Today we are reading  2 Corinthians 6:14-18, and chapters 7, 8, 9, and 10. I’ll go bullet-style again today 🙂 What’s your highlight? 

Love how the Message translates 6:17 – “Make a clean break from everything that distracts you”. Amen! Yes!

“Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast” 2 Cor 7:6

“Nevertheless  God” in any situation is a great comfort. Try adding that to a description of your day, and now you are poised for a turnaround!

“And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; but now you also must complete the doing of it” 2 Cor 8:10-11

Begin AND complete. Let’s finish strong – good intentions are good, good follow-through is better!

“you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God” 2 Cor 9:11

You are enriched in everything, and for a reason: for freedom and generosity. Take a lesson and then apply it to life, so others can see Christ in you. What a beautiful way to begin and complete! 

All in one place today 🙂 Please read 2 Corinthians 2:5-17, 3, 4, 5 and 6:1-13. So much today, it’s so hard to pick out a few points. What stood out to you that I didn’t mention? Let’s share!

“Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:7-11 NKJV

Paul talks about LOVING and FORGIVING the offender “lest Satan should take advantage of us, for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2:11). Unforgiveness definitely gives your enemy a foothold. Paul tells us that unforgiveness is one of the devil’s devices, one of his strategies to weaken us and our testimony. We are being told where the trap is: now don’t fall into it! Let “the love of Christ compel us” (6:14), and forgive.

Love this verse: “we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God we’re pleading through us, we implore you: be reconciled to God” (5:20). Our ministry is reconciliation – we are called to it. We spent so much time in the Old Testament, reading time and time when God went to great lengths to bring His children back into His care. We read the Gospels, see the great lengths Jesus went to care for people and bring the outsiders in, finally giving His own life as the ultimate sacrifice to see all people restored back to the Father.

For us, the ask is “go and make disciples”, “love your neighbor as yourself”, “forgive”…. we are continuing the work that started in the garden of Eden at the moment of the first sin: man was separated from God, God took amazing and extraordinary action to reconcile man back to Him again. We don’t have to wonder what our ministry is: reconciliation! Love and forgiveness is a great start toward that end. 

Please read Romans 15, 16, 2 Corinthians 1, and 2 Corinthians 2:1-4. As he traveled, Paul’s goal was to lead people to the truth of Christ and to salvation. Do you notice that his message is always the same, but he addresses different issues based on his audience? What’s your highlight today?

In Romans 15:14, Paul says, 

“Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another”

There is an important distinction for us to make here, between admonishment and judgement. Here are a couple of very simple definitions:

admonish: correcting with true desire to see growth toward maturity in the Lord

judgement: only pointing out wrongs, without a desire to make things better

To use judgement is important and necessary. To be able to help each other grow is vital. We ought to grow to a place of maturity where we can not only receive admonishment in love and in a right spirit, but we should also be able to be competent to instruct and give admonishment in love. Paul was able to use judgement to discern where his audience was and what they needed – then admonished them in love and kindness. 

And then:

glory only in the Lord” 1 Cor 1:26-31

Always, point everything back to the Lord. Give Jesus all the glory!

Please read Romans 11, 12, 13, and 14 today.  What’s your highlight?

Romans 13:9-16 is long, but worth reading together again: 

To sum it up: behave like a Christian! Let’s not make things more complicated than they actually are! Do the right thing. Be kind to each other. Love people. Understand that God loves everyone.

 ^“So let’s agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don’t drag them down by finding fault.” Romans 14:19 MSG

PURSUE love and edification of others – God is taking care of us so we can take care of others. There’s no room for a “scarcity mentality” in the body of Christ. Since there is no limit to God’s love and provision, we don’t have to worry. We can care for others and be confident that God will take care of us. 

We are continuing in Rome today! Please read Romans 8:18-39, chapters 9 and 10. What are you thinking about today? 

 ^“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” Romans 8:15-17 NKJV

The spirit of adoption, must have been an especially precious concept for people who wanted to belong as a child or family member, rather than a slave. 

I love 8:18-21 in the Phillips translation (google it!). Reminds me back to Matthew 11:28-29 again – when we have hardship here, we can turn on eyes to Him and realize that these current trials are not to be compared with what the Lord has in our future.

8:37 – In Jesus, are more than conquerors ❤️ What a comfort in this troubled world. 

9:14-33 – this connection to Israel is familiar to us after we spent all this time in the Old Testament!

10 – as we know that all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved, we must do our utmost to proclaim His name to all!

Please read Romans 5, 6, 7, and 8:1-17 today. Come on back and share a highlight – God is so generous and kind to us, giving us His voice and His Word! What are you thinking about today? 

“For while we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” Romans 5:6

Such a comfort and encouragement that Jesus died for us while we were still ungodly. It is not about our performance, it is about God’s love. We do not have to earn God’s love or earn His favor with our actions.

