Back to Paul’s letter ... Today, he offers what most would consider an oxymoron.
2 Corinthians 8
1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia.
2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.
4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.
5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.
6 So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving.
7 Since you excel in so many ways - in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us - I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.
8 I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.
9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.
Give. Most people would think that if you had “many troubles” you wouldn’t have “abundant joy” or that if you were “very poor” you wouldn’t overflow “in rich generosity” or that no one would ever “beg” to “share” (let alone consider it a “privilege”). For most people, none of that makes any sense! I think the key is in verse 5 ... if we are to ever understand this concept of giving (of generosity), we must first give ourselves completely to Jesus. When we do, I think we will see that most of what we thought about this life was upside down to begin with. When we begin to understand who he was (verse 9), we can stop being like most people and start being more like him.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Forgiven
Every Wednesday, we review the previous weekend’s message. This past weekend, Jonathan referenced a story in Mark 2 to talk about the fact that God is greater than our past.
Mark 2
1 When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home.
2 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them,
3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat.
4 They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus.
5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”
6 But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves,
7 “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts?
9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’?
10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said,
11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”
Forgiven. We all have things that we want God to heal ... physically or relationally or emotionally or financially or vocationally; but none of them are as important, from God’s perspective, as our need to be healed spiritually ... our need to be forgiven. That is what is so powerful about this story. Jesus was demonstrating to this man (and us) his ability to take care of his eternal need (separation from God) by dealing his temporary need (being paralyzed). Is there something in your past that is paralyzing you? If so, I invite you to take a moment right now and confess it to God ... ask Him to forgive ... experience the healing you really need.
Mark 2
1 When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home.
2 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them,
3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat.
4 They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus.
5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”
6 But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves,
7 “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts?
9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’?
10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said,
11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”
Forgiven. We all have things that we want God to heal ... physically or relationally or emotionally or financially or vocationally; but none of them are as important, from God’s perspective, as our need to be healed spiritually ... our need to be forgiven. That is what is so powerful about this story. Jesus was demonstrating to this man (and us) his ability to take care of his eternal need (separation from God) by dealing his temporary need (being paralyzed). Is there something in your past that is paralyzing you? If so, I invite you to take a moment right now and confess it to God ... ask Him to forgive ... experience the healing you really need.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Holiness
In today’s passage, Paul offers a word of caution regarding yesterday’s call to be ambassadors.
2 Corinthians 6
14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?
15 What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?
16 And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.
18 And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
2 Corinthians 7
1 Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.
Holiness. Paul isn’t asking us to avoid people that don’t consider themselves Jesus followers. In yesterday’s passage, he encouraged the followers in Corinth to be ambassadors to those that weren’t followers. It would be pretty hard to be ambassadors to people you never interact with. Paul was more concerned about the influence those relationships would have on their spiritual journey. As Jesus followers, we are called to be different ... to live lives of truth and purity and graciousness and sincerity and generosity. The word Paul uses is holy which actually means ‘separate’ or ‘a cut above’. Remember, holiness isn’t an external competition. It is an internal revolution ... a desire to honor God, with every aspect of our lives, born out of an overwhelming sense of gratitude for His grace.
2 Corinthians 6
14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?
15 What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?
16 And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.
18 And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
2 Corinthians 7
1 Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.
Holiness. Paul isn’t asking us to avoid people that don’t consider themselves Jesus followers. In yesterday’s passage, he encouraged the followers in Corinth to be ambassadors to those that weren’t followers. It would be pretty hard to be ambassadors to people you never interact with. Paul was more concerned about the influence those relationships would have on their spiritual journey. As Jesus followers, we are called to be different ... to live lives of truth and purity and graciousness and sincerity and generosity. The word Paul uses is holy which actually means ‘separate’ or ‘a cut above’. Remember, holiness isn’t an external competition. It is an internal revolution ... a desire to honor God, with every aspect of our lives, born out of an overwhelming sense of gratitude for His grace.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Ambassadors
Last week, we began a journey through a letter written by one of the early church leaders (Paul) to a community of Jesus followers living in Corinth. We learned that we have a choice of turning away from God or learning to rely on God when we experience suffering, that we sometime need to confront someone we love that has dishonored God and then reaffirm them, that our lives should reflect Jesus’ life and that we should have an eternal perspective on life. Today, Paul reminds us that, in light of what Jesus has done for us, we have a huge privilege that is also a huge responsibility.
2 Corinthians 5
11 Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.
12 Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart.
13 If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit.
14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.
15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. 16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.
19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.
20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
2 Corinthians 6
1 As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.
2 For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.
Ambassadors. When I accepted the forgiveness that God offers through Jesus and became a Jesus follower, my responsibilities (verse 15), attitudes (verse 16) and purpose changed (verse 20) ... at least they were supposed to change. I would like to tell you I have been a perfect representative of Jesus ... I haven’t; but that doesn’t me I shouldn’t keep trying. As Jesus followers, we all need to be mindful that we are called to be ambassadors of Jesus when we are with our family, when we are with our friends, when we are at work, when we are at school ... wherever, whenever.
2 Corinthians 5
11 Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.
12 Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart.
13 If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit.
14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.
15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. 16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.
19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.
20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
2 Corinthians 6
1 As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.
2 For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.
Ambassadors. When I accepted the forgiveness that God offers through Jesus and became a Jesus follower, my responsibilities (verse 15), attitudes (verse 16) and purpose changed (verse 20) ... at least they were supposed to change. I would like to tell you I have been a perfect representative of Jesus ... I haven’t; but that doesn’t me I shouldn’t keep trying. As Jesus followers, we all need to be mindful that we are called to be ambassadors of Jesus when we are with our family, when we are with our friends, when we are at work, when we are at school ... wherever, whenever.
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