A Life Transformed

Gal. 1

The people in Galatia were astonished because of the transformation in Paul. They said, He who used to persecute us is not preaching the faith he once tried to destroy. And they glorified God because of Paul. Paul's salvation and corresponding changed life caused many people to glorify God. Would it be true of all Christians! Some some show no signs of change at all, or perhaps they are seeking to hide this change, and this not for awhile but for a lifetime. It makes one wonder if church attendance was substituted for a born again experience with Jesus. Once Jesus is in the life drastic changes must happen. 

Paul's testimony began with his startling encounter with God on the road to Damascus which left him blind for a time. After which he went to the desert and was taught by God for a 3 year time period. As Paul told it, But when He who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son to me, in order that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone. Paul knew from the start what he was to do. Could that be a reason believers are so invisible? Have they not found their purpose and calling? Things to consider, but it is definitely true that when Jesus comes into the life, changes must happen. A life transformed must look transformed!

Father,

Thank You for setting me apart to be Yours before I was born and before time began. Thank You for calling me by Your great grace and revealing Your Son to me. Help me to share Jesus with all those that You bring my way.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Awaken the Dawn

Ps 108:1-5

 My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being!

Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.

For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!

What wonderful words to begin a new day! David declared again that he was steadfastly God's. It wasn't a fact that he took for granted, but one that he renewed each day. Why? Did it strengthen his resolve when his life was in danger, when circumstances were overwhelming, or when he was losing hope? Yes, just saying the words makes the heart stronger and I am sure made his heart stronger! God is pleased by such a declaration. 

David engaged not only his mind, but he also made music. His entire being was engaged with and focused on the Lord rejoicing in a new day and worshiping God. His music, his heart, and his mind were praising from a heart of thanksgiving. He wanted to shout his praise to the nations, to all peoples everywhere. Having a God who showed steadfast love and faithfulness was deserving of such praise. His God did not demand children to be burned on an altar or women abused and raped on the doors of a temple. His God loved His chosen ones. He worked faithfully in their lives. His God must be exalted above all, and His glory must reign over the entire earth. David praised God with his whole being and that was the beginning of his day! And that should be the beginning of every one of my days as well!

Father,

I praise You this morning for Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness. Thank You for saving me, giving me Your Son as my Savior, for working in my life, and for Your great grace that allows me to be one with Jesus and to be pleasing to You. You are the only God my Savior through Jesus Christ my Lord. Thank You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Sufficiency

2 Cor. 12:1-10

Even though Paul had ample reasons to boast, he didn't. He boasted only of his weaknesses. Strange, who boasts of weakness? But was Paul always like that, or was there a history behind this attitude and behavior? As a safety net to keep him from the sin of boasting because of the great experiences that he had had with Jesus on the road to Damascus and in the desert, God gave him a thorn in his flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass him, to keep him from becoming conceited. I am sure Paul felt he could resist such boasting on his own, and consequently he pleaded with the Lord to take it away 3 separate times. But the Lord, who knows the end from the beginning and who has set all of our days before time began, knew better. He said to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  God's word to him was about grace and was grace to him. His grace was to be Paul's sufficiency. He wanted Paul to glory only in Him not in any works of his flesh. And Paul's response was, Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. No pouting or bemoaning the issue! He accepted it as from the God that he loved, and trusted God knowing that what He allowed was for Paul's best. 

Father,

These verses have always been so meaningful to me. Thank You for such a grace that it can meet every need that I might have. I am truly blessed. 

In His name,

Amen

Giving

2 Cor. 9

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. This sowing bountifully goes against our natural, fleshly thinking. Our flesh and the world adhere to the idea that the more you get the more you keep. Generosity is a rarity not the norm. But for the Christian it should be different. 

I know that there were years in our marriage when we were struggling financially. During those years it was so difficult for me to be generous. I felt that whatever we had, we should keep. How else would we survive? The flaw in my thinking was in not trusting God to provide. I was trying to do all the providing. Now, I know that I made those years much harder than they could have been. My grasping negated God's giving. 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. God was able to be my sufficiency if I had only let Him! Grace was there for me in great measure! 

You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will provide thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. Enriched not impoverished! Giving produces a thankful heart, a heart grateful to God for all that He has given to us. I am sure that God would have met the needs of the saints in distress without the gift from the Corinthians, but it would not have grown the heart of the Corinthians. It would not have given them overflowing grace and thankfulness. It would have left their faith impoverished instead of enriched. Paul wanted them to give because it was crucial for them, for their faith. 

We give because it is good for us not only because it is good for the receiver. What a thought! I am ever amazed at how Jesus has altered our thinking. Life as Jesus sees it is vastly different than what I think. I so need the mind of Christ! And Philippians says Have this mind among yourselves which is yours in Christ Jesus...Our mind can be His mind. He has transformed us by the renewing of our minds. He has gifted us with so much, but have we accepted and used those gifts?

