March 2, 2010
SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 1
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. [2 Corinthians 1:5]
This is a challenging letter for Paul to write; the church that he started was infiltrated by trouble-makers who were falsely accusing Paul of only wanting their money, of not caring about them.
They questioned his integrity and legitimacy as a missionary for Jesus.
In this opening chapter he gushes and he boasts: he talks about how much he’s suffered for Jesus, and how amazing His comfort has been, for him and for them.
The comfort of God our Father, through Jesus our Lord, overflows!
Freely you have received, freely give. [Matthew 10:8]
What are we to give freely, but the grace that we have freely received.
As God has been good and patient to us, loving us even though we can be hard to love, so also we need to be good and patient and loving.
Though Paul is being misrepresented and misunderstood, he still gushes with hope and love for the Corinthians – not so much confident in them but in the Lord who is in them!
God is our strength, our hope, through all our experiences and trials.
Even when we despair of life, we still have hope of Life!
Even when things do not go as we planned (like Paul’s change of plans, which made the Corinthians question his commitment to them), God’s promises remain YES, unchangeable, reliable!
This kind of confidence and strength which we have in Him, overflows through us to bless others.
For this reason Paul remains confident and strong, even though there are accusations and problems in Corinth, that the Lord is still in charge there, and He will vindicate Paul and prosper his ministry.
I want this kind of confidence, not to get stuck on the problems I see, but to take my stand on the power of God behind what I see.
Yes, Yes, Yes, in Christ everything is Yes and Amen!
This is the attitude and energy I want to take with me into today!
PRAYER:
Lord, Yes, Yes, Yes, in You its all Yes! Freely You have blessed me, may I boldly, confidently, graciously share this comfort with others.
God of all Comfort. What a reassurance! And the words of this passage ring true to my ears, ‘this happened that we might not rely upon ourselves, but on God!’
The question ‘Where did you see God this day’ is certainly much easier to answer today than it was before the Quake. His presence is ever near. His presence is everywhere. Since He has set His seal upon us, we are His and so in all we can do what needs to be done through His power. That needs to be my boast and my confidence this day as I work in His Kingdom
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.