Psalms: “We boast in God all day long; we will praise your name forever. Selah …All this has happened to us, but we have not forgotten you or betrayed your covenant. Our hearts have not turned back; our steps have not strayed from your path… If we had forgotten the name of our God and spread out our hands to a foreign god, wouldn’t God have found this out, since he knows the secrets of the heart? Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭44:8, 17-18, 20-22‬ ‭CSB)

The sons of Korah had experienced defeat before their enemies, yet in all the hardship and  shame they experienced in the aftermath of their defeat, they did not forsake the Lord God or break His covenant. They did not switch their allegiance, nor did they bow down to the gods and idols of their enemies. In fact, it was because of their faithfulness to God that their hardships increased. They could have taken the “easy” route and denounced God to receive reprieve from their conquerors, but they were not willing to be unfaithful to their promised Deliverer. Through it all they maintained faith and held out hope that God would be faithful to them.

Think of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. It was because of their faithfulness to God and their refusal to bow before the golden statue of Babylon that they were thrown into the fiery furnace. Think of Daniel. It was because of His faithfulness to seek his God three times a day that he was thrown to the ravenous lions. Paul actually quoted Psalm 44:22 in Romans 8:36 – but then followed that up by saying, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego’s trip into the furnace actually convinced the mighty Nebuchadnezzar to acknowledge and worship God. Daniel’s trip into the lion den led the Persian King Darius to proclaim that all of his empire was to tremble in fear before the Lord God. When we suffer for the sake of God and remain faithful to Him through it all, God will turn our frailty into His strength… He will turn our defeat into His overwhelming victory, and we get to share in and display His glory.

NT: “For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake. For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ. Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be displayed in our body. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’s sake, so that Jesus’s life may also be displayed in our mortal flesh.” (‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:5-11‬ ‭CSB)

If the god if this age is constantly blinding the minds of this world to the knowledge of Christ, how did the Corinthian believers come to see the light? When Paul came to Corinth, he did not tout his credentials, nor did he use his skills of debate to philosophize with the Corinthians on a mental level. He preached only the unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:1-2). Then the God of creation, Who by the power and authority of His word created light out of the darkness, pierced through the veil of the enemy to shine the light of the knowledge of Christ on the hearts of those who heard Paul’s words. As they believed the words of the gospel, God, by His Holy Spirit filled their dark, chaotic and empty lives with His glory.

It boggles the mind to think that God would deposit His immeasurable and uncontainable glory into frail, fractured and faulty humans – but He does. Why would He do something so incomprehensible as to risk His glory with weak and fragile men and women. Our frailty magnifies His unbreakable integrity. Our brokenness magnifies His wholeness. Our faults and failings magnify His perfect excellence. Filled with His glory, our life becomes a holy paradox that confounds and convinces the world. Though we are obviously frail, when afflicted we are not crushed. Though we are obviously weak, we are never in despair. Though we may have our legs knocked out from under us and subjected to immense pressure, we are never destroyed. Why? Because of the glory of God within us overcomes our imperfections to glorify the perfect God. Just like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, when we maintain our allegiance even in the face of death, the Lord walks with us and shines gloriously through us to confound our enemies and convince the world that the Lord is God. Therefore, we don’t promote our name and misrepresent who we are – we boast in our weaknesses that the Glory of God may be magnified above all.

Prayer: Lord, I know that my words do not have the power to save people – only Your gospel does. Promoting myself does not rescue blind people from darkness – only proclaiming Your glory does that. Help me, by Your Spirit, to always place my allegiance to You above anything else, even my own preservation – that in all things You would make me more than a conqueror, and through my weaknesses You would be glorified above all and to all. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

NT: “Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy, we do not give up. Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful things, not acting deceitfully or distorting the word of God, but commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience by an open display of the truth. But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:1-4‬ ‭CSB)

As a minister of the gospel, an ambassador for the kingdom of God and an apostle of Christ, Paul suffered through many challenges, setbacks, false accusations and physical attacks. Yet through it all, he did not give up. How was he able to endure so much and keep moving forward? Paul said it was partly because he had been shown mercy – but it was also because of the great ministry he had been afforded. What was that ministry? It was the ministry he described at the end of chapter 3 – a ministry that carried the power to actually transform lives. Paul was a minister of the gospel of Christ – a ministry that contained a message full of God’s saving power – a ministry that saw people transformed from sinners into saints time after time – a ministry that allowed the glory of God to be on full display through those who believed the message and placed faith in Christ. The privilege and rewards of the ministry were far greater than the challenges he faced, so he did not give up.

