November 13, 2021 — 2 Corinthians 6:14 – 7:7

“Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. ² Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. ³ I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. ⁴ I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy. ⁵ For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. ⁶ But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, ⁷ and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.” 2 Cor. 7:1-7

There is a cleansing that only G-d can do in our lives, and that comes through the forgiveness of sins – the absolution as we call it. There is also a cleansing that G-d wants to do in cooperation with us – a cleansing that can only come from looking within. Here, Paul writes about a cleansing that isn’t just something G-d does for us as we sit passively; this is a self-cleansing for intimacy with G-d that goes beyond a general cleansing for sin. We can talk about this cleansing in three parts:

First, there is the cleansing that comes to us as we trust in Jesus and His work on our behalf. This work of cleansing is really God’s work in us and not our work – but comes in a relationship of trust. Let us seek to be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Second, in cooperation with the Holy Spirit, we allow our will to be bent to the will of G-d – this is not our work apart from G-d, but it is a work that awaits our will and effort. Let us seek to be cleansed through our service for G-d.

Third, again in cooperation with the Holy Spirit, we cleanse our hearts by living lives not indulging in all kinds of impurities and evil. Let us seek to value and do what is holy and right – which brings glory to G-d. 

Let us Pray,

Lord Christ, we can only look to you to be cleansed – cleansed through your word, your renewing spirit, and your love. Cleanse my life of my sin and bend my will towards yours. Amen

Pastor Dave

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