QT 27 Aug 10

2 Cor 10:7 (NIV) You are looking only on the surface of things. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as he.

NOTE: I think that too often we forget that, in some disputes, there are very godly individuals on both sides of the aisle. Now it is possible, that only one side is right. And logically, that must be the case where the positions are in contradiction. But in cases where the positions don't contradict, it is possible that both sides are correct, and that God allows for variation, such as in styles of worship. At the very least, the verse reminds us, that when others believers, who represent people with a strong love for the savior, we should not dismiss their views just be they disagree with ours. On the contrary, those contrarian views by godly people should cause us to seek the scriptures even more deeply. It is possible we are wrong, they really are wrong, there is some alternate reason, or the views are not as opposed as we might think. Finally, some things may be unknownable until the end of time, and we can agree to disagree because the point is not critical to salvation. I think the old earth, young earth argument can fall into this realm.

QT 19 Aug 10

2 Cor 8:1-9 (NIV) And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 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. 6 So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us — see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

NOTE: A number of principles for giving come out of this passage.

1. Giving is an act of grace (which differentiates it from something in or out of the law, ie, it can not be compared to tithing)
   
2. Circumstances (wealth or poverty) do not dictate giving
   
3. Giving is sacrificial
   
4. Giving is a personal decision. It is a privilege and not a command
   
5. Giving is between the giver and God (and no one else's business)
   
6. Giving is not commanded
   
7. 
   
   Giving is a measure of our love for others
   The church today is so hung up on tithing and the Ten Commandments, that we forget one of the most essential truths of the new covenant. We are not under the law but grace. Giving is done freely, voluntarily, and between God and the giver. It is a joy and not a burden.
   

QT 18 Aug 10

2 Cor 7:5 (NIV) For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn — conflicts on the outside, fears within.

NOTE: Paul had a very tough life. There were joys but quite often it was difficult. It was far from the health and wealth gospel that some would like to preach. Of course, people make a distinction between troubles that are the result of persecution and non-persecution. It is as if that those who suffer persecution have no rescue from their troubles, but those who face trials not caused by persecution have the promise of healthy bodies and fixed circumstances. So, the really godly, those who are often the victim of persecution are consigned to live lives of pain and suffering, and those who are not persecuted get the good life. How illogical. Why is it we believe such things. Don't we realize that the evil and pain in this world is the result of this world's rebellion to God that started in the garden. This world is not our home. We are aliens and sojourners in it. We are, as the song says, "just a passin through." And, "our treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue." Why is it we must have our reward here and now? Why is it that we cannot wait for our reward?

QT 16 Aug 10

2 Cor 7:5-16 (NIV) For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn — conflicts on the outside, fears within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.

8 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— 9 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. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12 So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. 13 By all this we are encouraged.

In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. 14 I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well. 15 And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling. 16 I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.

NOTE: Paul is extremely joyful because of the response of the church to a very harsh letter now lost. It hurts when your children, physical or spiritual, make poor choices. And there is no greater joy than seeing them repent and make correct choices. I pray that for my own children. That they would learn to seek God with all of their heart, and that they would learn that what this world offers is not worth the sweat it costs. But knowing God is worth every penny and then more.

Some people wonder how a good God can allow evil in the world. I would offer, how can a good God not allow evil. Evil is a reminder of our rebellion and the only hope that we might turn from our selfish course and pursue God, who created Eden, but has let us experience this life in order that we would repent of our rebellion and return to him. Evil is the proof that life is not the way that God intended, nor the way to a relationship with God that will completely fulfill a person. If God was to take away every evil action or result, what we would learn, what would we do? The one thing it would not do is cause us to seek Him. It didn't work in the garden, it won't work today.

QT 9 Aug 10

2 Cor 5:1-5 (NIV) Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.  

NOTE: Paul repeats, or at least reinforces, his previous argument about the immortality of the heavenly body. In fact, he says that our current mortal existence / body will be swallowed up by life. In other words, what we call life, is not really life, in the full definition of the word. And that makes sense, because in this 'life,' we groan, our bodies decay, we struggle against the flesh, and our 'life' fails. But real life will not fail. We will live forever without decay and groaning and sin and failure. Real life awaits us, this life is not the end or the reward. It is a reminder of our rebellion from God and our need to repent and turn to Him. Otherwise, it really has little to offer us.