Paul’s ministry was not manufactured. He didn’t concoct his own message. His ministry was given to Him by the Lord Jesus Christ. His message was the unadulterated gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, which was the fulfillment of all the law and prophets. He had nothing to hide. Yet despite the openness by which he ministered – despite the countless numbers of transformed lives in his wake, there were still people who were effective at discrediting Paul by falsely accusing him of using deception and distorting the word of God. Beyond the people who were standing against him, Paul saw a greater enemy.

The mastermind behind all of the false accusations and efforts to discredit and deceive was the god if this age, the devil. The devil cannot afford to allow people to see the light of God’s glory – for it is light and light alone that has the power to drive out darkness. So in order to keep people from seeing the light, the god of this age does everything he can to blind people’s minds from seeing, understanding and believing the truth. The reason why people are so apt to believe a lie rather than the truth – the reason why people are more likely to believe the ridiculous instead of the rational – the reason why people so easily fall prey to conspiracy theories than documented facts is that the god of this age, the devil, the accuser of the brethren and the father of lies, is always blinding people’s minds to the truth that would set them free in order to enslave them in a web of deception.

Psalms: “You are my King, my God, who ordains victories for Jacob. Through you we drive back our foes; through your name we trample our enemies. For I do not trust in my bow, and my sword does not bring me victory. But you give us victory over our foes and let those who hate us be disgraced.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭44:4-7‬ ‭CSB)

While many psalms were written in celebration after a great victory, the sons of Korah wrote this psalm after a time of defeat. Paul even referenced this psalm when describing the persecution suffered by believers in Christ. There are forces in the world that are set to destroy people, especially the people whose lives shine forth the life transforming glory of God. In the midst of the present defeat and discouragement, the sons of Korah did not give up on God. Though their situation seemed dire – though it seemed that God had abandoned them, they still were able to stand up and say, “You are my King, my God, who ordains victories for Jacob – it is through You and You alone that we will be able to drive back these enemies that have temporarily driven us back. You will give us victory, and those who have disgraced us will in the end be disgraced by You.” Yes, there is a god of this age that seeks to blind the world to the light of life and cover all of God’s people under a thick blanket of confusion and deception. But there is a light that can pierce the thickest veil and drive back the darkest darkness: the light of God’s glory. Lord, let Your light shine!

Prayer: Lord, what a ministry You have given me: the ministry of reconciliation to God and man – the ministry of proclaiming the powerful, saving and transforming words of the gospel! Help me to not grow discouraged when I am met with trials and challenges. Help me to not give up, even when it seems the god of this age has the upper hand. Help me, through the mercy You show me, to continue proclaiming the unadulterated gospel of the kingdom and shining forth the penetrating light of God’s glory. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

NT: “We are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from gazing steadily until the end of the glory of what was being set aside, but their minds were hardened. For to this day, at the reading of the old covenant, the same veil remains; it is not lifted, because it is set aside only in Christ. Yet still today, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts, but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3:13-18‬ ‭CSB)

In Exodus 34:29-35, the story of Moses receiving the Law of the Lord is recorded. Moses spent 40 days and 40 nights on Mount Sinai in the presence of God, receiving the Lord’s commands. As a result of being in God’s presence, Moses’s face radiated with glory. His altered countenance frightened and distracted the Israelites and prevented them from hearing and fully understanding the words from the Lord – so Moses wore a veil on his face to hide the glory. After time, the glory that radiated from Moses’s face would fade – because it was not a glory that emanated from within, but an outward affect of being in God’s presence. Paul went on to explain that the fear and hardness of heart that prevented the Israelites from being able to experience the after-effects of God’s glory on Moses were preventing the Jews from fully seeing and understanding the glory of God that was revealed in scripture.

