Today’s reading is 2 Corinthians 12:1-13:14.

2 Corinthians 12:10 caught my attention: “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities don’t really catch my attention. I’ve heard all of that before. We should count it all joy when those things happen for the name of Christ. What gets me is being content with weakness. What? Surely we’re not supposed to be content with our weaknesses. Rather, we should be doing everything in our power to overcome our weaknesses, getting stronger and stronger and stronger. But Paul said he would be content with weaknesses.

What is up with that?

Additionally, that was the only part of the list he commented on. “When I am weak, then I am strong.” What kind of backward logic is that?

Sadly, I think it is very common today for folks, even Christians, to try to highlight how strong we are. Even Christians try to teach people that what Jesus wants us to do is stand on our own two feet, pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, and get with it. Buck up, get stronger or get lost. But Paul said, “I’m content with my weaknesses.” Why?

When I pull myself up by the bootstraps, to whom do I owe allegiance? Me. When I get stronger, in whom am I putting faith? Me. When I stand on my own two feet, who is supporting me? Me. As long as I am discontent with my weaknesses and keep trying to fix them on my own, I’m going to always turn to me, even when I’m covering it in the cloak of religion. It is only when I am radically honest about my weakness will I ever actually turn to the source of true strength. Only when I am content that I am powerless and weak will I ever turn my life over to Jesus and actually have some true strength radiating through my body.

Jesus is not asking us to buck up and do better for Him. He’s asking us to realize we are too weak to do better for Him, so we’ll just turn our lives over to Him, living the life we now live by faith in Him instead of by our attempts to be strong instead of weak.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

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

Today’s reading is 2 Corinthians 10:1-11:33.

Lately, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 has been very pointed to me: 

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

We all know this means we don’t take up arms against non-Christians or Christian with whom we disagree. Rather, we take the gospel of Jesus to them. We persuade with the grace and gospel of Jesus, not the force of weapons. Yet, today, it seems that many Christians are neglecting part of this passage. They think that there is one fleshly warfare that is part of our lives. Those who have followed some of my other writings know exactly where I’m going with this. 

It seems today that the new battlefield is no longer the spiritual realm, fighting against the rulers, the authorities, the cosmic powers over this present darkness, the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12), but the political realm fighting against policy we don’t like. It is as if Christians are beginning to think the way to spread God’s gospel is to legislate it through our nation’s policies. 

Jesus said His kingdom is not of this world. If it were, His citizens would stand up and fight (John 18:36). Yet some Christians seem to be intent on denying what Jesus said as if the United States of America is God’s kingdom in this world. It is not. It never has been. It never will be no matter what our laws say. 

God has not asked us to take up political arms to spread His will. He’s asked us to take His gospel to our neighbor, loving them enough to talk to them about His grace and salvation in His name through His Son. If we do that, then it won’t matter what our national policies and laws are, we’ll have helped another person surrender to God and live by His will. Who cares what the nation’s laws are if we can convince individuals to live by God’s will? On the other hand, who cares what the nation’s laws are if we don’t convince people to live by God’s will? Have we accomplished any good if we get abortion and homosexuality outlawed but our neighbors are still practicing them?

Let’s not wage the war according to the flesh today. Instead, let’s ask for opportunities to share God’s gospel with someone. 

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

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

Today’s reading is 2 Corinthians 8:1-9:15.

2 Corinthians 9:8 says, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

2 Corinthians 8:8-15 demonstrates that Paul is not saying all Christians will always have an abundance to share with others. In fact, sometimes, we may be the Christians who need assistance from those who are abounding. Other times we may be those who abound and share. However, 2 Corinthians 9:8 explains why God allows some of us to abound.

God does not allow us to abound to make sure we have a personal retirement. God does not allow us to abound to make sure we have all the gadgets we want. God does not allow us to abound to make sure we live on the nice side of town. God allows us to abound and have sufficiency that we may share with those aren’t abounding.

Granted, this passage doesn’t draw any lines for us. It doesn’t declare how much we are allowed to enjoy our own incomes versus being generous to others or to the work of the church. I definitely don’t want to create standards that God did not create. However, this verse forces me to look at my own finances. I’m very blessed. I have to ask am I using the sufficiency God has given to share with those who are not abounding right now, perhaps directly or through the work of the congregation.

