Month: October 2018

Re:Verse reading–2 Corinthians 1:1-11 (day seven)

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. -2 Corinthians 1:2

You may have noticed I will often close letters with the phrase “Grace & Peace” rather than “Sincerely”.  A couple of years ago I decided that I would make that habit based on the Pauline epistles. Paul always includes some type of formal salutary blessing that includes grace and peace toward the recipient (Rom. 1:7, 1 Cor. 1:3, 2 Cor. 1:2, Gal. 1:3, Eph. 1:2, Phil. 1:2, Col. 1:2, 1 Thess. 1:1, 2 Thess. 1:2, 1 Tim. 1:2, 2 Tim. 1:2, Titus 1:4, Philemon 1:3).

Since Paul always did it I thought I should too.  So, I now close letters with this formal Christian blessing over the recipient.  There is some scholarly speculation concerning what Paul meant by including those two words.  I take them to mean a full compilation of the work of God toward humanity found in Scripture.  Grace being the New Testament work of God in Christ through the Holy Spirit, and peace being similar to the Old Testament shalom.  In two words all of Scripture is prayed over you.

Grace & Peace

CJ

God is the god of comfort, not of ease. We learn as much from what Paul doesn’t write, as from what he does. He doesn’t say, “God has left me to my suffering.” Or asked, “Where is God in the middle of my suffering? Paul had already settled those concerns, at least by the time he wrote this letter.  He had learned to be content in all things, even win God didn’t whisk him away from suffering; he had learned to turn to God’s comfort, especially by leaning on God’s promises. That’s why God gives us promises after all, to help us see through the most trying and broken parts of our life; they comfort us. They remind us, God has something much greater in store.

This season, or the one around the bend, might not be easy, but while you’re asking God to remove your suffering, also ask him to remind you of his great promises (his comfort) even if he chooses not to.

Re:Verse reading–2 Corinthians 1:1-11 (day five) “you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:11

One of the lessons we have learned in our pastoral transition and succession is that if we will pray, God will hear us and help us. Something powerful and supernatural happened when the people of God prayed in unity and clarity for a pastor, a process, and provision. How many of us can praise God for hearing and answering those prayers?  What would that worship look like and sound like at FBCSA?  Grand and glorious.

We should continue the work and help of prayer for the ministry and mission of FBCSA by continuing to pray in unity and clarity for His Kingdom to grow (strength and numbers) in and thru our church. May the work of prayer and resulting worship continue!

Re:Verse reading–2 Corinthians 1:1-11 (day four)

Unfortunately, many of our decisions are made based on our own personal comfort.  Whether it is physical comfort, emotional comfort, or intellectual comfort, we seek what is perceived to be best for us.  We sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that God saved us, delivered us, or provided for us solely for our good because He loves us.  The end result is for our benefit.

Paul instructs the church in Corinth (as well as us today) that God brings comfort to us in time of need so we can offer hope to others when they face difficult times.  Even providing for an opportunity for them to intercede for us, gives them cause to give thanks to God.  The focus of God’s work in our lives is for the benefit of others.  God’s blessing in our lives is the result of the prayers of others.  Think God’s glory and the good for others…rather than our own personal comfort!

Re:Verse reading–2 Corinthians 1:1-11 (day three)

“If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation.”

The real wreckage that has resulted from the fall of man is not that suffering occurs.  It is that we have no idea what suffering means.  A well-known author and lecturer with an atheistic perspective sums up his understanding of humanity’s quest as avoidance of suffering.  What an impoverished legacy such a viewpoint would leave to us.  If there is nothing more at the base level of reality than the maintenance of ease for a little while, then we are nothing more than collections of decaying molecules.  But Paul—following the trail blazed by Jesus Christ—wakes us up to the knowledge that suffering itself testifies to a glory that was lost, and can be found again.

Re:Verse reading–2 Corinthians 1:1-11 (day two) 

who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. vs. 4

Later in the New Testament James will record that the trials we endure should produce patience. (James 1:2) Did you ever consider that your trials, or as Paul refers to them here, afflictions, actually prepare you to empathize with others? This is not out of character for the gospel at all when you consider Jesus who gave up so much to walk among us, feel our burdens, encounter temptation, resistance, and persecution. Jesus’ ability to say “I understand” is one of the most remarkable characteristics of our remarkable God. This is not lost on Paul. We cannot attain Christ’s perfection, but we are able to see how God worked in our afflictions and as such we are able to share and comfort.

Re:Verse reading–2 Corinthians 1:1-11 (day one)

“Indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in the God who raises the dead.‘–v 9

It is Who He is.  What He does.  We serve/love/trust/worship the God who raises the dead.

Jesus is the first/best example.  Crucified.  Dead.  Buried.  On the third day, God raised Him.

We will see it again when Christ comes.  God will raise all men to life.  Some to judgement.  Some to reward.  See John 5:28-29.  God at work again, doing what He does.

In 2 Corinthians 1, Paul gives his own testimony.  He remembers when he was so overwhelmed, so excessively burdened that his resolve “died”.  He despaired even of life.  Saw no hope.  No fight left.

But God delivered Paul from that moment.  Miraculously raised him to life, hope and renewed energy.

When things die (marriages, dreams, energy. . .)  no problem!  We serve a God who raises the dead.

Re:Verse passage – I Corinthians 15:3-20, 35-44, 50-57 (day seven)

Paul was the worst.  No Christian wanted to see him coming because he aimed to destroy you and had the full backing of the government to do so.

After Stephen is stoned to death Scripture continues:  Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.  And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. –Acts 8:1-2

Then the next chapter goes further:  Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. –Acts 9:1-2

That murderous heart continued until Paul met Jesus, when he met the resurrected Jesus his life flipped forever:  For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. –1 Corinthians 15:9

If there is any proof of the resurrection of Jesus Christ in the first century surely it was the transformation of Saul to Paul.  Many couldn’t believe that story of redemption, but Paul kept telling it.

 

Re:Verse passage – I Corinthians 15:3-20, 35-44, 50-57 (day five)

“According to the scriptures”. A phrase used twice (verse 3 and verse 4) in this week’s Re:Verse passage. Some versions will translate that, “just as the scripture said”, or, “exactly as scripture tells it”.  What a good word for us today. When the scripture teaches us about God it is truthful. When it describes Jesus and His work, it is accurate. When the Scriptures describe the life, power, struggles, and hope we have as believers it is reliable. When we read and meditate on the scriptures we find the truth: about God, Jesus, ourselves, life, eternity, and a thousand other things.

The scriptures help remove doubt and skepticism. They bring clarity and certainty. For thousands of years, the scriptures have been and done exactly what God has intended. Everything is and has been “according to the scriptures”.

Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Psalm 119