The Corinthian church of Paul’s day were not like Moses – nor were they like the Israelites. Neither are we, if we have been redeemed and declared righteous through faith in Christ. When Christ gave up His life and died on the cross, the veil that separated humanity from the presence of God was ripped in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:50-51). When we place our faith in Christ and are born again of the Spirit, we are made alive by the Spirit of God and the veil that hid the revelation and manifestation of God’s glory through His word is removed. As we abide in Christ, and His word abides in us, the presence of God is no longer a visitation, but a habitation. We don’t just have the after-effects of being with God on our faces, we have the glory of God by the Spirit emanating from us. Though the glory that shown from Moses’s face dissipated over time, as we remain in Christ, His glory in us increases from glory to glory as His Spirit transforms (transfigures, metamorphoses) us into the very likeness of the Lord. What a powerful truth! In Christ, we don’t have to stay where we are. We don’t have to be intimidated or confused by the word of God, but can grow to understand it deeper and deeper through the teaching of the Holy Spirit. We don’t have to remain stuck in our same sin patterns and hindered by our personality or our past, but can be set free from who we were or are right now to be gradually transformed to be just like Jesus. All that is required is saving faith in Jesus Christ and complete submission to the work of the Holy Spirit – then this powerful truth can become a reality.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You, that through You the veil that separated me from the fullness of God has been removed. Through faith in You, I am now alive by the very Spirit of God and have bold access to all of God’s heavenly blessings – including Godly wisdom, understanding and glory. Lord, as I remain in You, continue transforming me from glory to glory to be more and more like You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

NT: “Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some, letters of recommendation to you or from you? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are Christ’s letter, delivered by us, not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God — not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Such is the confidence we have through Christ before God. It is not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God. He has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3:1-6‬ ‭CSB)

One of the challenges that Paul faced in Corinth, and in other churches that he had planted and established, were encroaching outsiders peddling a different gospel than what Paul had preached. One group of outsiders were known as Judaizers. They taught that grace through faith in Christ alone was not enough to save you. They claimed that you also had to “become a Jew” and keep all the requirements laid out in the law. Apparently, these Judaizers were accredited and showed up with letters of commendation, and used those letters to sow doubt in Paul’s teachings and persuade people in the Corinthian church away from the gospel of grace that Paul preached. Paul had no accreditation or letters of commendation. What he had instead was a church full of transformed lives. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Paul gave a long such-were-some-of-you list. Before Paul came preaching the gospel of the kingdom, the people in the Corinthian church were anything but righteous, but had been transformed and made righteous by grace through faith in Christ.

The law that was being pushed by the Judaizers gave righteous requirements, but no ability to fully live according to those requirements. Because of that, time after time, the Jewish people fell away from the law and forsook God. In response, God often said that a time would come when He would give His people a new heart of flesh instead of a hardened heart of stone – and He would inscribe His law on their heart (instead of chiseled in hardened stone) so that they would be able to live their lives according to God’s word, will and ways. That promise was fulfilled through genuine repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. It is by grace through faith alone that we are able to fully live the lives God has called us to live. Our confidence before God and men doesn’t come through our ability to obey God’s laws through our own efforts. Our confidence comes through the grace God gives us as we place faith in His Son, which enables us to be righteous and live righteously. The transformed people in Corinth were evidence for the case. They were living, breathing, irrefutable epistles that stated and proved the veracity of the gospel of grace through faith in Christ.

