to me.

I’m glad I’m spending time in His word, paying attention to what He says today.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Hello brothers and sisters,

Thank you so much for your patience with me during my family’s recent transition. We are now getting settled in Indiana and it is time to get back to blogging. What a coincidence. It is time to get started with Give Attention to Reading again.

So, on Monday, we’ll open up to Luke and read the first two chapters. I’ll share what really struck me and look forward to your thoughts as well.

Have a great weekend. I look forward to studying with you.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is 1 Corinthians 8:1-9:27.

I was trucking right along through today’s reading. It was one of those days where I was in a “yeah, I’ve read that before” kind of mood (not a good Bible reading mood to be in). But the very last verse smacked me down.

“But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

In the past, my big preaching problem has been thinking about how everything applies to my audience. I would seek out what their problems were and swoop in like a spiritual super hero trying to fix everyone else. How easy it is to preach and teach in the second person: you need to do this, you must stop that, you need to change. How easy it is to spend all my time trying to fix others. How easy it is to spend all my time trying to lead others.

There are two problems with that.

1.I can’t give what I don’t have.

This probably hit me because of the Bible class lesson I taught yesterday from Max Dawson’s excellent class book on Kingdom Leaders. We studied the life of Josiah who became king at 8, sought the Lord at 16, but didn’t start impacting change in Judah until 20. The whole point behind the lesson was before we can be an influence for good in anyone else’s life, we must first work on ourselves. We might think, “What was wrong with Josiah? Why didn’t he jump on it and get busy right away? Why wait four years?” Those four years were probably the most important part of Josiah’s life. If he hadn’t spent those four years seeking the Lord, he probably would not have been able to impact the change in Judah, squashing idolatry and renewing their covenant with God.

I can give what I don’t have. If I don’t work on me, then my second person teaching will be empty, hollow, impotent. I need to work on me first.

2. If I’m not maintaining me, I’ll be disqualified.

How easy it is to reach a certain level and think, “Alright, I’ve done my four years of seeking the Lord, I’ve got me under control. Now its time to start helping others.” This is a noble motivation and desire, but if I quit working on me, then I’ll end up disqualified. When I start thinking that I’m standing, that is when I’ll fall. If I don’t sharpen the spiritual saw each day, I’ll become dull and ineffective. It is so easy to think we’ve finally arrived and then quit really working on ourselves.

I’ve been told and I believe that we are like trees. If we quit growing, that means we’re dead. We may still be walking around. I may still be teaching in second person, but I’m not accomplishing anything and I’m rotting from the inside out. All it will take is one big, deadly gust of wind and storm to knock me over for all to see the rot.

I’m thankful for today’s reminder. I need to spend today working on me. If I do, God may use me to help someone else, but at the very least, He’ll be strengthening me to glorify Him and surrender to His Son. That’s what I want. I want to run the race. I want to win the prize. That means I have to start with me.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What struck you in today’s reading?