“We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.” -2 Corinthians 6:3 I find it fascinating that Paul felt the need to share that his goal was to remove all stumbling blocks to faith in Christ. In other places, he speaks of the difficulties of following Christ. Here, we find him making the message as easy as possible to embrace. Following Jesus is a difficult path; faith in Jesus shouldn’t be. We run... Read more
“For we live by faith, not by sight.” -2 Corinthians 5:7 These eight words summarize Christianity. Christians live a life based on unseen realities that beyond normal human understanding. Jesus, heaven, angels, the Holy Spirit, Satan, demons, hell. None of these are typically seen by the eyes, but are each accepted as real and important. Many believe in a god of some kind or accept the supernatural; few truly live by faith. Faith not only accepts a God we can... Read more
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Paul was one person who could have given many excuses for... Read more
4 Such confidence we have through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Paul had achieved the highest level of education attainable in his culture. If anyone could boast of intellectual credentials in the early church, he... Read more
“For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.” Paul was not afraid to condemn sinful practices in the church. In fact, in 1 Corinthians he mentioned a Christian man who had been sleeping with his stepmother! His recommendation? Exclude the one who had committed this act until he repented. Fast forward to 2 Corinthians 2 and... Read more
God transforms us not simply so we may be different, but also so we can make a difference in the lives of others. Read more
7 For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me. In college, I spent a lot of time hanging out at a Christian bookstore called the Open Door. I couldn’t afford all of... Read more
“3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some... Read more
1 Corinthians 14 has been one of the most controversial chapters in the Bible. Denominations, colleges, and missionary organizations have split and been developed over the meaning of its words. Why? Because it discusses the often-divisive spiritual gifts of prophecy, speaking in tongues (or languages), and the interpretation of tongues. What is often misses in this heated debate is the final word on the issue. The last verse of the chapter concludes, “Everything should be done in a fitting and... Read more
There is nothing you could ever do to make God love you any more; there is nothing you could ever do to make God love you any less. You are loved by God. Read more
Holy Writ
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