The Devotional – 1083 – Foot Steps in Second Corinthians, On Going

The Devotional – 1083 – Foot Steps in Second Corinthians, On Going

Let me say or add a few more thoughts about the natural and spiritual indwelling of the body of Christ for God’s children. The church has a natural and spiritual body too. Most call this assembly a membership, but it is more than a simple membership where one can be a member or one can flip flop from one membership to another. For example; I have had the opportunity to have membership at two separate golf courses. These are very different from each other, thus I hold fast to one and avoid the other. Thus it is true for the saint (believer) of God, he or she has two memberships. One a natural or physical membership to partake of what the kingdom of the world offers. Or two a spiritual or supernatural membership to partake of what the Kingdom of God offers. The apostle Paul has a lot to say about this in Romans 5 – 7. So what matters? 

CHALLENGES & COMMENTS – 2 Corinthians 3:1-6

The apostle begins his conversation again on the subject of letters of commendation or acceptance. Should there be a letter from someone recommending or approving one for membership or position of leadership. Should I require a letter of approval from someone for you to read my devotionals, or should you require a letter from someone to be encourage to read these devotionals? Absurd! Is it not?

While correspondence does happen it is only to make aware, not to recommend. People who are saved by the Grace of God have more than a membership with Him. They actually belong to God as a son or daughter, as such; these sons and daughters are epistles “letters” of Christ to everyone who reads the character of you or me.

These epistles are not made with instruments of pen and paper like these devotionals that have natural limitations, but are made with the instructions and sound teaching of pastors and teachers, who from the Living Word, (the Holy Bible) write on tablets of our heart. This is serious, men and women! It is not membership that makes a saint, but a relationship with the Living God who has ordained elders and teachers to help you and me to live in the Spirit of God and not in the letter of the Law – Again, Romans 5 – 7 is a necessary read.

Yes truly it is God who has made these teachers of the Grace of God sufficient as ministers of the New Covenant of God, written not with pen and ink, but with the innocent Blood of Jesus Christ. God has provided these men in order to grow His Family, a family that the world system condemns, thus there is suffering as we mature into the “image of Christ”.

The question of each of us is to ask our self – are we Christ like because we heed the instructions of our pastors and teachers. Or are we self-motivated to live in the flesh while away from church, since it is only a membership? These are questions that you already know the answer to since you are the epistle of Christ in you, or you are the epistle that confuses those around you.

The Devotional – 1082 – Foot Steps in Second Corinthians, On Going

The Devotional – 1082 – Foot Steps in Second Corinthians, On Going

As time marches forward, non-relational things of ten years past and beyond seem so distant that these are nearly void of remembering. Yet, the events of marriage, family and faith are vivid for most of us because those events even as they pass, are current and ongoing, this is true of personal relationships as well. There are two types of personal relationships with others; these are natural and spiritual. A third dimension of the natural and spiritual realm of life is that both are at home same body, yet have boundaries. People are separated from one another by race and by national heritage, yet race and national heritage melt away when we are related to one another by our spiritual allegiance (faith). 

CHALLENGES & COMMENTS – 2 Corinthians 2:12-17

The apostle Paul was always traveling to one place or another and if you like to travel you can identify with the apostle in this. I remember that while in the service I would return periodically to places in the world that I had been before, places like Spain and Scotland. Each time I would return a group of us Believers (our spiritual heritage) in Jesus Christ would meet up with the believers we had met in those countries previously. Truly it was like meeting up with family.

I can understand the apostles’ unrest when he did not find Titus, his brother in Christ. Once, we returned to Spain and the Director of the Servicemen’s Christian Center was transferred to the Servicemen’s Christian Center in Germany and a new director was assigned to Spain. There was great disappointment since we all had anticipated seeing him and his family. The disappointment was not long lasting and the reason is because of the triumph we all share in the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

The fragrance of the sweet aroma of Jesus Christ is in every place when believers gather together. Among the saints of God we know and understand that our Spiritual Heritage is in Christ and as much as we long to be with Him, we also long to be with those who are in Christ too. The director and his family who replaced the previous, was also of the same fragrance of the sweet aroma of Jesus. Why? Because the Word of God is TRUE. For we are to God (first) the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved.

Additionally to those who are perishing we are an aroma of death, might I ask you, “who is sufficient for such understanding?” When we speak of Christ, we are not like those who peddle the Word of God, “literally adulterating for personal gain” like many works based religions, but we speak of Christ as one who is from God, as we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory – 1 Timothy 3:16. Please have a godly day – every day!

The Devotional – 1081 – Foot Steps in Second Corinthians, On Going

The Devotional – 1081 – Foot Steps in Second Corinthians, On Going

No doubt we have covered this thought before; bitterness and resentment is a cloak. When it is on us it is an invisible charm and it does more harm to the one wearing it than the one whom forgiveness is needed. In fact, we know people don’t we who are the best of friends, but when one is alone with one of them the back biting tongue is incredibly cruel. We think, how can these folks be friends at all? The truth is, they are not friends in that sense but they are “two of one kind!” Romans 2:1 – sums this up clearly. 

CHALLENGES & COMMENTS – 2 Corinthians 2:3-11

Someone has said that, “the best defense is a better offense”. I suppose that if we are to live and be a doer of the works of the world, then the statement could hold some creditability. However as Children of God by faith in Jesus Christ our best defense against all offense is to know the “love” of God that surpasses all understanding which the apostle in these passages clearly has for those Corinthians – Philippians 4:6-7.

The events in 2 Corinthians are real time events that are recorded for us in the Word of God, there are at least four emotions that the apostle is sorting through: (1) sorrow (2) joy (3) tribulation and (4) anguish of heart. So the question, if you have one and if not I will supply one! From a pastoral observation of the congregation, should there not be joy and love at work in the apostle’s heart, instead of sorrow and love?

Here is a thought! We would not argue that as children of God we are a “forgiven” people as individuals and as a remnant. John 1:29, Psalm 103:10-12 and lastly Micah 7:18-19. Should we not then be doers of forgiveness? Now I am speaking mildly but this is no mild subject. We carry about in our heart, long time grudges and we openly say that we have forgiven. But let us not put that to the test because we fail the test.

While we should not be ignorant of the advantage that Satan can gain over a congregation that is of a bitter spirit, but the truth is we actually ignore it. What I mean is that we are “knowingly ignorant”. We know the trouble caused by sin, yet we ignore the sin while we practice it – Psalm 66:18. Can we do better? Yes, yes we can and we will as the LORD God provides.