Savoring the Scripture

Living with Confidence Our confidence in Christ does not make us lazy, negligent, or careless, but on the contrary it awakens us, urges us on, and makes us active in living righteous lives and doing good. There is no self-confidence to compare with this.  Huldrych Zwingli Living with confidence means living in such a way that shows “my strength and my value come from God”[1]. Our confidence and trust in God leads to a Spirit-led confidence, not in what I can do or be, but what I can do or be because of Christ’s strength at work in me and for me. But is this the confidence I live with day in and day out? Or do the pressures from others, the number of tasks that fill my day, or others’ approval lead me to dwell too much on my inadequacies? Paul had an opportunity to be discouraged and give too much attention to the opinions of others. Some men had come into the church at Corinth, they had talked poorly about Paul and led some of the Corinthians against him. They had called into quest...

  The Aroma of My Life …a sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. 2 Cor. 2:14 It seems in my adult years that I have had a very strong sense of smell. When I’ve been pregnant, my sense of smell has been heightened even further, much to my dismay. There have been times during pregnancies when I have prayed that my sense of smell would be dulled. A couple of years ago, when I lost my sense of smell due to Covid, I honestly didn’t complain. I laughed to myself that my prayers had finally been answered. I don’t want to make light of the struggle that some face without a sense of smell, and I have since regained my ability to smell all things, but to illustrate the power of fragrances, whether good or bad. We’ve probably all been unfortunate victims of stepping into a room, only to be hit with an overpowering stink. We try not to breathe through our noses while we complete whatever task we have so as to leave the stinky room as quickly as possible. On the flip side, we know ...

Thankful to the One Who Leads Us Triumphantly But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:14 The history books are filled with great leaders and heroes. Names like Julius Caesar, Constantine, Napoleon, Winston Churchill, and many others. Men, and women too, who courageously led others, willingly sacrificing in order to obtain their dream, their vision, or their resolved purpose. These leaders come from all backgrounds, personalities, stature, and ethnicity. Their desires likewise can be as diverse as their appearances. And yet, despite their zeal, their accomplishments, like themselves, cannot endure forever. Their finite bodies die, and the accomplishment in their lifetime may be remembered, but it too will reach an end. But for the believer, our Lord and His triumph last forever, and He is always leading us in that triumph. This is a reason to be thankful.       Paul, after acknowledging changes to his plans (2 Cor. 1:15-16; 2:12-...

  He Opens and No One Will Shut  2 Corinthians 2:12-13 Instead of always counting on Him to creatively pave the way to our happiness, we need to humbly accept that God has the authority to say no to us without having to say yes somewhere else. Jeremiah Johnson Alexander Graham Bell famously said,“When one door closes, another one opens.” Many have often quoted this when facing discouragement over a failed opportunity or unmet desire. When  seeking direction about a path to pursue, people will use open and closed “doors” to guide them. A missed opportunity simply paves the way for a different direction, and to modern day people, a better one. The language of an “open door” is even found in the Scriptures; but in the Scripture, what does it mean to have an open door? Is it simply the opening of one opportunity and the closing of another?  In 2 Corinthians 2:12-13, Paul recounts to the Corinthians that he went to Troas, and upon arriving there “a door was opened for me ...

  Forgive, Comfort, and Reaffirm Your Love “…you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest somehow such a one be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Wherefore, I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.” 2 Corinthians 2:7-8 Recently, my youngest, when she gets in trouble, desperately says, “Do you still love me?” I quickly reassure her of my love, along with hugs and kisses, but it demonstrates the reassurance many of us need when we’ve wronged someone we love. We ask for forgiveness, and when comfort and an affirmation of love are given along with the granting of forgiveness, our hearts can truly rest. Joseph, the favorite son of his father Jacob, was severely wronged by his brothers. They hated him and sold him into slavery (Gen. 37:28). After many years and many trials, Joseph, now in the place of power over his brothers, does not exact revenge, but offers forgiveness. His forgiveness is not merely words, however, but by dealing kindly with them and providing for them and their li...

My Joy Comes from Your Being Joyful “Surely you all know that my joy comes from your being joyful.” 2 Corinthians 2:3 NLT One mark of true friendship and love is the ability for us to rejoice in and alongside the joy of another person. When something truly remarkable happens to a friend, can I rejoice with them when they are rejoicing? Can I share in their joy and add to their joy by rejoicing with them? When Paul wrote to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians, he wanted to express his heart of love for them. He had previously had to express some tough love for them because of their waywardness, yet he wanted them to know that while the letter he had written had been painful for them to read, and had caused him much affliction and anguish of heart to write, he had done so in order that they would know the love he had for them (2:4). He embraced the calling to be one who works for the joy of other believers (2 Cor. 1:24), and in light of that calling, his joy became intertwined with theirs. ...