Day 304 Is it possible to be strong when weak? Jonah's prayer in a large fish.

Paul in all of his trials and a "thorn" which kept him humble...insists that in his weakness he finds strength..."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."

In a way contrary to Paul...Jonah, when feeling the fear of going to Nineveh, fled for his life. He would later pray a prayer in a belly of a large fish. Jonah would comply with the Lord but lack the fortitude of Paul.

Day 303 What was Paul recalling?

Paul, in a few chapters, recalls his story. In II Corinthians 11, he recalls being beaten with rods, stoned, left in open water, naked, hungry, forsaken by others, and being almost killed by authorities and escaping. In reading Paul's accounts of his struggles...we can only marvel this is the same one that wrote..."and the peace of God which passes all will guard your hearts and minds" (Philippians) Amazing!

Day 302 Is it wise to compare?

Is it wise to compare ourselves to others? No. Our spiritual growth is not all the same. We are best to focus on Jesus and not others. Paul says it like this..." We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another, and compare themselves with one another, they do not show good sense. " Paul says we lack sense, when we compare ourselves to others.

Day 301 Would another dose of generosity hurt?

I am a little confused of which day to blog...as I have been traveling. Would another dose of generosity hurt anything. Absolutely not! In continuing with Paul's thoughts of generosity..." You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others, while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" Generosity is indescribable. Amen!

Day 300 How to be a good giver?

How is one a good giver? Paul states it straight forward..."The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 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." How do we miss this simple message? Giving produces bounty. Sparing giving causes spare results. Amen!

Day 299 How does one exceed expectations?

How does one exeed expectations? Paul states that Macedonia gave far more than imaginable. They were poor but gave generously. How did they do it? They gave themselves first to the Lord and then to each other. This formula still works today! Giving ourselves first to the Lord exceeds expectations. This message is a solid Biblical one! Try it!

Day 298 What is Godly grief?

If you are like me the concept of "Godly grief" got my attention. What is Godly grief? Paul says..." For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter." The difference appears to be "Godly grief" convicts and "worldly grief" makes one only feel guilty. Conviction to change is good. Grief the "hangs on" is debilitating.

Day 297 What other passage makes my ten favorite?

Another of my favorite biblical passages appears today. "If anyone be in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has passed a way and the new has come." II Cor. 5:17! What an awesome thought that everyday can be a new one in the Lord! God seeks to do new things in us! Amen.

Day 296 Why do we never lose heart?

The followers of Jesus Christ do not have to ever lose heart. Even in circumstances of death and destruction...we hang in there. Jeremiah is a witness to this as he is imprisoned. Paul says it most eloquently..."But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, 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. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you."
The treasures in clay jar are around us. As our treasure is in the things of God...we need not lose heart. Amen!

Day 295 What is a plumb line?

Amos describes a plumb line. What is a plumb line? A plumb line is actually still used today to determine what is straight. This teaching is much like Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount with the wise and foolish builders. If you build a foundation it must be straight. Otherwise...everything on top of the foundation will be crooked. Likewise...our discipleship begins with our foundation. Amos says Israel is out of plumb. God is the Ultimate Determiner of what is right and true!

Day 294 Where does Amos speak of justice and righteousness?

One of the often quoted passages in the Old Testament is Amos 5:24... "But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream." (NKJV) Dr. King quoted this passage and is noted at a Civil Rights Museum in Montgomery with a strong visual...flowing water. What a powerful visual for God's people to seek justice and righteousness for all people! Let the waters of justice and righteousness flow Lord! Amen.

Day 293 Is there comfort?

Is there comfort in suffering? If we suffer together? Listen to Paul's words..."Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort." I really like the passage of being unshaken in hope! Such is the nature of hope..."sure standing in shaky times" which could be an upcoming sermon.

On another note never underestimate simplicity and sincerity...Paul writes..."For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you." There is power in simplicity and sincerity and trusting in the Lord!

Day 292 What advice does Paul give?

Paul gives much advice in today's reading from First Corinthians. He instructs about hospitality and taking care of those who are doing the Lord's work (Timothy). In a rare passage he tells the men to act like men..."Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." Paul is amazing for his variety of teachings and his extraordinary life.

Day 291 What did Jeremiah pray?