Father,

Give me a generous heart. Transform my mind. Make me see life from Your point of view so that my heart of thankfulness will abound in praise.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The Macedonians

2 Cor. 8

In a severe test of affliction, the churches in Macedonia gave to the relief of the saints. It was a combination of their extreme poverty and their abundance of joy that overflowed in a wealth of generosity. How often does that happen? Rarely, but in this case it did! Sadly it should be the norm not the exception. Not only did they give out of their means but beyond their means considering it a favor to be allowed to participate in this gift.

What a phenomenal trust in God they must have had! They knew He would either meet their needs, or they were willing to be personally deprived to meet the needs of others. Certainly they had given themselves first to God and then to others by the will of the Lord. They did not give out of some sense of misplaced humanitarianism but by the will of the Lord. He had directed them to do so, and they obeyed. What an example for all believers!

Father,
I know that I have not always been generous. Forgive. Help me to be so now in all that I have, say, and do.
In Jesus name,
Amen

Our Aim

2 Cor. 5

The great truth is that if and when our physical body [our earthly home] is no more, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. What a hope! While we are still earth-living we groan for what is to come. We groan to be freed from the constant struggle with sin. We groan to be in His presence. We groan for our mortality to be transformed to immortality. God has prepared us for this very transformation by giving us His Spirit as our guarantee. The Spirit is our reassurance that God will do this, that what we believe is true and will come to pass. 

Consequently no matter the circumstances the believer can always be of good courage. While we are in the this physical body, we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith and not by sight, Certainly we would choose to be at home with the Lord. But whether we are at home here or away there, we make it our aim to please Him.  Pleasing God must be foremost in our thinking. It must be our focus, our perspective, and our method of operation. For the truth is that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ so that each of us may receive what is due for what we have done in the body on this earth.  

Father,

I want my aim to be to please You in all that I am and do. But I know that I can do nothing in and of myself that would please You so I ask that You work in my life, that You fill me with Your grace and strength,and that You help me please you. Your grace must be my sufficiency. I will put all I have into what You give me to do. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

Favorite Passages

2 Cor. 4

This chapter contains two of my favorite passages. These passages have ministered and still minister to my heart. The first one is:

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. [v. 7-10]

The reason believers face suffering and affliction differently is because of the treasure that we have within our own bodies. We know that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within us, whom we have from God. We are not our own, for we were bought with a price. The gospel in all of its fullness has taken root within our lives, and with it comes the indwelling Spirit of God. What a treasure is this! Such power lives within us, and is there for our constant access. It is there for us to show the great power of God that resides within His own people. Because of it, we are not crushed when afflicted. We are not in despair when perplexed. We are not forsaken when persecuted, nor our we destroyed when struck down. No matter how difficult the trial even if it takes our life. we have eternal life. Jesus has conquered death, and since we have Him as our Savior, we too conquer death, sin, and hell. Wow! Quite a treasure in our piddly jar of clay!

The second one is:
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. [v. 16-18]

Such hope is ours! It is there for the taking. Jesus died to provide us this hope and this eternal perspective. Even though we see our physical bodies wasting away with age, disease, or just plain use, we are growing stronger in our inner man. Our spirits are being nurtured by the Spirit of God Himself! We have His words to daily read. memorize and apply. Whatever we experience in this life, no matter how hard is, is but a light momentary affliction, that is in light of the eternal weight of glory. This eternal weight of Glory is our hope. It is what we long for and what our primary focus is to be. Once Jesus is in the life, all our desires and hopes are being transformed. Our outlook goes from the temporal to the eternal. We long to be with Him in heaven, to live with the One who saved us. Just like Jesus in Heb. 12:1-2. When he endured the humiliation and pain of the cross, He kept His eyes focused on the joy that was set before Him. That was His hope, and it must be our hope as well.

Father,
Grow me in Your love and strength. Help me nurture the Treasure You have placed within my  life. Build my spiritual vision so all that I see is the hope set before me. Thank You for Your words and the great power within them.
In Jesus name,
Amen

The Aroma

2 Cor. 2

We are the aroma of Christ to the world. What a heavy thought! Through us the world has the opportunity to smell the aroma that leads to life, or if rejected, the aroma that leads to death. The text asks the question, 'Who is sufficient for these things?' No one! This task cannot be done in our own strength. We are not sufficient! Our strength taints the aroma and does not offer the sweetness of Christ. But in and through Him, the aroma is sweet and inviting. We are a vessel to be used by God to channel Christ to those who have yet to meet Him inviting them to smell, taste, and eat wholeheartedly. We are a vessel to those who know Him sharing His sweetness in fellowship. Paul could say that he was not like others who merely peddled the word of God, but he was a man of sincerity commissioned by God, and in the sight of God he spoke in Christ. There is the key, to be in Christ in all that we do, to speak in His grace and strength so that His aroma will be wafted forth in all our words and actions. 

