Day 50: Aim for Perfection

2 Corinthians 13; Galatians 1, 2

Paul was an amazing man of God.  In his various letters to the churches of his time, he guides, teaches, rebukes and corrects.  In reading 2 Corinthians and then the beginning of Galatians, it’s apparent of his fervor for Christ.  He explains in his 2nd letter to the church of Corinth that we as men are weak but it is through that very weakness that makes us stronger in Him.

⁴For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you. 2 Corinthians 13:4

But don’t be discouraged by your weakness.  It should encourage you to aim for perfection.  In fact, Paul instructs the Corinthians to examine themselves, to see if they are in the faith.  I know that when I reflect on the choices I make post acceptance of Christ, I get discouraged.  I’m still tempted and still have distractions in my life.

⁶And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. ⁷Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed.  2 Corinthians 13:6-7

I try to disconnect myself from the various weaknesses of this earth that I still carry – and get disheartened.   My faith pulls at my heart strings and gives me a sense of guilt – since I should know better.  But I find that this guilt slowly weans me from my dependence of earthly matters.  Ever so slowly, I realize that certain weaknesses grow weaker and weaker every day.

¹⁹For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. ²⁰I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ²¹I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” Galatians 2:19-21

Dear Lord, I am reminded constantly of my sins and transgressions.  Help me to lead a life aiming for perfection.  Through my faith, I ask you to develop a childlike heart, full of faith and obedience.  I have been crucified through Christ and I no longer live, but that Christ lives in me.  It is by your grace alone!  Thank you for this tremendous gift for we are undeserving creatures.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Day 49: Generosity

2 Corinthians 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

What exactly does generosity mean to you?  Chapter 8 begins with a heading that says: Generosity Encouraged.  In this chapter, Paul goes into an explanation in his 2nd letter to the Corinthians that their generosity is encouraged.

⁸I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 2 Corinthians 8:8

¹¹Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 2 Corinthians 8:11

²⁴Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it. 2 Corinthians 8:24

Then, chapter 9 has a heading that says: Sowing Generously.

⁶Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 6-7

Generosity in short is the surpassing grace God has given to each of us.  By exercising our generosity – that was bestowed on us who were undeserving, we show others the true power of love – the most important of God’s spiritual gifts.  By showing generosity, we show that we recognize our undeserving worth.

¹⁵Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

Dear Lord:  I praise you for the indescribable gift of generosity.  I realize more and more in my development of faith, just how undeserving I am.  Yet, you covered me in your generous and awe inspiring love and forgiveness.  Help me to exude that in my own personal actions – so that others may truly see your work in me.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Day 48: Trouble Knows No Bounds

2 Corinthians 5, 6, 7

Have you ever felt that you just couldn’t take whatever life was dishing out to you?  Have you ever felt that you are being pushed to your limit and you might fall apart from the pressure?  Do you ever curse your sorrows and troubles?  Well, you shouldn’t.  In fact, you should rejoice in them and commend others in them.

⁴Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; ⁵in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; ⁶in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; ⁷in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; ⁸through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; ⁹known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; ¹⁰sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 2 Corinthians 6:4-10

Why?  I can honestly believe that it is these challenging life moments, that makes us turn to God.  When we come to a breaking point, we are faced with no other alternative but to turn to God and submit what frail body is left and earnestly beg for forgiveness – we repent.

Dear Lord, let us not come to the repenting of our sins, merely because we feel that we can’t do it alone.  Strike in my own heart, reliance on your promise of salvation.  Make me unashamedly turn to you for everything.  Thank you for allowing me to trust and love You.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Day 47: The New Covenant

2 Corinthians 2, 3, 4

We are called to be ministers of the New Covenant.  What does this mean?  In Paul’s 2nd letter to the Corinthians, he explains what their role is – what their new responsibility was going to be.  What does it mean to be of the New Covenant?

¹⁵For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 2 Corinthians 2:15

¹Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. ²Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 2 Corinthians 4:1-2

⁶For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”^[a]made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

⁷But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:6-9

¹⁶Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

With every challenge – we are driven to God.  Yet, we must hold on fast to verses 16 – 18.  Do not lose heart….

Lord: Keep me from losing heart.  I can honestly say that there are times that I still turn to myself and refuse to open up in times of high stress.  I know I’ve been trying to let my barriers down – to let You in, to have full belief that You provide.  I am to be a child of faith, but by being a child of survival, am willing to forsake all I believe to be true.  Lord, I know that You provide.  Allow me to truly understand what the New Covenant means and what I am asked to do.  I know it can be hard and filled with trials, however, grant me a peace and calm that only You can.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.