That begs the question: what do our lives have to say about the gospel? It is one thing to say we are Christian and believe in Christ. It is another to live a life by grace that proves that everything in the gospel is true. Has your life been transformed? Are you a living epistle for Christ? What story is your life telling? Are you falling short in your efforts to do good, or are you abounding in grace through faith? Believing who Jesus is, is one thing. Placing your faith fully on Christ’s life, death and resurrection is another. If you consider yourself a believer, but have not experienced the life changing power of God’s grace, perhaps you haven’t fully repented and fully believed and staked your life on the gospel message. It’s not too late.

Prayer: Lord, my desire is to be a living epistle: a living, breathing, working testimony that proves that Your gospel of grace through faith is true. Help me to not place my confidence in my credentials or my abilities to do good, but instead to rest my life fully on Your grace that fills and empowers me as I fully place my faith on Christ’s life, death and resurrection. Continue Your transforming work in me, that I may be everliving evidence for the case. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

NT: “For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. Who is adequate for these things? For we do not market the word of God for profit like so many. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.” (‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭2:15-17‬ ‭CSB)

In the Roman Triumph parade, not only were there the victorious soldiers and the defeated enemy, there were also priests that were offering up incense in tribute to the victorious general. The aroma of the incense was a sweet smell to those who were being honored, but to the defeated enemy, it was the smell of impending death. Paul explained that the aroma in Christ’s triumph is the knowledge of God. We are the priests who are called to release the fragrance of Christ in the world through praise and the proclamation of the gospel. The Apostle Peter described our call in this way, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light ‭‭(1 Peter‬ ‭2:9‬).”

When we proclaim the gospel, we proclaim the praises of Christ by declaring how He was victorious over the kingdom of darkness, how He set us free from our debt and bondage to sin, and established us in His kingdom of light. When we release that knowledge of God and Christ, we are like the priests in the triumph parade diffusing the aroma of incense. The message of the gospel is a message of eternal consequence – it is a message of life and death. There is no middle ground of compromise in the gospel. You either believe and respond to the message and live, or you reject the message and suffer death. To those who believe and respond to the message of the gospel, we who have proclaimed the gospel carry a pleasant and life-giving fragrance. To those who reject the gospel and are offended by the absoluteness of its message, we who have proclaimed the gospel are a repulsive reminder of their hopeless and lifeless end.

Because of the life and death, no compromise nature of the gospel, some may be tempted to mask the notes of death in the message through slick marketing. In order to make the message more tolerable and acceptable to the masses, we may be tempted to filter out the parts that may offend those unwilling to devote their lives to the King. The gospel does not need our help and our marketing. It is the power of God for salvation to those who believe its full message. If we strip away the message, we strip away it’s power to fully save. Instead of trying to please everyone, we need to be faithful, humble and sincere communicators of the life and death message of the gospel for the sake of those who will believe its message and be fully saved from death to life and darkness to light. Let us be faithful communicators of the gospel that was given to us by God through Christ, and enjoy the privilege of being priests in Christ’s triumphal parade that proclaim the good news of His victory over darkness and His offer of life and light forevermore.

Prayer: Lord, what an honor You have given me – to be a part of Your royal priesthood, called to proclaim Your praises and the power of the gospel. Help me to be the pure and unadulterated fragrance of Christ to all people. Remind me, by Your Spirit, to not market the gospel and wrap it up in a socially acceptable package, but to sincerely preach the full and powerful message of God’s gospel that is realized through faith in Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

NT: “When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord opened a door for me, I had no rest in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus. Instead, I said good-bye to them and left for Macedonia. But thanks be to God, who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place.” (‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭2:12-14‬ ‭CSB)

Before the writing of 2 Corinthians, Paul sent Titus to Corinth with a strongly worded letter intended to bring firm correction to the floundering church. Paul then went to Troas to meet up with Titus to hear if the letter was received and had its desired effect. When Paul arrived in Troas and Titus was not there, Paul was not eased from the burden he carried for Corinth. If anything, it made him more concerned and uneasy – to the point that he left Troas, even though he had an open opportunity to minister there. In the midst of Paul’s concern and uneasiness, he was strengthened and encouraged by remembering that though it seemed like the kingdom of darkness was having its way, Paul was on the winning side.