QT 7 Aug 10

2 Cor 4:7-18 (NIV) But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

13 It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 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.

NOTE: The last three verses, 2 Cor 3:16-18, may be the most meaningful verses in the bible for me. They have helped me through many hard times of suffering, and just plain difficult times of life. In context, the glory referred to is the glory of the new covenant, the covenant of the Spirit that gives life and righteousness to those who believe. As Paul continues, he remarks that he carries the glorious gospel in a jar of clay, his body, a poor picture of the true glory. In fact, his earthly body is dying, and being attacked from every side. Death is at work in his flesh, although his spirit has life, and someday even, his flesh will be raised from the dead. So, he is not concerned about the difficult suffering he is undergoing, because it is worth it. In fact, it is not even worth comparing. We live for things which are unseen and eternal, not the temporary seen things of this world. Even the most beautiful are only a shadow of the things to come. Thank you Lord for saving me and giving me such a glorious future.

QT 6 Aug 10

2 Cor 3:6-11 (NIV) He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant- — not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

NOTE: The contrast between the two covenant cannot be any clearer. First, Paul calls himself a minister of a new covenant. Then he describes one as "of the letter" and the other as "of the Spirit." The latter "kills" but the former "gives life." And then, to make it more clear, he describes the "ministry that brought death" as one that "was engraved on stone." The phrase, engraved on stone, is a clear reference to the ten commandments. Even today, we in the new covenant seem to revere the ten commandments, yet Paul associates it with the ministry that kills, and that brought death. The old covenant did come with glory, which was obvious in its impact on Moses' face. Thought its glory was fading and impermanent. The new covenant of the Spirit is even more glorious because it brings righteousness.

The lesson to us is clear, why do we want to be under the law when a much more glorious covenant is available to us. The ten commandments is a nice set of rules, but the law of the Spirit is a better way to live life.

QT 4 Aug 10

2 Cor 3:1-3 (NIV) Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

NOTE: God provides the results, yet the people, Paul says, are result of Paul's ministry. Their lives, are known and ready by everybody. What is not clearly stated is the role of free will. Since, a person who chooses not to obey Paul's instruction is not an indictment against Paul, then accepting instruction is not an endorsement of Paul either. The fact that anything happens does indicate Paul labored with the people, that he was obedient to the task God gave him. The rejection or acceptance of the message is between the individual and God. That was Paul's point in 1 Corinthians 1. I think the point he is making here is not that his ministry is measured by the performance of the Corinthians, but that their lives are indication that others (including him) have labored among them. Individuals exercise free will and choose to believe; God gives the growth; and laborers toil in obedience to God. The commendation from God, "well done," will be the ultimate reward some day. But until that day comes, our spiritual offspring are an incomplete measure of our obedience (not our ministry -- in my opinion). Likewise, our children will exhibit characteristics of our teaching and influence, but ultimately as individuals with free will, standing before God, the choices they make in life are between them and God, and only, very poorly, a reflection of their parents. People, redeemed by God, can have terrible parents and become godly saints. Do we then say that they reflect their parents? Of course not, but yet we want to say the same thing when children of godly parents become godly saints. Yes, we have an influence -- "train a child in the way he should go, and in the end he will not depart" -- is a proverb incidentally, not a promise or guarantee. It does indicate that parents and spiritual leaders have influence, but the ultimate choices are still made by individuals, before God, and not because of someone else's effort. "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God (John 1:12-13)." The verse is very clear in regard to salvations decisions, why would it not be as clear in sanctification decisions.

QT 30 Jul 10

2 Cor 1:8-11 (NIV) We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

NOTE: Paul sees a need to explain how hard his life has been, to the point of despairing of life. He is telling the Corinthians, his children in Christ, that his life has not been easy either. And his hard times have taught him a lot as well, they have taught him of his need to rely on God and not on himself. Funny, that lesson seems to always involve hard times. Why is it that we can't learn to rely on God another way? It is so natural to rely on self, I suppose it is part of the curse -- we want to be self-sufficient. We don't want to depend on someone outside of our self. Father, forgive me for my independence and self-sufficiency. Open my eyes, I want to see you more clearly in my everyday life.

QT 29 Jul 2010

2 Cor 1:3-7 (NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 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. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6 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. 7 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.

NOTE: The verse says that God comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble. So, one of God's purpose in troubles is to create comforters of us. What does it mean to be a comforter? The comfort we want Is relief, but the best comfort is usually understanding, and emotional support. Troubles have purposes. Sometimes they are to draw us closer to God, or to learn to persevere, or to cleanse us from the love of the world, or to help us be comforters. And most times, it is all of those things. Is there a magic formula to avoid troubles? I wish, although I do suppose a certain lifestyle seems to make troubles less needed. A lifestyle characterized by thankfulness, contentment, a heart after God, a heart for people, an ability to wait, and a recognition of the pain in the world. Well, at least, that is what troubles have shown me thus far.