Day 336...(Jeremiah 38,39; Ezekiel 23,24; 2 Corinthians 11)..."Paul Shares About His Life"

The life of an apostle. Paul shares what life is like for him. In reading Paul, we may envision a wise spiritual man in a safe comfortable environment. These words in 2 Corinthians give us a glimpse of Paul's real environment.

"I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 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."

Day 335...(Jeremiah 36,37; Ezekiel 21,22; 2 Corinthians 10)..."Two Favorite Passages"

Jeremiah 29 contains one of my favorite passages. In the midst of such gloom, defeat and suffering comes these words...

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity."

What a wonderfully hopeful message in such a despairing time.

The other passage is practical from 2 Corinthians. We should never commend ourselves or compare ourselves but seek to please God. Here is the passage...

"We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise."

and...

"For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends."

If we could only live this passage how much more simple would our life be? This would end jealousy, envy, and feelings of rejection. Our life goal is to be commended by God. In seeking His approval, we have a better chance to have the proper relationships with others.

Day 334...(Jeremiah 34,35; Ezekiel 19,20; 2 Corinthians 9)..."Sowing"

The Bible teaches us a very familiar passage..."you reap what you sow" (Galatians 6:7). One other passage about sowing is found in today's passage in 2 Corinthians.

"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."

A person not only reaps what he sows but also becomes generous or stingy by the attitude we have toward giving to others. Some have called this a lifestyle of scarcity or abundance. What is our choice...sowing with scarcity or abundance?

Day 333...(Jeremiah 32,33; Ezekiel 17,18; 2 Corinthians 8)..."A Sure Financial Plan for the Church"

Does a church have to have money to give generously? No just look at his letter in 2 Corinthians chapter 8. Macedonia was a poor church but gave richly...how did they do that? They gave themselves first to the Lord and then to each other. This plan of beginning with God is still the soundest way to teach stewardship in the church. Here is the passage...

"And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will."

We sometimes get off track and forget this obvious truth. Every church should read this passage and take this to heart. Our reason for giving begins and ends with God. We give to God the tithe through the church.

Day 332...(Jeremiah 30,31; Ezekiel 15,16; 2 Corinthians 7)..."What is the Difference Between Worldly Sorrow and Godly Sorrow?"

Is all sorrow the same sorrow? Not according to Paul. He says worldly sorrow leads to death but Godly sorrow brings repentance and life. Paul must have written a scathing letter to admit he caused sorrow and hurt Corinth. He never apologizes rather pointing to the pain bringing the right result...a return to God. Here is how Paul explained the difference between Godly sorrow and worldly sorrow...

"Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."

On one other note how about the writing style of Ezekiel? Chapter 15 is only eight passages on one subject. Chapter 16 is eight times longer and splinters in many directions. I am guessing these are the shortest and longest next to each other. Interesting.

Day 331...(Jeremiah 28,29; Ezekiel 13, 14; 2 Corinthians 6)..."Paul says Shame on You!"

Paul says shame on you. What is the subject? Is it a litany of immorality in the 6th chapter of 2 Corinthians such as adulterers or drunkards? While his list is condemning for those who out of step with the Kingdom of God...he says shame on the those who bring lawsuits. In our world today, people are happy to bring a lawsuit even against the church. Paul would say..."shame on you." Here is the passage...

"I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead, one brother goes to law against another—and this in front of unbelievers! The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers."

Settling disputes without lawsuits is the way of Paul's teaching. What a wonderful teaching for our world today.

Day 330...(Jeremiah 26,27; Ezekiel 11,12; 2 Corinthians 5)..."Another Life Verse"

It just so happens that 2 Corinthians has two of my favorite life passages. Yesterday was about a hope to face despair. Today's reading is about new life in Christ. I would imagine 2 Corinthians 5:17 is one of the most quoted of the Bible. How exciting that we can be a new creation in Jesus Christ.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

God is the creator of the earth and of new creations in us.

Day 329...(Jeremiah 24,25; Ezekiel 9,10; 2 Corinthians 4)..."Another of my Life Passages"

Today, is one of my life passages. The words stand on there on. You can find these in 2 Corinthians 4.