When Paul spoke of Christ’s triumphal procession, he was alluding to the Roman Triumph. Whenever a Roman general was victorious in battle, he was awarded with a victory parade through the streets of Rome. The general would be magnificently lifted up on a golden chariot with his sons walking in honor behind him. In the parade would be a display of the spoils of war, along with the humiliated and defeated enemies. The parade would end at the circus, where the Roman citizens would watch as the prisoners of war were thrown before the gladiators and wild beasts as spectacles. In that illustration, Christ is the victorious general-king, and we as His disciples following behind Him, sharing in His victory.

As encouraging as that image is, we must not confuse Christ’s triumph with “Christian Triumphalism.” Triumphalism, by definition, is a smug and boastful sense of victory and superiority over another. Christian Triumphalism is the belief, that because we are in Christ, we can force our will in every situation and demand that circumstances always go our way… because Christ is victorious, it is our privilege and responsibility to force and enforce the rule and reign of His kingdom on everyone else.

The triumph of Christ is not triumphalism. Christ, in His first coming, did not ride into town on a golden chariot – He came to earth as a helpless babe and rode into Jerusalem on the back of a lowly donkey. He did not force His rulership over a people or a political system – He overcame the power of the devil and set us free from our slavery to sin. He did not enforce His will on His circumstances, but obeyed His Father’s will even to torture and death. Christ’s triumph came by being nailed to the cross – and as He allowed Himself to be humiliated for our sakes, the powers of darkness were ultimately humiliated, disarmed, rendered powerless and made into a public spectacle (Colossians 2:14-15). When we are led by God to follow Christ in His triumph, He will not lead us in triumphalism, but will lead us through faith and humility into triumph over sin, the flesh, and the devil as we submit to and identify with His word, will and ways. When we fully follow Christ as His disciples and submit to His word, will and ways, we share in the spiritual victory that He was won, and our lives become displays of His glory and diffusers of His character and fragrance. As we share in Christ’s victory, we can be confident, that even though things may not always go our way, everything will eventually work together for our good – everywhere we go.

Psalms: “Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭42:11‬ ‭CSB)

The Sons of Korah who wrote this psalm, at one time, had the honor and privilege of leading the people of Israel in worshipful procession to the temple. At the writing of this psalm, they had been exiled away from Jerusalem and could no longer participate in those processions of praise and worship. They were desperate for the opportunity to worship before God’s presence once again. The situation they found themselves in caused them to be depressed and deeply troubled. They were dejected and in turmoil. It seemed like God had forgotten them and that their enemies had won. But in the midst of their distress and sadness, they remembered God. They remembered His faithfulness. They remembered His promises. And in light of Who God was, they said to their depressed selves, “Why are you so dejected and in despair? Why are you so troubled and restless in your soul? Put your hope in God – for He is your victorious Savior.” The sons of Korah were not triumphalists. They were hopefully triumphant in the Lord their God. When we are in Christ by faith, we have been redeemed by God and transferred into His victorious kingdom. Though circumstances change and sometimes it may seem that the enemies of our soul have the upper hand; in Christ, God is for us. And if God is for us, who can be against us. When we are in Christ, nothing – not even death itself – can separate us from God’s love. So don’t be dejected and troubled. Hope in God and follow Christ into everlasting triumph, as you allow yourself to be a display of His glory and a diffuser of His grace and love everywhere you go.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that as I remain in You through faith and obedience, I can be assured that I am always on the winning side. Though circumstances may seem discouraging, I can be confident that You are willing and able to make all things eventually work out for good as I remain committed to Your purposes. Help me by Your grace, to follow You and walk in Your ways, and allow my life to display Your glory and diffuse Your gracious and holy character in every place and every situation. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