I love the passage in 5:20-21, about grace abounding where sin abounds (not a permission to sin – but a promise of grace in our shortcomings).

”sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” Romans 6:14

We are not slaves to the law. Like we mentioned yesterday: in Rome at this time, there was almost an equal number of citizens and slaves – everyone either HAD a slave or WAS a slave. This was a subject that any of them could relate to easily.  Imagine the peace and relief that would have come when they realized that they could be slaves of Christ, the kindest and most loving Master we could imagine.

What are you a slave to today? Couple Paul’s words with Jesus’ encouragement to take on His yoke (Matthew 11:28-30) and find true freedom.

So, Paul is still in Corinth, but he writes a letter to the Romans in advance of his trip there.  Today, we are reading Romans 2, 3 and 4.  There’s so much here, and so little time in a short blog!  I’m hoping that you are finding your own highlights and digging in deeper than we are able to go together in these few words.  What stands out to you today? 

“there is no partiality with God” 2:11

“all have sinned and fall short” 3:23

“all under sin” 3:29

“Now it was not written for his [Abraham’s} sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead” 4:23-24

Jesus was delivered for our sins and we are justified through His resurrection.  If you have time, read these chapters in the Message translation as well, and notice the emphasis on ALL.  This wasn’t just for the Jew, this wasn’t just for Abraham or David, this was for EVERYONE who believed in Jesus.  I’ve had to skip the history lesson every day this year (that’s been tough for me!), but it’s important to note here: at this time, Rome’s population was estimated to be up to 40% slaves.  Imagine how healing this was, how desperately important this was for them to hear Paul says, “It’s not for a select few – its for all of us.  There’s no difference in people – all of us are valuable to God.” 

Jesus is so kind to us – we could earn His love or ever deserve it, but He offers it freely. Thank You Lord!

Please read 1 Corinthians 16, Acts 19:21-41, Acts 20:1-3, and Romans 1. I’ll just list a few of my circles and highlights this morning – what are yours?  Today’s reading causes me to look inward a little more today…. Am I a faithful witness to the Truth? Come on back after you have read the chapters, let’s visit.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel ^[c]of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” Romans 1:16 NKJV

Though Paul says “the Jew first”, we know the Gospel is for every person. The power of the gospel is without end, without edges, limitless.  Without apology or shame, Paul proclaimed this powerful Word.  If we truly believe that the end is death for those who don’t believe, how can we act any differently?  What holds us back from proclaiming this truth?

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen” Romans 1:2

I wonder: are His invisible attributes clearly seen in me?

Romans 1:18-32 demonstrates a downward spiral that begins when we ignore the truth. I know it sounds harsh, but we have to remember: God is a Father, and His concern is for our best. (Remember the difference between fathers and children, we read in 1 Corinthians 5:14-16 a few days ago?) Like we learned of God’s character in the Old Testament, God has not changed and He is not unkind.  God never acts without cause – the cause was our actions and the effect is our consequence, not God’s punishment. 

The reading might be light today, but the concepts are not.  Please read 1 Corinthians 14 and 15.  Got a highlight? I’d love to hear from you!  Come on back and let’s visit:

Chapter 14 might present a controversy to some, but don’t let it bring confusion to you. Tongues is a spiritual gift, but it is not a salvation issue. Don’t get “hung up” on tongues, okay?  (I wish I had time to address it, I think it’s so important –  however, I also think you make it to heaven without it). You have to believe in Jesus to get to heaven. Paul addresses that next:

“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” 1 Corinthians 15:1-3 NKJV

15:3 – “First of all” or could be translated as “most importantly” – Jesus died for our sins, was buried and rose again. If that part isn’t true, then Paul tells us that we have “believed in vain”.  Mercifully, it IS true!  Jesus has risen!

If you get hung up on an issue, get hung up on that one: salvation. 🙂 Hallelujah, Jesus is alive!

Please read 1 Corinthians 11:2-34, chapters 12 and 13.  Lots of familiar territory today – it’s good to be re-reminded of these truths.  What’s your highlight today?  

“Keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you” 1 Corinthians 11:2

There is a spirit in traditions, follow the principle of it. Sometimes we throw something out just because it’s “traditional” – but traditional isn’t always bad!  (A friend of mine says, “Let’s operate at the minimum with the discernment of a cow: chew the grass, spit out the sticks”)

“God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people!” 1 Corinthians 12:4-10 MSG

Do not be ignorant of spiritual gifts, either your own or the spiritual gifts of others. All come from the Lord, all are valid, and all are valuable. 12:12-19 – realize that there is no room for jealousy in the body of Christ.  Rejoice and operate in the diversity of gifts!  Your gift is necessary to the Body of Christ, one is not more important than another.

“love is the more excellent way” 1 Corinthians 12:31

Of course, the “love chapter”, 1 Corinthians 13…. Always, if you have a choice, choose love. (and of course, you ALWAYS have a choice!)