"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."

"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."

Day 328...(Jeremiah 22,23; Ezekiel 7,8; 2 Corinthians 3)..."Beaming"

Moses had such a radiant face, from the Spirit, he required a veil over his face. Paul says this is possible alive in the Holy Spirit. We are given a transformed nature and this possible for all. I have known a few people through the years that were so full of God's spirit they almost beamed. What an image. Here is the passage...

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

Day 327...(Jeremiah 21; Ezekiel 5,6; 2 Corinthians 2)..."Paul Outlines Receiving Back A Person Who Has Repented"

The early church set standards of admonishing those who brought grief to the church. Admonishing was easy. Apparently, receiving those back who had repented was not. Paul goes to great lengths to encourage receiving back in the fold.

"Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes."

Condemnation is easy...restoration is not. Is it any different today?

Day 326...(Jeremiah 20, Ezekiel 3,4; 2 Corinthians 1)..."A Theology of Congregational Care"

How do we care for all the needs around us? The needs of people can be overwhelming to grasp. As the flight attendant says place the mask first on yourself and then your child makes sense...so does Paul's teaching. God cares for us and we in turn can care for others...who then begin another cycle in caring for others. (exponential in nature) As we are connected with God there is a way to care for the needs of the world around us. To care properly we must have our needs attended by God and others. Paul writes about it this way...

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort."

Day 325...(Jeremiah 19; Ezekiel 1,2; 1 Corinthians 16)..."A Great Sermon Outline"

Today's text has a great sermon outline. You can take the four points as they are...

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love."

#1 Be on your guard
#2 Stand firm in your faith
#3 Be of courage
#4 Be strong
#5 Do everything in love

Day 324...(Zephaniah 1,2,3; Jeremiah 18; 1 Corinthians 15)..."Resurrection Thoughts"

When preaching on the resurrection, we usually refer to the Gospels. In 1 Corinthians 15 is a wonderful teaching of victory in death. According to Paul...we move from perishable to imperishable, mortality to immortality, and to a real sense of victory. One of the great victory images is "death without sting." Imagine the resurrection being so glorious that death has no pain! How wonderful for those who have died in the faith. And for us in Christ to have the sting of death removed. Here is the teaching...

"Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Day 323...(Habakkuk 1,2,3; Jeremiah 17; 1 Corinthians 14)..."Hope for Difficult Times"

Habakkuk is another book with a harsh message. It does end in affirmation of staying the course with God through the tough times. Here is the passage...

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights."

What is our though? Is it an oil spill? Something personal? Health? God is faithful. There is always hope...especially in the difficult times.

Day 322...(Nahum 1,2,3; Jeremiah 16; I Corinthians 13..."Love is the Greatest".

Is Nahum speaking of the same Nineveh of Jonah? Yes. Now we know why Jonah ran when God called him to Nineveh. The Book of Nahum is pretty much gloom and doom except for a brief mention of God's goodness in Nahum 1:7..."The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him." Right after this passage is the warning of those who are evil..."Whatever they plot against the LORD He will bring to an end; trouble will not come a second time." Apparently, the city fell back into evil after Jonah.

Nahum and Jeremiah both are "gloom and doom" due to the consequences of disobedience. What a change of tone to read 1 Corinthians 13 on the same day! Love is the greatest of all says Paul! Who can argue? Nineveh would have been different had the greatest of all been in place! Without love all chaos and evil breaks lose.

This chapter is read in non-religious settings for the inspirational thoughts about love keeping no record, being patient, kind, and keeping no record of wrongs. Even the non-Christian recognizes the balance of the big three...faith, hope, and love. Love is the greatest...of all, in all, through all, despite all, for all...love is the greatest!

Day 321...(Jeremiah 15; Micah 7; I Corinthians 12)..."What Divisions Teach Us?"

Church divisions are not unusual. In my role as a superintendent, I am amazed that divisions can last for decades over events that happened years ago. If we read the words of Paul, can we justify divisions in churches?

"...there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."