NT: “For I wrote to you with many tears out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart — not to cause you pain, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you. If anyone has caused pain, he has caused pain not so much to me but to some degree — not to exaggerate — to all of you. This punishment by the majority is sufficient for that person. As a result, you should instead forgive and comfort him. Otherwise, he may be overwhelmed by excessive grief. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. I wrote for this purpose: to test your character to see if you are obedient in everything. Anyone you forgive, I do too. For what I have forgiven — if I have forgiven anything — it is for your benefit in the presence of Christ, so that we may not be taken advantage of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.” (‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭2:4-11‬ ‭CSB)

Apparently, based on Paul’s writings in this letter, someone in the Corinthian church rebelled against Paul’s authority and teachings, and led an insurrection. That necessitated a painful visit by Paul, followed by a pointed and difficult letter. Paul had to address the issue in the Corinthian church firmly, not because of anger or personal offense, but because Paul loved the church and the people in the church. The rebellion had to be challenged and stopped so that the church would not suffer lasting harm. Paul brought swift and clear discipline, not out of anger, but out of abundant love. Disciple that is born out of love is always painful. Though it may be painful to the receiver, it is much more painful for the loving administrator.

After Paul’s disciplinary visit and strongly worded letter, the majority in the church put an end to the rebellion and disciplined the primary offender. From what we can tell, the man who led the insurrection, after being disciplined, humbled himself and repented. Part of Paul’s reason for writing the letter of 2 Corinthians was to tell the church to forgive the man. Discipline is administered, not as a reaction of anger and hurt, but as a means to encourage repentance and bring about change. Once repentance has occurred, forgiveness and restoration must follow. If discipline continues unabated after repentance has occurred, then an opportunity is opened for Satan, our adversary and accuser, to wreak more havoc than the initial wrong created. When we maintain a hardened heart toward an offender and do not offer forgiveness, bitterness is allowed to fester, and Satan will take advantage of that bitterness to sow division unto destruction. Discipline is a necessary thing – but it must be delivered in love, followed up by forgiveness and restoration after the desired affect of the discipline has occurred.

Proverbs: “The one who will not use the rod hates his son, but the one who loves him disciplines him diligently.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13:24‬ ‭CSB)

There are some who believe that withholding discipline is showing love and acceptance. The opposite is actually true. Withholding discipline is actually demonstrating that you do not love and care for someone. The rod mentioned here is most likely referring to a shepherd’s rod. If a sheep was going in the wrong direction or headed toward someplace dangerous, the shepherd would use the rod to bring correction to the wayward sheep’s path – pointing it in the right direction and keeping it from danger. A shepherd that did not use his rod did not care for his sheep. If his sheep fell off a cliff to their death or got trapped in a snare – it was no matter for him. Parents who do not bring correction to their children are the same way. Discipline is not something meted out in anger and harshness – but in love, commitment and devotion. A parent who truly loves their children will discipline them when needed, to steer them away from danger and keep them headed in the right direction.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that You love me enough to to discipline me when it is needed. Help me to receive Your discipline and repent willingly. In areas where I have authority, help me to not shirk the responsibility of bringing correction, but to bring discipline in a measured and loving way – always ready to forgive when repentance has come. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

NT: “As God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes and no.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you — Silvanus, Timothy, and I — did not become “Yes and no.” On the contrary, in him it is always “Yes.” For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God. Now it is God who strengthens us together with you in Christ, and who has anointed us. He has also put his seal on us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.” (‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:18-22‬ ‭CSB)

During His sermon on the mount, Jesus taught to say what you mean and mean what you say – simply let your yes be yes and your no be no (Matthew 5:37). Paul had desired to visit the Corinthian church, but had to change his plans. Because of his change of plans, some in the Corinthian church accused Paul of being double-minded – of saying one thing, but intending another – of not truly seeking the leading of the Lord, but seeking his own convenience and comfort. If Paul was not completely straightforward in communicating his plans, how could they fully trust the things that he had taught them about the Lord?

