Savoring the Scripture

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. ...

A Mother’s Longing “…in your faith you are standing firm.” 2 Corinthians 1:24 It is not surprising that 3 John 4 is so often quoted by Christian parents in their deep desire for their children, “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth” (NASB). This is the deep longing of my heart as a mother. I want my children to truly know Christ, to walk in His ways, to love His Word, and to be committed to His church. I desire to be able to say to them, “in your faith you are standing firm” (2 Corinthians. 1:24). Am I being a faithful steward of my role as a Christian mother? Are my actions reflecting this deep desire to see my dearly loved children walking in the truth?  As we head into this new year, it is wise to both look back and look forward. The new year offers us many possibilities to grow and change and also to continue to persevere in the things that God, by His grace, has enabled us to carry out faithfully. If one of my deepest longings is to see ...

The Wilderness Will Not Be the End of You As the saints are empowered to persevere through adversity, the genuineness of their profession is authenticated, and they are shown truly to belong to God. Greg Beale What comes to mind when you hear the word “wilderness”? Natural beauty? Solitude? Quiet? Untamed vastness? Rough terrain? What about when you think about a spiritual wilderness? I think of isolation, loneliness, feeling distant from the Lord, feeling dry and weary, unclear of what to do, lacking fervency for spiritual things, and looking all around seeing the wilderness stretching out in all directions. No end in sight. It’s a time of questioning. It’s a feeling of weakness. Perhaps even a time of doubt and deep discouragement. Thankfully, on the wilderness road, I am not alone; I am sealed by God and He has me on this path to establish and strengthen my faith. This is the truth Paul used to encourage the Corinthians. Paul reminds them of God’s faithful work in them. “Now He who ...