Healthy churches have concern for one another to rejoice together and suffer together. In the secular world this is referred to as "good team chemistry." As usual this kind of thinking is even more paramount in the church. Why not work together? Why not put aside divisions for the higher kingdom purposes? Why not rejoice and suffer together?

Day 320...(Micah 5,6; Jeremiah 14; 1 Corinthians 11)..."Do No Harm"

One of John Wesley's general rules is "do no harm." (the bishop has asked us to live the general rules this year) I wonder if some of the foundation for Wesley is not found in our text today. Paul teaches that if we lose sight of why we are the church we can actually do more harm than good.

"In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good."

What was the shortcoming? One was eating the Lord's Supper without thought of the reason. Can we imagine coming to church to eat but not remember the sacrifice of Christ? Apparently, this was a problem for Paul.

Ministers are given advice to eat a little before you go to a fellowship event so that you will not be judged a glutton. Paul seems to teach this truth when he writes...

"So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment."

Day 319...(Jeremiah 13; Micah 3,4; 1 Corinthians 10)..."Do All For the Glory of God"

How do we please God. We do all for His glory. Even all we eat or drink. What a wonderful test in pleasing God. Do our lives glorify God?

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved."

Day 318...(Jeremiah 12; Micah 1,2; 1 Corinthians 9)..."Two Great Passages"

"Do not muzzle an ox." Why... it will affect the harvest. Workers are to be treated well to be productive. Here is the passage...

"Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more?"

A second great passage says train to win. Do not waste your time with mediocre training. Here is the passage...

"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize..."

Day 317...(Jeremiah 11; Jonah 3,4; 1 Corinthians 8)..."On Second Thought"

Jonah is called by God a second time to go to Nineveh. On second thought, following his ordeal, he does...

"Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you." Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh."

Is our response to God not sometimes out of seeing the foolishness of not following God.

Paul teaches a profound word about the difference between love and 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."

What an inspiring word!

Day 316...(Jeremiah 10; Jonah 1,2; 1 Corinthians 7).."Jonah is Not Just a Big Fish Story!"

The Book Jonah sparks debate about whether a man being swallowed by a fish for three days is possible. And provides additional debate for those who want to discredit the Bible as a factual book. My opinion is that the truth of the Bible is constant and the stories provide the foundation of relating the truth. Certainly, God who created the world can do anything. What is the truth of Jonah.

1) Do not run from God. Run toward God.
2) Stay true to God's purposes, whenever you may not agree. (Jonah argued with God sparing
Nineveh)
3) God will provide

On that last point of God's provision counters a popular interpretation that Jonah almost died at sea because of his disobedience. True he did almost die (along with bringing danger to others) because of his running from God...yet God provided a big fish to save him and show mercy. Notice how the last verse in chapter one is stated...

"But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights."

God provided a safe for Jonah to think. He would re-evaluate his willingness to go to Nineveh! Jonah is far from being just a big fish story.

Day 315...(Jeremiah 9; Obadiah; 1 Corinthians 6)..."Obadiah"

The message from Isaiah 40 is "those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength" even as eagles! Obadiah gives the counter message. If you live filled with pride, you can expect to come crashing down. In fact the passage says you will not be "lifted up" but "crashing down." Here is the passage...

"The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, 'Who can bring me down to the ground?' Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down," declares the LORD."

Soar or dive? Do we wait upon the Lord or are we filled with pride? Different choices and different outcomes.

Day 314...(Jeremiah 8; Amos 9; I Corinthians 5)..."There is a Balm in Gilead"

Imagine a world with no balm for wounds, hurts, and pain. This is the spiritual condition Amos lays out for a fallen Israel. How hopeless this appears. Many in our world today choose to numb their pain by seeking to fill the emptiness, as if there is no balm. Economically strapped people buying cases of beer tell a story of looking for balm for inner pain. Even worse, drug addiction tells a sadder story. Amos asks...

"Is there no balm in Gilead?
Is there no physician there?
Why then is there no healing
for the wound of my people?"

The beautiful hymn tells a different story. There is a balm in Gilead. We can be set free of inner turmoil and the grace of God can heal our pain. There is a balm in Gilead!