In His defense, Paul explained that he made his plans with all sincerity and had a clear conscience. The fact that he had to change his plans was not a reflection on his trustworthiness. When Paul, Timothy and Silvanus (Silas) were in Corinth, they didn’t say one thing and do another… they weren’t misleading in their teachings about Christ… they didn’t proclaim things about the Lord that were not true. More important than Paul’s trustworthiness was Christ’s trustworthiness. Christ claimed to be the fulfillment of all the law and prophets. All the promises of God throughout all of scripture were fulfilled through Him. That was the Christ that Paul proclaimed, and Paul’s proclamation was not false nor misleading.

Through faith in Christ, every one of God’s promises is “Yes” to us. The promise of redemption: “Yes.” The promise of salvation: “Yes.” The promise of righteousness: “Yes.” The promise of a new heart after God: “Yes.” The promise of blessing: “Yes.” The promise of grace: “Yes.” The promise of eternal life: “Yes.” I could keep going, but I think you get the picture. Because those promises are fulfilled through Christ and not our efforts, we can say “Amen” (I believe, let it happen according to Your word) to everything God says “Yes” to. And if that wasn’t enough, God has placed His seal – His signet stamp – on us and given us a down payment of His fulfilled promises through the gift of the Holy Spirit. We don’t have to wonder if God is going to be true to His word – we can know. As we are in Christ by faith, God will be faithful to all His word to us – 100% guaranteed.

Psalms: “But you, Lord, be gracious to me and raise me up; then I will repay them. By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy does not shout in triumph over me. You supported me because of my integrity and set me in your presence forever. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and amen.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭41:10-13‬ ‭CSB)

David had apparently committed a sin that had brought about the Lord’s discipline in His life. Through that discipline, David had confessed His sin, repented and restored His relationship with God. However, there were people who spoke maliciously and deceitfully about him – telling people to not follow David for he had fallen out of God’s favor – that God was going to ruin him. Even one of his closest friends was speaking against him. It can be easy in a situation like that to begin doubting your faith in the Lord. The Devil, the enemy of our soul, does that all the time: when we are going through a challenging time, he will accuse God to us. He will tell us that God has abandoned us – that we can’t trust in God to deliver us – that we are beyond help. David did not allow the words of his enemies to move him away from faith into doubt and neither should we. David knew that the Lord would be gracious to him and raise him up. David knew – because he maintained his integrity before God – that God would not abandon him. He knew that his enemies would not get the upper hand – so instead of doubting the Lord, David praised the Lord and declared, “Amen and amen!” In Christ, all of the promises of God are “Yes” and we can, along with David, say, “Amen and amen.”

Prayer: Lord, I thank You that I never have to worry about the integrity of Your word and the surety of Your promises. I thank you that as I am in Christ by faith, all of your promises to me are “Yes.” And because of that, I can say, “Amen!” Help me, by Your grace, to have that same level of integrity: that I say what I mean and I mean what I say – that my yes is yes and my no is no, even to my own hurt. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Psalms: “Happy is one who is considerate of the poor; the Lord will save him in a day of adversity. The Lord will keep him and preserve him; he will be blessed in the land. You will not give him over to the desire of his enemies. The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed; you will heal him on the bed where he lies.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭41:1-3‬ ‭CSB)

Psalm 41 is a lament psalm that David wrote about a time when he suffered from people speaking maliciously of him and even betraying him. He was in a helpless situation, where he could not help himself and needed God to move on his behalf. Therefore, to begin this psalm, David wrote about how important is was (and still is) to consider the poor. The word for poor in Hebrew did not refer strictly to the financially poor. The word actually referred to anyone who was weak, powerless and in a lowly state. The Hebrew word for considerate means pay attention to, understand, and cause to prosper. David said that if you consider the poor instead of ignoring them and writing them off, you will place yourself in a position to receive utmost blessing from the Lord.