This turns my common feeling on its head. I too often want more in order to have more for me. Then sometimes I think I can manipulate the system. I’ll offer a percentage back to God so that I can abound in my giving more, but also abound more for me as well. I don’t think it works like that. God is letting us abound to spread the blessings around. I need to examine myself on that today.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

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

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

I have to admit that 2 Corinthians 7:4 shocked me. Paul said, “I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.”

“I have great pride in you?” What? Isn’t this the congregation we all go to as the epitome of messed up churches? Isn’t this the congregation that was filled with division, had immaturity and weakness, botched the Lord’s Supper, messed up the miraculous gifts, accepted a highly immoral man? Yet, Paul is proud of them. How can that be?

Surely, this pride comes partially from their repentance with the immoral man. That is what Paul goes on to talk about in the rest of the chapter. But still. I mean they were clearly working on things but am I honestly to believe they had gone from poster church for dysfunction to example congregation between these two letters? I don’t think so. Yet, Paul was proud of them. He was expressing his pride in them.

Here’s what I learn, whether dealing with congregations or Christians, we look for improvements. This is a growth process, not a sprint to perfection. Sadly, we all too often treat Christians and churches like the dad teaching his child to swim who keeps backing up and backing up so the child can’t actually get to him. Sure, the person or church has improved here and there, but look at all that is still wrong with them. That is often how we think. We need to express our pride that they are improving just like Paul did. That, of course, will only happen when we are genuinely proud of them. That will only happen when we don’t see ourselves as their judge trying to fix them to our satisfaction.

I need to work on this.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

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

Today’s reading is 2 Corinthians 4:1-5:21.

I was struck by 2 Corinthians 5:18. “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” Then 2 Corinthians 5:19 says God entrusted us with “the message of reconciliation.”

To hear some Christians today, you might get confused and think the Bible message is one of condemnation. But that wasn’t Paul’s focus. Paul’s focus was reconciliation. Certainly, the scripture condemns sin and says those who remain impenitently in sin will be condemned, but the message of the Gospel is not about all the sins for which we’ll be condemned. Rather, it is the message of Jesus through whom we can find forgiveness, reconciliation and the strength to overcome our sins.

I want to focus on that today. The message of the Old Covenant was condemnation. The Old Testament condemned everyone under sin (Galatians 3:22). Our message is that of reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ. The fact is most of us know we stand condemned. We need to hear how we can be reconciled.

Jesus is the way for that.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

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

Today’s reading is 2 Corinthians 2:1-3:18.

I know I’ve preached on 2 Corinthians 2:11: “…so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.” Another translation says “schemes.” Satan is cunning, baffling, wily. He has tricks up his sleeves, ready to make us fall. I’ve preached on this passage and gone all over the Bible finding examples of his trickery. I’ve looked at the fall of Eve in the garden. I’ve examined the temptation of Jesus. I’ve looked at the betrayal by Judas and the denial by Peter. I’ve examined passages that talk about Satan the roaring lion. But I guess I’ve forgotten to look specifically at the context of the verse these lessons were based on. Now don’t get me wrong, I think there was some benefit in those sermons and classes I’ve taught. I don’t think they were wrong or unscriptural. I’m simply saying I missed something.

In those lessons, I usually talk about all the sins Satan tries to get us to commit. Satan will try to tempt us to immorality, idolatry, adultery, theft, hate, and on and on. However, did you notice that the specific problem Paul is addressing is the lack of forgiveness? It seems the immoral man of I Corinthians 5 had repented and the same Corinthians who had been boasting in their acceptance of the sinner were now having the opposite trouble. They weren’t accepting the penitent.

Satan certainly has many schemes to get us to go commit sin ourselves (and this verse applies to those as well). However, in its specific context, Paul is talking about Satan’s scheme to keep us from forgiving others when they sin. What division and trouble that causes for those of us who won’t forgive and for those who aren’t receiving the forgiveness.

