November 11, 2021 — 2 Corinthians 5:11-21

“Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”  2 Cor. 5:11-21

We no longer need to deny death – or so Paul is trying to teach us – because Christ has died for us. As I write this devotion, I have completed two funerals and am preparing for another. It is heartwarming for me to work with families who understand what Paul was teaching – that we need not fear death because of Christ’s love for all people. Christ’s love is stronger than death. We are now free to live for the one who died and was raised for us, embodying in our lives God’s very justice and mercy.

This should give us a radically fresh perspective on life. We no longer need to view others from the standpoint of human frailty or failings — in the same way that we no longer view Jesus as just one more martyr for a righteous cause. In Christ, there is a new creation; think about that.

Let us Pray,

Lord Jesus, in you there is a new creation. You have redeemed the world – or are in the process of doing just that. Help me today to trust, not in the systems and safe-guards and worldly strongholds we have created for ourselves, but to trust only in you, knowing that in you, “…everything has become new!” Amen.

Pastor Dave

November 12, 2021 – suggested reading: 2 Corinthians 6:1-13

“Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love;by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.” 2 Cor. 6:2-10

The gospel of Jesus Christ is a word of grace that should constantly ring in our ears. The gospel day is a day of salvation, the means of grace and the means of salvation. And, as Paul writes, now is the proper time to accept these offers. None of us knows what tomorrow will bring – we have no idea what might happen to us, to our family, to our jobs, to our homes, or to our friends. We live in a time where everything could be gone in an instant. As such, today, right now, we can know grace – so how dare we neglect it or reject it.

As people of the Word of Jesus Christ we need to look upon ourselves as ministers of the gospel — as G-d’s servants we should act in everything according to that character. Paul, the greatest of the apostles strove to do just that – and he suffered a lot of afflictions, which taught him patience and good principles, and formed his temper and behavior. We all need the grace of G-d, to arm ourselves against temptations, so as to bear the good news upon our shoulders with patience. We are nothing without Christ – we are worthless without Grace – so we remember everyday that we possess all things in Christ.

Let us Pray,

Lord Jesus, through the Gospel message, we learn of your grace, which when rightfully received, and when rightfully lived gives even of the poorest of the poor hope – because Grace makes us rich in the Lord. Give me your Holy Spirit today, which makes all people rich no matter what the world thinks – rich now, and in the kingdom to come. Amen.

Pastor Dave

November 9, 2021 — 1 Corinthians 7:1 – 16

“Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is well for a man not to touch a woman.” But because of cases of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except perhaps by agreement for a set time, to devote yourselves to prayer, and then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. This I say by way of concession, not of command. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has a particular gift from God, one having one kind and another a different kind. To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain unmarried as I am. But if they are not practicing self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion.

To the married I give this command—not I but the Lord—that the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does separate, let her remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife. To the rest I say—I and not the Lord—that if any believer has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. And if any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy through her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so; in such a case the brother or sister is not bound. It is to peace that God has called you. Wife, for all you know, you might save your husband. Husband, for all you know, you might save your wife.” 1 Corinthians 7:1-16

“For the unbelieving husband is made holy through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy through her husband.” Divorce, at that time, was very common among both Jews and Gentiles — and it did not take a lot of lawyers nor a lot of money to make it happen. Marriage is a Divine institution; even if more and more people are getting married outside of the church. Marriage is intended to be for life, by G-d’s appointment, for better and for worse. But Paul then carries this another step — that since we are to live together, in marriage, for the betterment of all, we also should remain in marriage, and in turn all relationships, even with unbelievers. It should be the work and the study of those who are married to live for the other in the manner that we live for Christ. Should a Christian desert a husband or wife just because they do not believe? Paul says we are to stay, and work for the betterment of all, including our spouse or relative. In every marriage, in every relation and relationship, the Lord has called us to live in peace; and everything should be done to promote harmony, as far as truth and holiness will allow.

Let us Pray,

Lord Jesus, you call us into relationship with you, and into relationship with one another. I ask now that you strengthen all of my relationships through the presence of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Pastor Dave

November 10, 2021 — 1 Corinthians 7:17 – 40

“However that may be, let each of you lead the life that the Lord has assigned, to which God called you. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but obeying the commandments of God is everything. Let each of you remain in the condition in which you were called. Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. Even if you can gain your freedom, make use of your present condition now more than ever. For whoever was called in the Lord as a slave is a freed person belonging to the Lord, just as whoever was free when called is a slave of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of human masters. In whatever condition you were called, brothers and sisters, there remain with God. For the present form of this world is passing away. I want you to be free from anxieties.” 1 Corinthians 7:17-24, 32

In Greek thought there was a strong tendency to despise the body and the things of the body; and this tendency could result in a position where people might think: “The body is utterly unimportant; therefore we can do what we like with it and it makes no difference if we allow its appetites to have their fullest play.” But that tendency could also lead one to the opposite point of view — where someone might say: “The body is evil; therefore we must bring it into subjection; therefore we must completely obliterate, and if that is not possible, we must completely deny, all the instincts and desires which are natural to it.” It is that second way of looking at things with which Paul is dealing here.

The Corinthians, or at least some of them, had suggested that, if a man was going to be a Christian in the fullest sense of the term, he must put away all things physical (like relations with a woman) thus refusing to marry altogether. Paul’s answer is extremely practical. In effect he says, “Remember where you are living; remember that you are living in Corinth where you cannot even walk along the street without temptation rearing its head at you. Remember your own physical constitution and the healthy instincts which nature has given you. You will be far better to marry than to fall into sin.”

This may sound like a low view of marriage — or that Paul is advising marriage in order to avoid a worse fate. Actually he is honestly facing the facts and laying down a rule which is universally true. No one should attempt a way of life for which they are naturally unfitted; no one should set out on a pathway whereby they deliberately surround themselves with temptations. Paul knew very well that all people are not made the same. “Examine yourself,” he says, “and choose that way of life in which you can best live the Christian life, and don’t attempt an unnatural standard which is impossible and even wrong for you being such as you are.”

Let us Pray,

Lord Jesus, though we are 2000 years past the time of Paul and his churches, still

what was true for the Corinthians in the church is true for us in the church today. Give us your Spirit so we can endure temptation and sin. Amen.

Pastor Dave