What blessing can you expect by paying attention to, understanding and giving aid to the weak, powerless and downtrodden? David said the Lord will deliver you when you encounter times of trouble… when you are weak and powerless. Similar to the law of forgiveness – if you do not forgive others, the Lord will not forgive you – is the promise surrounding care for the poor. If you do not care for the weak and vulnerable around you, you should not expect the Lord to show the same mercy and grace to you – but if you do care for the weak and vulnerable, the Lord will care for you when you are overwhelmed by your circumstances. When you consider the poor, the Lord will sustain you, preserve you, protect you, strengthen you and heal you.

How many times do we… do I overlook those who are weak and vulnerable, ignore those who are distressed and downtrodden, brush off those who are poor and powerless? The Lord’s heart is bent toward those who are helpless and vulnerable. When I was helplessly bound to sin and powerless to set myself free, the Lord considered my lowly estate and rescued me. Should I not also be willing to do the same for others. And by doing that, we please God and place ourselves in a position to receive utmost blessing from the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, I know through Your word, that Your heart is always bent toward the weak, powerless and vulnerable. You call us to care for the widow, the orphan, the foreigners and the poor. It is my human nature to ignore those who are in need. But You do not call me to live according to human nature, but according to the divine nature that is in me by the Holy Spirit through faith. Fill my heart with Your compassion for the poor, that I may be Your hands and feet to those who are in need. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

NT: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that as you share in the sufferings, so you will also share in the comfort.” (‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:3-7‬ ‭CSB)

Paul’s previous letter to the Corinthian church, written to address some problems in the church, was not as effective as Paul had hoped. As things grew worse, Paul had to make a “painful visit” to Corinth to confront the troublemakers, and then send a follow-up “severe  letter” through his associate Titus. After Paul’s confrontational visit and strongly worded letter, the primary issues in Corinth were resolved. It was after Paul received the good report that 2 Corinthians was written. The entire ordeal had brought much discomfort, frustration and suffering to both Paul and the faithful brethren in the Corinthian church. It is no wonder then, that Paul used this letter to bring comfort and encouragement to his dearly beloved family.

Paul referred to God the Father as the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. God is the originator and source of compassion. He is also the God of all (not just some) comfort. The Greek word for comfort is the same word used to describe the Holy Spirit: paraklesis. That word means to come along side to give help, refreshment, encouragement and consolation. It isn’t a sympathetic and pitying comfort. It is a strengthening and encouraging kind of comfort. Paul also mentions two different types of hardship: affliction and suffering. Affliction comes from the Greek word thlipsis, which means pressure, burden, oppression, tribulation or distress. Afflictions are hardships and challenges that come from living in a fallen and sinful world. Suffering comes from the Greek word pathema, which describes the suffering and persecution that Christ endured – and that all believers in Christ endure to some degree for their faith in Christ. Through our faith in Christ Jesus, the God of all comfort becomes our Father – and He will comfort us in the midst of affliction. Because we have experienced both earthly affliction and the comfort of God, we then can offer comfort (encouragement, strength and help) to others who go through affliction. Because we are in Christ, the sufferings that Christ endured will flow to us. To some degree, we will experience sufferings for righteousness sake. But, we can also be assured that the same comfort that Christ received – that enabled Him to endure all, will also be received by us and enable us to endure all as well.

Psalms: “Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; let those who love your salvation continually say, “The Lord is great!” I am oppressed and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my helper and my deliverer; my God, do not delay.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭40:16-17‬ ‭CSB)

David began this psalm describing how God came along side him, pulled him up out of a horrible pit, and set him on a strong and stable foundation. David finished this psalm declaring that all who seek the Lord can experience the same comforting presence and liberating salvation. Though there are times when we are oppressed and needy, our God, the Father of mercy and the God of all comfort will help us and deliver us. Therefore all who seek the Lord will be able to rejoice and be glad in Him.

Prayer: Lord, even though living in this world is full of affliction, and following You brings it’s own share of suffering; it is comforting to know that through all of it, You will not abandon me, but will come along side me to help, encourage, strengthen and empower me to endure. Then my experience enables me to do the same for others. When affliction and suffering comes, help me to not isolate myself and play the victim, but instead look for and accept Your comfort, and count the process joy for what it produces in and through me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.