I’m reading What’s So Amazing About Grace? by Philip Yancey right now. (Yes, that was an affiliate link. What can I say? 2 Corinthians 2:17 said I shouldn’t peddle God’s word. It doesn’t say anything against peddling Yancey’s word.) He tells the tremendously tragic story of Daisy, Margaret and Michael, a story that truly demonstrates Satan’s schemes of unforgiveness (pp 75-81). Daisy was born in 1898. Her dad was an alcoholic who caused all kinds of turmoil for the family. When Daisy had grown, she had promised she would never speak to her father again. When he later repented and sought forgiveness, she had none for him. Her “ungrace,” as Yancey calls it, had hardened her. She never turned to drink, but she was a driving taskmaster in her own family, perhaps in an attempt to keep her kids from being like her father. “She ruled her own family with a milder form of the tyranny she had grown up with.” Her daughter Margaret once came to her apologizing for something she had done wrong. Daisy’s response was simply, “You can’t possibly be sorry! If you were really sorry, you wouldn’t have done it in the first place.” Margaret determined to be completely unlike her mother. Yet as her children became teenagers she felt like she was losing control. Specifically with her son Michael who seemed to really get under her skin. He seemed a bit of a rebel. She threatened him. She kicked him out of the house for smoking pot. She reported him to a judge. She wrote him out of her will. Nothing got through to Michael, finally one day she said, “I never want to see you again as long as I live.” They’ve been living this out. Michael eventually came out of the rebellion, got married. But the marriage didn’t work. One day when Michael was talking to his friend, Philip Yancey, he said of his ex-wife, “I hope I never see her again as long as I live!” What a chain of sin. What a chain of unforgiveness. Over 100 years of family turmoil that might have been avoided if Daisy could have found the grace to forgive her earthly father the way our heavenly Father forgives us. Right now, there appears to be no end in sight.

Do you see Satan’s designs? His schemes? If he can keep us from forgiving each other, look at what he can accomplish through us. Look at what he can do to our families, our children, our grandchildren.

I fear this passage because I know Satan’s schemes about immorality, drugs, idolatry, covetousness, etc. But sometimes I come up with reasons why I don’t need to forgive someone. Maybe I need to study Satan’s schemes a little more deeply. I don’t want to fall prey to them.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

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

Today’s reading is 2 Corinthians 12:1-13:14.

Before today’s post, a few personal comments. I worked extra hard to be ahead on this blog while I went on vacation so post would come up seamlessly. And they did. However, I got home and immediately got sick and then had some pretty intense stuff I had to work on and missed three days last week. Sorry about that. This week, we’re having a gospel meeting with Terry Francis at the Franklin Church in Franklin, TN (we’d love to have you come join us). Terry is staying at my house, which means I may be a bit sporadic this week as well. However, even if I can’t post, I’ll keep reading and encourage you to do the same.

Alright, on to today’s post.

We Must Examine and Test Ourselves

2 Corinthians 13:5 grabbed me this morning. The Bible often speaks of testing, tempting, refining, examining, and proving. It usually refers to it as something done to us either by God or Satan. Certainly, in the case of Satan, the testing and tempting is in order to get us to fall. With God, it is in order to refine and get us to grow. Sometimes the Bible even speaks of man testing God, that is, they don’t trust Him and so they want to force some proof from Him.

However, in 2 Corinthians 13:5, the text says, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.”

I’m supposed to do this to myself. I’m supposed to put myself in the refining pot. I’m supposed to put myself to the test. I’m supposed to examine and see whether or not my own faith is genuine and precious. I am not to skip along assuming whatever I feel is right, but put myself to the test on it.

As I can tell, there is only one way to do that. Get in the word and see whether or not I’ll actually do what God says. That is Paul’s overarching point to the Corinthians. He has instructed them in certain things and some of them have not submitted. Some of them have continued in impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality (2 Corinthians 12:21). The test is do I follow God’s word or my own will. I can tout my own faith all day long but if I turn from God’s will when the heat goes up, my faith needs strengthening.

Here is what this means for me. First and foremost, when God’s testing and proving comes (cf. I Peter 1:6-7), I won’t wine and cry like a little baby wondering why God has forgotten me, but rather I’ll be thankful that God is helping me remove the dross and slag from my life. I won’t be upset about it. I’ll welcome it, even ask for it as David did in Psalm 139:23-24. Second, it means I won’t wait for someone else to notice my hypocrisies, insincerities, hold-ups, I’ll start examining myself to see where I fall short so I can grow.

Of course, I have to remind myself why I do this. Is it to impress God? No. Is it to earn heaven? No. Rather, it is because God’s way works. I know if I walk my own way, it will not glorify God; it will not get me closer to God. So, I test myself because I want to glorify God more than anything else.

***Question: How do you examine yourself to see if you are in the faith?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is 2 Corinthians 4:1-5:21.