What did Jeremiah pray? Interesting...he said this prayer in seeking understanding of buying a field at the time of the exile. Buying property as one is leaving is very unusual but indicated the hope. The pray is one of hope..."After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord, saying: ‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you." Nothing is too hard for the Lord. God also assures they will be His people and He will be their God.

Day 290 How to speak?

Paul addresses the issue of speaking in tongues in today's I Corinthians passage. He claims to speak in tongues but says simply..."For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue." In Paul's day and today, being understood and communicating clearly remain the greatest priority of the good news!

Day 289 What is that essential ingredient?

What is the most essential ingredient in the Body of Christ? Would you like to guess? A resounding gong or clanging symbol offer a hint? Or serving as a missionary without this quality? Paul says it so eloquently...faith, hope, and love abide but the greatest of these is love! Love is the essential ingredient.

Day 288 What does the Body of Christ mean?

What does the Body of Christ mean? We can speak of the Body as Christ being the Head and all parts (people of the Church) of the Body have a role. In Ephesians, we read of every part needing to work properly. I understand this as... active with gifts, using the particular gifts God gives us, and building up the fellow members of Christ. As a physical body can be built up...so can a spiritual body...the Church. Tomorrow we will see the most essential ingredient for the Body....can you guess?

Day 287 Where our traditions of Holy Communion are grounded Scripturally?

Today's reading is a very practical teaching about not coming to the Lord's Table hungry. We should eat at home before we come for communion. Communion is not a table to eat for the needs of the body but rather reflect on the meaning of Christ's death for us. Paul says it this way...“This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” The Bible does not explain Holy Communion in many places but is abundantly clear on the meaning of the Sacrament.

Day 286 What to do with temptation? Trials?

Paul has written a very quoted passage in today's text. He relays that God is able to deliver us from weak moments and temptation. God will provide the ability to stand strong in the hour of trial. What does the passage say..."No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." Every temptation has an excape hatch...if we remain strong in the Lord.

Day 285 How to win a confrontation in the Lord?

High noon comes for Jeremiah. He expresses that his fate is in the hands of others. Yet his ultimate allegiance and trust is in the Lord. There is a difference between fate and allegiance. Jeremiah does not waver. He proclaims..."Now therefore mend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the Lord your God, and the Lord will relent of the disaster that he has pronounced against you. But as for me, behold, I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you. Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the Lord sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.” His fate did not get in the way of his faith. Jeremiah not only was spared but dared to challenge the authorities with the truth.

Day 284 Do our eating choices lead us to sin?

Does what we eat cause another to stumble? Or even sin? According to Paul..."Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble." Eating can be sinful if not done to glorify God or causing another weak person to stumble according to Paul.

Day 283 Which is better single or married?

Paul says he wants everyone not to be anxious. Then...of all things he talks about the anxiety of single or married. Sounds like a compelling teaching for a marriage seminar or singles retreat.
Here is what Paul actually wrote ..." I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord." Interesting to say the least! One other teaching of Paul may bring balance..."Love is the greatest of all."

Day 282 Does Paul bring out the hammer or grace?

Does Paul bring out a hammer? He takes no nonsense from the converts at Corinth? "It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord." More hammering to come from the man who also brings a message of grace!

Day 281 Who can find fault?

God replies to Job and put him in his place. Is this not the human condition of all? We think we know more than God. We blame so many others and cirucumstances. We even blame God. How dare we! This is the message of Job..."“Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.” Job does repent. Lesson learned and his blessings returned.

Day 280 What is a formula for success in the Church?

Paul offers a formula for real church success..."I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth." God brings growth in the Church. Any attachment to growth by personalities is dangerous. Are not divisions an indicator of attention to personalities instead of God?

Day 279 What is the difference between a spiritual and natural person?

What is the difference between a spiritual person and natural person? Paul tells us..."The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ." Something to remember when we do not comprehend why all to not "get" the good news of Christ.

Day 278 What did Jeremiah pray?

In tracking the prayers of the Bible, Jeremiah prays a short prayer in today's reading..."Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise"...beautiful words to repeat over and over again. God is the source of healing, saving, and praise. The simplicity of Jeremiah is appreciated in seeking to make sense of the lengthy conversations of Job and his friends. Paul says if we boast..."we should boast of the Lord." Is this not praise?