3 Corinthians 13

11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

Good wrap up line.  Be good to each other......love God.  That's really what it boils down to.  If we can just do that, we are headed in the right direction.

The overall feeling I get from this chapter is a little negative.  It seems like Paul has been ranting against the people and how they are living.  I supposed that's natural in the early church, for people to get a little off track dealing with the lack of wisdom and leadership.  That's probably why there's so much written about his humility and how hardship breeds growth.

hmmm..... what's our excuse?
whoa!  sorry, i didn't mean to go negative there.

tp

2 Corinthians 12

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

This is a great line.  Not only because of its meaning, but because it shows that God was speaking to Paul.  That's no small thing.  
But, what I want to write about today is the fact that God uses our inadequacies to glorify himself.  If you look through all the heroes of the bible (or at least most of them), they aren't the first-born....the strong....the mighty.  They are usually the weak, the least, the youngest, the forgotten, the misplaced.  God uses these broken people.  I often hear people say they are going to do ________ as soon as I get my life right.  That's completely the wrong viewpoint.  God uses our weakness.  He wants us to be weak so we will rely on him, and realize we would fail if he didn't show up.

Its such a counter-intuitive thought process. 
Its a tough one to live in everyday.

tp

2 Corinthians 11

30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 

This chapter puts in one place a list of many of the trials and tribulations Paul faced.  Its really crazy the torture he endured, but also demonstrates the fire he had in his heart to let people know about Jesus.  It was his sole focus at any human cost.  

Another view would be easy to take is that he is super human, but he knows the truth and would not take credit for his ability to endure or escape from those who tried to take him out.  He had complete faith in God his protector.

amazing and challenging way to live life.  

knut

2 Corinthians 10

17 But he who boasts is to boast in the Lord. 18 For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.

There is probably much more to get out of this chapter but I wasn't getting hit with much.  Humility is the theme I take out of this one.  Don't be bragging about your accomplishments.  First of they are worldly and they are temporary.  Secondly, even the skills you have to enable them came not from you but from God so be thankful not boastful.  Third, God is judging our hearts he's not impressed by our earthly metrics.

knut

2 Corinthians 9

10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 

To whom much is given.....much is expected.

Step it up!

tp

2 Corinthians 8

7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you[a]—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.,,,,,9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

I was struggling to think of what to write on this one.  I see a message about giving financially.  Do what you can, don't do to a level then stop.  Especially don't look around and see what others are giving and adjust based on matching their giving.  Jesus had everything and gave it to us, good thing he didn't compare to any other standard.

We have been tithing for quite some time and give to other stuff outside of church.   But we have ability to give more, how do we decide our limit?   We save for the future, but maybe we save too much for that reason?  We certainly spend enough on ourselves too.  God has richly blessed our family and I know yours as well.  The reflection is should my family be doing more?

knut

2 Corinthians 7

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— 

I saw practical teaching today for faith discussions but also really any relationship at work or home.  Giving constructive criticism is difficult.  To do it, you need to start with a good relationship built on trust.  Then when necessary you can be brutally honest with someone, it may sting initially both having to deliver it or receiving it but in the end it helps create awareness of an area for improvement and its up to the person receiving it to make changes.

As difficult as it is to give constructive criticism at work, it would be even more difficult when it comes to discussion on a persons behavior inconsistent with their faith.  Other than my kids, I'm not sure I have or could do it.  But it seems the bible is giving a model of how to hold each other accountable.

hmmm
knut

2 Corinthians 6

3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses;

I was stuck this morning by the first line in the chapter.  It seems to be to be a completely different level, when you are so in tune with your relationship with God, that you can move your attention to how you are affecting those around you.  Paul is acting in such a way that he is assured not to put questions in anyone's mind about what it means to follow God.  He doesn't complain about anything that is put in his path.  

I struggle enough with my own deal.  But to think about how it looks and the questions that may arise from that optic.....that's a completely different level.

short/quick today.

tp

2 Corinthians 5

16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. 

I didn't pull a ton from today's chapter.  But, I do like this verse.  I'm been trying hard, over the past year or so, to try to look at every situation through the lens of God....or from a larger perspective than my own.  Its crazy how different things look when you approach it that way.  It changes how I interact with everyone.  There's no need for self consciousness or self doubt.  Suddenly people needing help seem much more in urgent need.  Suddenly, the things that anger me don't seem to matter as much.  

that's my tidbit for a wet friday here in the D

tp

2 Corinthians 4

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us....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....12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

I read we are the temporary jar of clay, carrying Jesus inside of us.  Our bodies are a temporary holding place of this treasure.  Our bodies like clay jars won't last, but what is inside us is eternal. 

v10 also gives us purpose, not just to carry Jesus around hidden inside us but like we have been talking to be shared with others wherever our body goes.

knut  

2 Corinthians 3

16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

I like this.  But, I have to be honest.  Sometimes I don't feel like I'm still being transformed.  I still struggle.  What does that mean?

I do think this is an extension of the what we've been talking about for the last couple of chapters, in that if we have God....others should see it.  We shouldn't hide it.

tp

2 Corinthians 2

15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

I like how this is written.  I checked The Message translation, and I didn't like the tone as much.  This tells me that we have an obligation to have the "stink" of Christ on us where ever we go.  We need to have it.  So the people that are saved can smell it, and the people that aren't can as well.

We are ambassadors to Christ 
One of the phrases that our church uses a lot is, "the only Christ most people will ever see.....is you."

no pressure though, hahaha 

tp

2 Corinthians 1

9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God,who raises the dead.

I don't want to beg for difficult times, but as I read this I do recognize that it is in the tough times that I rely most on God.  When things go well and smooth over long periods I run the the risk of not talking to God as much and relying on myself.  I feel ashamed to type it, but it is the truth.

He gets me through ever storm and I am thankful, but then I seem to drift back to my normal ways.  I pray for His direction not just in tough times but all the time.

knut

1 Corinthians 1...again, not non-existent 17

10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,[a] in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

It sure didn't take long for humans to start mucking it up.  Even in the early days of the church there was in fighting and apparently conflict among leaders.  If we let denominational differences distract or within a single church differences in opinion become the focus, then we risk losing the opportunity to spread the message and good news we came together to share in the first place.  

Prayer together for God to share his will and direction is always a good way to try to discern and unite in my opinion.

Happy New Year brother--2018 hard to believe!  Hope your Christmas and New Year were filled with relaxation and family!  Our was, we spent last weekend in Waterloo with our gang and the previous week just hanging out in Grimes.  Back at it today.
knut