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 really struck me. Sometimes I like to go into pity party mode about how awful I have it. Maybe people aren’t being nice to me. Maybe someone has hurt me. Maybe I’m sick (like this past weekend). These verses remind me that I don’t have it so bad. Further, they remind that when I really do have it bad, God is still with me.

Paul said, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecute, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.”

Paul is specifically speaking about the suffering he endured because he was a minister of the gospel. As he looked at his hardships, he didn’t complain that God allowed the hardships, he took comfort that God did not allow the hardships to become overwhelming. Yes, they were afflicted, but God did not allow them to be crushed. Sure, God let them be persecuted, but He never forsook them.

Sin entered the world through Adam, because of that suffering also entered the world. But God has been gracious to me. Sure, I was sick this past weekend, but it didn’t kill me. Of course, if it had, I would then be saying, “Sure, God let me die, but He preserved my soul from eternal torment.” God has not promised us a rose garden. He promised to stick with us wherever we went, as long as we kept walking with Him.

***Question: What do you do to make sure you’re walking with God today?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is 2 Corinthians 2:1-3:18.

Paul said, “Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” (2 Corinthians 3:4-5). 

This verse hit me like a ton of bricks. One of my great struggles is never believing that I’m good enough. After years of being trained that accidents don’t happen, mistakes only come to those who don’t pay attention, and perfection seems to be the only level of good enough, I really struggle with that. Because I do have accidents. I do make mistakes. I’m a long way from perfect.

I constantly beat myself up for not being a good enough person, good enough Christian, good enough husband, good enough father, etc. The struggle for me is that in trying to be good enough, I was still trying to find my sufficiency in me. Maybe if I just try a little harder, I can be sufficient or adequate. Maybe then I’ll be good enough.

Now please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying that I’m good enough as I am so I don’t have to worry about growing or doing better. What I am saying is being good enough is not going to come from be. If I want to be sufficient, adequate, good enough, I have to quit trying harder and simply surrender myself to God and His will. My sufficiency needs to come from Him. Further, I need to quit trying to gain my sufficiency from other people. That is, I need to quit trying to impress other people so they’ll say I’m good enough and I need to quit trying to push others down so I can feel good enough in comparison. My sufficiency won’t come from either of those sources. 

Sufficiency won’t come from me. It won’t come from other people. It will only come from God. Therefore, for today, I need to put my hand in His and let Him make me good enough by His will.

***Question: How do you find sufficiency in God?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

Today’s reading is II Corinthians 12:1-13:14.

Perhaps because I recently read The Way of the Shepherd: 7 Ancient Secrets to Managing Productive People and was really convicted by one point about serving people, I was slapped in the face this morning as I read II Corinthians 12:15.

The point in The Way of the Shepherd that really hit me is that a hireling only takes care of the sheep as a means to a paycheck. The shepherd takes care of the sheep because he loves the sheep. II Corinthians 12:15 says, “I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls.” Paul wasn’t a hireling. He wasn’t just focused on getting the tasks done so he could get his wages. He cared about the Christians. He cared about their souls. Whether he got paid or not, he would spend and be spent to serve others and help them on the path to heaven.

I don’t want to paint myself as a despicable hireling (though if I were rigorously honest…), however, at the same time, I can see that tendency in me. It is not so much that I preach for the money. But rather, as a Choleric, I’m naturally task-oriented. I see my work as just that…work. It is very easy for me to see what I do as a series of tasks to be accomplished because that is my job. Write a sermon…check. Prepare a Bible class…check. Put up a blog post…check. Visit someone in the hospital…check. Write a thank you note…check. Tell me what task I need to accomplish today and I’ll do it because that is my job. Sometimes I can lose sight of the fact that my work isn’t about tasks. It is about people. It is about lost people. It is about struggling people. It is about growing people. It is about all kinds of people. But first and foremost it is about people.

It is not about putting in a day’s work to get a day’s pay. It is about folks who have been held captive by the devil and need freedom. It is about spending and being spent as we work together to overcome the snares of Satan and follow Jesus’ strait and narrow path to freedom. 

Today, instead of working for my paycheck, I need to “spend and be spent for your souls.” I need to do that not because it is my job, but because I love and want to serve others as Jesus loved and served me.

Pray for me about this. It doesn’t come naturally to me.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

P.S. What did you get out of today’s reading?