2 Corinthians 4:8 – 5:11

For the Apostle Paul the two most important questions in life are: Why and How? Why am I a Christian? How do I live as a Christian?

I am a Christian because I believe God the Father Almighty is the creator of heaven and earth. I believe He invites all people into an eternal relationship with Him and that relationship is made possible because Jesus Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

Paul quotes the beautiful Psalm 116 in affirming his motivation to serve God. It is so simple, “I believed in God.”

Paul believed God was working all things together for good. Paul believed God was working in him to give him both the desire and the ability to fulfill God’s will for his life. Paul believed “by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me has not been in vain.” Paul believed that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. (5:1)

Because Paul believed, he knew that nothing in his life was wasted. He knew that everything in his life was an opportunity for the world to see how he had faith in God. That is what Paul means when he says the world can Jesus in his mortal flesh.

Paul never denies the reality of the sufferings that are inherit to human life and especially to those who serve God. BUT, take a minute to contrast verses 8-10 in chapter 1, where Paul talks about the intensity of his suffering, with verses 8-10 in chapter 4, where Paul affirms how God used those experiences to reveal Jesus to the world.

How do I live as a Christian? The same way Paul did. Trusting that God is at work in me and in the world to establish His everlasting Kingdom. I live as a Christian by fixing my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. Jesus never lost sight of His goal and I never, ever, want to lose sight of Jesus.

What does today’s reading reveal to you about God?
What does it reveal to you about yourself?
Think about what God wants you to do or remember about this passage.

Does God want you to change anything in your life?

2 Corinthians 3:6-4:7

Today is Independence Day and our text for today is celebrating that we are free. All of us! Nothing between us and God. Isn’t God’s timing incredible!

The only model for leadership the people in Corinth knew was that of the pomp and circumstance of the Roman’s. Think about our President. The President never travels alone; he is surrounded by helpers; and everything around him is first class, quality, the best. Consider Paul. He often traveled alone. He bought his clothes at Good Will, did not stay in the best hotels and worked at manual labor to provide for his needs. The people of Corinthian church wanted their leaders to be more like the leaders in their cultural world.

Paul points out to the church that if they want to see glory they are looking in the wrong place. He uses the example of Moses and the people of Israel from Exodus 34 to make his point. While Moses was on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments (Old Testament; Old Covenant; law) the people turned from God to idolatry and made for themselves a golden calf to worship.

When Moses came down from the mountain he was outraged; but not nearly as much as God. God insisted that there must be accountability for their sin against Him. Moses returns up the mountain and in prayer intercedes for the people. God revealed His mercy to Moses and sent Moses back to the people. After being in the very presence of the glory of God, Moses’ face was shining like the sun. When the people saw Moses they were afraid. Just as when you turn on a light and the roaches run for cover, so the sinfulness of the people was revealed by the glory of God in Moses’ face. Moses put a veil over his face so the people would not turn away from him.

Paul is showing the church that as long as we try to earn our salvation, as long as we operate by performance based acceptance, it is as though we are covered by a veil preventing us from seeing the glory of God. The glory of God is Christ in you. Paul wants the church to know that living in the new way of the Holy Spirit; we have God’s glory within us and God’s glory outshines anything the world has ever known. Why would we want the pomp and circumstance of the world when,

“Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.” (2 Corinthians 3:16-18 The Message)

Today, on the 4^th of July we can celebrate that we are free. All of us! Nothing between us and God. WOW! Let the fireworks begin!!!!!

What does today’s reading reveal to you about God?
What does it reveal to you about yourself?
Think about what God wants you to do or remember about this passage.

Does God want you to change anything in your life?

2 Corinthians 2:1 – 3:5

A few weeks ago I spent quite a bit of money having the refrigerator in the parsonage repaired. A friend had recommended the service company I used. The repairman was friendly and efficient. However, we continued to have issues with the refrigerator and I called the company again. After inspecting the refrigerator the serviceman said WYSIWYG: What you see is what you get. He said the problem was not in the new component he installed, but with an older component that attached to it – which could be fixed for another couple of hundred dollars. He should have made that observation before the first repair. I thanked him for his time and showed him the door. We’ll make do with what we have.

The point of this story is the same one Paul is making in the first few verses of chapter three: the proof of the pudding is in the tasting. Letters of recommendation were a big deal in Paul’s era. But, Paul was saying he didn’t need letters of recommendation because WYSIWYG. The people of the church in Corinth were his recommendation.

So it is with our church. We can have great advertising and great signs and brochures proclaiming the good qualities and good programs of our church. But, what really matters is what other people see when they encounter the people of our church. We can sing all day about the wonderful love of Jesus, but if people do not see Jesus in us, our singing would be like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. (This might be a good time to re-read 1 Corinthians 13.)

What does today’s reading reveal to you about God?
What does it reveal to you about yourself?
Think about what God wants you to do or remember about this passage.

Does God want you to change anything in your life?