Father,

Help me to always be in Christ. Make my words spread the aroma of Christ to all those that I meet. I confess that so many times I have acted in my own strength, Forgive.

In His name,

Amen

Affliction and Suffering

2 Cor. 1:1-9

Paul blessed God, the Father of all mercies and comfort. Why? Because God transforms suffering and affliction into a positive thing. He comforts us in our affliction so that we in turn can comfort others, He makes us a vessel of comfort because of what we have experienced. Without the dark, do we appreciate and value the light? No, we need the suffering to see and experience the deliverance. 

If we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings then we share abundantly in His comfort. And His comfort far exceeds the suffering. During those dark times, our cries to God are intense. The positive and good times do not normally see this kind of desire, this intense need for God and His deliverance. For humans, it seems to take the negative to drive us to the source of our strength and comfort, to make us connect with God like we should everyday.

Paul himself was afflicted severely. He said that they were burdened beyond their strength to the point that they despaired of life. They felt that it was a sentence of death. But he realized it was to make them rely not on themselves but on God who raises from the dead, They relied on the ultimate power and strength of God, and it was on God that he set his hope. However, such hope does not negate prayer. We need to pray for one another in our afflictions that we would be strengthened and cry out and rely on God. Hope and pray!

Father,

Such a valuable lesson! Thank You for the comfort and the affliction. Thank You for being there always to meet my need, to strengthen me, and to comfort me.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Resurrection

I Cor, 15:1-28

How important is resurrection! And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are born again in this resurrection power. It is this same power that lives in us and moves us through our Christian walk. If Christ Himself had not been raised, then our faith would be futile. It would be predicated on a lie. Instead of being cleansed and forgiven our sin, we would be still be living in them. Instead of being heaven-bound, we would still be hell-bound. Instead of living eternally in heaven, we would be bound for an eternity without Christ. Then those who have already died would have no hope but only a continued perishing. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we of all people are to be most pitied. 

But in fact, Christ has been raised! In Adam because of his choice, all men following have been cursed with a the death that comes from sin. But in Christ this curse and the sin has been dealt with, and death has been defeated! Jesus will reign until all enemies are put under his feet. The last enemy is death.  And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. When all things are subjected to Jesus, then He will be subjected to the One who ordered all life. Resurrection power is alive and well! Jesus will come back and take me home to live with Him eternally in heaven. My faith is not built on a lie but on the truth! The living word of God!

Father,

Thank You for the provision of Jesus Christ. Thank You, Jesus, for all that You did for me at the cost of Your own life, but also at the glory of Your Resurrection.  Thank You.

In His name,

Amen

Orderly and Edifying

1 Cor. 14:26-40

The over-arching principles for the churches were that all things must be done decently and in order and for building up. It mattered not whether it is a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or a prophecy, it had to be done in an orderly manner and for the purpose of edifying. In regards to tongues, there had to be an interpreter. If there was not one then they had to be done between the person and God. The words spoken or the music sung had to bring learning or encouragement. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. This same principle applies to churches today. 

Then Paul proceeded to teach an issue that would bring heated controversy today, that is that women keep silent in church, be submissive, and learn from their husbands at home. The note in my Bible says that the immediate context refers to women judging prophecies. In 1 Cor. 11:5 and 13 women could pray and prophesy in church.So it seems that this is not a general far-reaching prohibition, But at the same time women should remember their position in the Lord. They are one with Christ, yet just as Christ is head of the church and men are subject to Him, women are subject to their husbands, Position doesn't denote inferiority just difference. But all things must be done decently and in order.

Father,

Help me to remember my position in you and not try to alter it to fit what the world thinks. Help me to keep You first in all that I do. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

Tongues vs. Prophesy

1 Cor. 14:1-25

Paul was teaching a valuable lesson for the early church, Many people were seeking to speak in tongues, but to what end? If someone spoke in tongues, no one understood, but if someone prophesied, then all were edified because all listening understood. Believers should strive to excel in building up the church. Even though Paul spoke frequently in tongues, he would rather speak 5 words with his mind so that others wold be instructed. Paul urged the believers not to be infants in their thinking, but to be mature, to choose what would be instructive and edifying for the church. Tongues were a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophesy was a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.

God used tongues to bring people into the early church, but not to be part of the established worship of the church. But the practice was hanging on. He explained that if an outsider or unbeliever visited the church and witnessed tongues, they would think the believers were out of their minds. But if they visited and heard prophecy, or the word of God, they would be convicted and called into account. The secrets of the heart would be disclosed, and so falling on their face, they would worship God. All this would declare that God was among them.  The same goes for us today. What should be in our churches should bring others to worship God. It should lead all to worship. Speaking with the mind and engaging the mind is essential. 

Father,

Help my life to be one that is full of worship and one that leads others to you as well. 

In Jesus name,

Amen