Day 313...(Jeremiah 7; Amos 7,8; I Corinthians 4)..."A Plumb Line, Whip, and Gentle Spirit"

Amos uses a plumb line to illustrate the need to be perfectly aligned with God. As I understand the plumb line, once crooked always crooked...once straight always straight. When we get out of line with God, everything is off. Here is the plumb line passage...

"This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in his hand. And the LORD asked me, "What do you see, Amos?" "A plumb line," I replied. Then the Lord said, "Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer."

Paul speaks in terms of the "power of God" overcoming arrogant talk. He asks should I come with gentleness or a whip? Paul must have been tested by this group before to say such a thing. Here is the passage...

"Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?"

Day 312...(Jeremiah 6; Amos 5,6; I Corinthians 3)..."Two Great Passages"

In today's reading we have two great passages. Amos speaks the harsh prophetic message but he can speak eloquently as evidenced by..."But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!" This passage was quoted by Dr. Martin Luther King.

The second passage is from Paul and shares a practical understanding of the church. There is no need for competition for who gets credit in the church....God ultimately determines the growth!

"So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."

Healthy churches always know how growth comes...from the Lord!

Day 311...(Jeremiah 5; Amos 3,4; 1 Corinthians 2)..."Faith in God not Ability"

How often in ministry do we see Paul's word lived out? If we get wrapped up in our own abilities, surely this is a way to flop. God does give us gifts but these gifts are only effective and fruitful through the power of the Holy Spirit. Even the most gifted cannot be fruitful for the long haul without God.

Regarding our gifts...it would be better to have less gifts and be open to God's power of the Holy Spirit than to have more gifts and not be open to God's power. This is a message I have lived first hand. When I rely on God's power, my gifts seem adequate. When I rely on my gifts alone, I flounder. Here is the passage...

"When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."

Day 310...(Jeremiah 4; Amos 1,2; 1 Corinthians 1)..."Humankind Put in our Place"

One thing that crosses my mind with those who claim to be atheists or agnostic is in today's text. A skeptical person often states the inconsistencies of God, or inability to comprehend... as reasons not to believe. Is humankind trying to be as God not the root cause of all sin? If we could explain every inconsistency or comprehend all mystery would this not be out of bounds for God's boundaries of humankind? In listening to skeptics and arrogant non-believers, I cannot help but think of this passage...

"For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength."

Does humankind not expose foolishness and weakness in skepticism and comprehension?

Day 309...(Jeremiah 3; Joel 3; Romans 16)..."Paul Commended Women in Ministry"

There are popular notions that Paul was a chauvinist. I am of the opinion these are not biblical notions but cultural. Here we have evidence that Paul commended women for their role in the early church. We have to be careful with cultural issues that are different from today. This is the same Paul who said there is neither "male or female" but all one in Christ. Here is the passage of Paul's appreciation of women in ministry...

"I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me. Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you."

Day 308...(Jeremiah 2; Joel 1,2; Romans 15)..."Thinking of Others Offer Hope"

Paul continues to teach to think of the needs of others and offer hope. He says "bear with the failings of the weak." Paul stays on the message of hope. In reading through the Bible, this is one of the contributions...we are kept in the message of hope. I love Paul's words in saying...

"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

How do we deal with weakness and despair? We stay in the message of hope. We encourage the weak. God has been faithful in the past and He will be faithful in the future. Amen!

Day 307...(Hosea 13,14; Jeremiah 1; Romans 14)..."One Major and One Minor"

You may have noticed I worked eight days ahead in the last weeks. Today, after returning from a trip, I resume the blog. Paul is teaching it is better to respect a person's belief about what not to eat instead of being a stumbling block. We also know Paul has conviction on the major understandings of following Jesus. Paul...lays it on the line earlier with the major stuff saying..."whether we live or die we are in Christ." This is a great lesson. We can disagree on the minor stuff...especially if it causes another person grief and seek to agree on the majors. John Wesley said..."in non-essentials liberty, essentials unity, and all things charity." Wesley seems to be agreeing with Paul in advising not being a stumbling block. Here are the passages...

"Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean."

"If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord."