THE PRAISE IS IN THE FRUIT

THE PRAISE IS IN THE FRUIT
II Corinthians 3:1-2
 
"Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or a letter of commendation from you? You are our epistles written on our hearts, known and read by all men."
 
The believers at Corinth were the proof of Paul's ministry. Some people require a lot of affirmation, and if they don't get it, the brag on themselves. I remember a dentist I went to (once) who said repeatedly as he worked on my tooth, "Boy, that's good work," or "Man, I'm good." It was probably the worst dental work I've ever had done. I still have problems with the tooth he repaired. Self praise or even praise from other people means little if what I do is not praise-worthy. I need to let the fruit of my labor speak praise, rather than the words of my mouth.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: What I do speaks louder than what I say.
 
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Have a praise-worthy day. Love you.
 
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DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- SINCERE PREACHING

SINCERE PREACHING
II Corinthians 2:17
 
"For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ."
 
It was prevalent in the early church and it is prevalent today. There is always the temptation for preachers to abuse their calling by turning their ministry into "peddling the word of God," either for their own profit or for gaining a following. If the preacher is more interested in the offering plate and his salary than in telling the Good News, he has succumbed to the wrong motives. A symptom of this disease is if he will only go where the pay is good. It is a real challenge to remain pure in motive.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The preacher of the gospel must always keep an eye on his motives to remain sincere in the sight of God.
 
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Thank God today for sincere preachers. Love you.
 
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THE FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST

THE FRAGRANCE OF CHRIST
II Corinthians 2:14-16
 
"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life."
 
When I walk into the perfume section of a department store, or go into a candle store, my senses are assaulted by the many fragrances that fill the air. Some are pleasing to me and some stink; to other people, what I think stinks smells good, and what I like they turn up their nose at. Let's face it – not everyone will appreciate the fragrance of Jesus. To some it is a blessing and encouragement; to others it will be a curse as they are convicted of sin. It is not my job to force other others to love Jesus. It is my job to open the bottle and let the fragrance of Christ fill the air. As the old chorus goes, "Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me."
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The fragrance of Christ will be a blessing to some and a curse to others.
 
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Have a fragrant day. Love you.
 
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KNOWING GOD'S WILL

KNOWING GOD'S WILL
II Corinthians 2:12-13
 
"Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia."
 
Acts 16:6-10 records this incident in Paul's ministry. He was on a missionary journey to preach the gospel. He had gone  through cities in Asia but the Holy Spirit did not allow him to preach there. He tried to go to Bithynia but the Holy Spirit did not permit him. At Troas, he had a vision of man from Macedonia pleading with him, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." So he went to Macedonia and later to Corinth. Knowing God's leading may involve a special revelation and open doors of opportunity, but it surely involves being sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and quite often results in a restless spirit until the mission is completed.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Knowing God's will requires sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and the inward restlessness of one's own spirit.
 
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Have a "God-led" day. Love you.
 
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DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- SATAN'S AMMUNITION

SATAN'S AMMUNITION
II Corinthians 2:10-11
 
"Now when you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices."
 
Satan has many weapons in his arsenal in his war against God's people, and we provide him with ammunition when we carry grudges against other Believers who have caused offence. He loves to cause division in the Church (or marriages), and thereby hinder the work of the Kingdom. How much better to forgive and move on.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: One of Satan's devices in his war on the Church is to cause division between Believers.
 
[end]
 
Have a forgiving day. Love you.
 
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OBEDIENCE IN ALL THINGS

OBEDIENT IN ALL THINGS
II Corinthians 2:6-9
 
"This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reconfirm your love to him. For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things."
 
Obedience to Paul's exhortation was a test of their commitment to godly standards of holiness. The majority responded by disciplining the sinner in their congregation. But what about the rest of the people? Did they have the attitude of, "What's the big deal? We are all sinners and have weaknesses in our lives." Were they so casual about sin that they could accommodate flagrant violation of God's standards with no sorrow? We live in a casual culture that accepts almost anything, even if it is in direct violation of God's word. I recently attended a church which has three Sunday morning services – a Traditional Worship, a Contemporary Worship, and a Casual Worship (according to the bulletin). Casual Worship? How can we be casual in our worship of the God of the Universe? I understand that it probably referred to casual dress, but what we wear is an outward witness of a heart-attitude. We live in a casual culture, and it is reflected in our attitude toward God. I'll worship Him when and how I feel like it if it is comfortable and does not demand too much of me. This attitude affects our service to Him and obedience to His Word. If God is truly God, then He deserves more than casual worship, casual obedience, and casual holiness.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: If God is really important, He is worth more than casual worship and casual obedience.
 
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Have an obedient day. Love you.
 
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ANGUISH AND TEARS

ANGUISH AND TEARS
 
II Corinthians 2:4-6
 
"For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you. But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent – not to be too severe."
 
Paul had written the first letter to the church at Corinth, not with anger, but with a heart filled with grief and eyes filled with tears. And the anguish was not so much toward the offending sinner (a man who was committing incest), but because God's people did not address and correct the problem. Instead, they excused the sin and allowed it to continue in their congregation. How it must grieve the Lord Jesus when He sees the sin the modern church allows to continue in His Church. He loved the church and gave Himself for her in order to cleanse her and have a holy people without blemish (Ephesians 5:25-27). Yet we accept sin in our midst with no corrective discipline. May our hearts be filled with anguish, not just because of sin in the congregation, but because we allow it with no correction. God will have a holy people.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The church congregation has a responsibility – even an obligation – to address flagrant sin in its midst so that the Church of Jesus will be holy.
 
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Have a holy day. Love you.
 
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JOY AFTER DISCIPLINE

JOY AFTER DISCIPLINE
II Corinthians 2:1-2
 
"But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow. For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me? I wrote this very ting to you, lest, when I come, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all."
 
What? Does Paul talk in riddles? The context is the situation in the first espistle to the church at Corinth, which was a corrective letter. There were many things that needed to be changed, especially the sin of incest (I Corinthians 5:1). Paul was grieved when he wrote the first letter, and did not want to come to Corinth until that issue was dealt with. Apparently, the offender was confronted and punished, but he repented and was restored to fellowship (II Corinthians 2:6-8). Now Paul has joy because the church was obedient and handled the sin appropriately. He was like a father who grieves when he has to discipline his child, but has joy afterward when he sees that the child has been obedient and is walking in righteous submission.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Disciple brings sorrow and grief to both the offender and the discipliner, but it results in joy when it is received
with humility.
 
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Have a joyful day. Love you.
 
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BY FAITH WE STAND

BY FAITH WE STAND
II Corinthians 1:21-24
 
"Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us in God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth. Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand."
 
Even though Paul had the anointing of Apostleship, he did not use that position to rule over people. Instead, he saw his role as a fellow-Christian to encourage them, so that their faith would be in Christ and not in Paul. Many people lose their faith because it is focused on a spiritual leader instead of Jesus, and when the leader fails, so does their faith. By faith in Christ we stand.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Christian faith must be in Jesus and not in some spiritual leader.
 
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Have a "faith" day. Love you.
 
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YES, NO, MAYBE

YES, NO, MAYBE
II Corinthians 1:17-20
 
"Therefore, when I was planning this [to visit you], did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No? But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you .... was not Yes and No, but in Him there was Yes. For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us."
 
God is faithful to His promises because He is a "Yes" God. When He says something, we can depend on it. We can trust His promises because He does not change His mind. Some people have difficulty making decisions. One minute they are "Yes" and the next they are "No." They are like hummingbirds who flit from flower to flower and you never know where they will land. Jesus said, "Let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No.'  For whatever is more than these is from the evil one" (Matthew 5:37). "Yes and No" equals "Maybe." It is speaking out of both sides of the mouth, so you can't be sure what the person thinks, and you can't depend on them. We can trust God because He never says "Maybe." Our salvation is sure because He promised it through Christ.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: We can trust God's promises because, although some of them are conditional, they are never "Maybe."
 
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Have a confident day. Love you.
 
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A DOUBLE BLESSING

A Double Blessing
II Corinthians 1:15-16
 
"And in this confidence I intended to come to you before, that you might have a second benefit – to pass by way of you to Macedonia, and be helped by you on my way to Judea."
 
Although it didn't happen as he planned, Paul's intention was to stop at Corinth on his way to Jerusalem to bless them spiritually. At the same time, they could help him with financial support. This is the Body of Christ at work – one part helping to supply the needs of another part. Each believer has his unique abilities to contribute, and as we meet each other's needs, the work of Christ goes forward. We are blessed when we receive, and we are blessed when we give. In fact, Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). It is a double blessing to both the giver and the receiver – a second benefit.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: As a believer meets the needs of another believer, both are blessed.
 
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Have a "double blessing" day. Love you.
 
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BRAGGING RIGHTS

BRAGGING RIGHTS
II Corinthians 1:13-14
 
"For we are not writing any other things to you than what you have read and understand. Now I trust you will understand, even to this end (as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus."
 
Paul wrote plainly so they would understand – that boasting needs to be about others rather than about themselves. Boy, this hits me between the eyes because I find it so much easier to brag about myself – my ministry, my accomplishments, my sacrifice – than to exalt other people. Ultimately, any boasting should be about the Lord – what He has done. As David sang, "My soul shall make its boast in the LORD ... Oh, magnify the LORD with me and let us exalt His name together." All the glory belongs to Jesus, all the praise belongs to Him.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Bragging about others is better than exalting oneself.
 
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Have a "bragging" day. Love you.

A PURE CONSCIENCE

A PURE CONSCIENCE

II Corinthians 1:12

"For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity [singleness] and godly sincerity [or purity], not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you."

Paul could have been prideful and boasted about all his suffering and sacrifice for the cause of Christ. Instead, his focus was a clean conscience and God's grace, knowing that everything he did was not motivated by an ulterior motive of personal gain or praise. The praise of other people means little if I know that what I did was from a wrong motive, because I have to live with my conscience.

TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: A pure conscience is worth more than all the praise in the world.

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Have a "pure conscience" day. Love you.

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THE GIFT OF LIFE

THE GIFT OF LIFE
I Corinthians 1:10-11
 
"...who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many."
 
This is a rather convoluted writing of Paul. So what does it mean? I think there may be a double meaning of physical life in this world and eternal life in Heaven. Certainly Paul's physical life was in danger and God was delivering him. But in verse 9, he spoke of the "sentence of death in ourselves" (vs. 9). The "great death" we are delivered from is spiritual death. We were dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:1) but God delivered us and made us alive, so that we have the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). I am sure that many were praying for Paul before his conversion when he was persecuting the believers. Then he met Jesus on the road to Damascus and his life was changed, which brought great thanksgiving. This I know: physical death was not a big issue with Paul, because he looked forward to eternal life. He had a great desire to depart this world and be with Jesus (Philippians 1:23). We have the gift of physical life in this world, but the greater gift is eternal life. This life will pass away, but life in Heaven goes on forever.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God gives both physical life and spiritual life, but the greater is the gift of salvation.
 
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Have a "gift of life" day. Love you.
 
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TRUSTING IN OURSELVES OR GOD

TRUSTING IN OURSELVES OR IN GOD

II Corinthians 1:8-9

"For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our troubles which came to us in Asia; that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises from the dead."

We do not face physical death for the sake of our faith as Paul did. Yet, sometimes the troubles of life overwhelm us and bring us to despair. In those times when the burdens seem more than our strength can endure, we can learn to trust in the God of life instead of ourselves – our own strength and abilities. This is the consolation of verses 3-7. As the old gospel song goes, "He is able to deliver me."

TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The God who raises from the dead gives strength and help when we despair of life.

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Have an encouraged day. Love you.

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THE BENEFITS OF SUFFERING

THE BENEFITS OF SUFFERING
II Corinthians 1:6-7
 
"Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Of if we are comforted it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the suffering, so also you will partake of the consolation."
 
What is the purpose of suffering for Jesus? Paul lists two benefits. One is the salvation of someone else. He suffered great physical pain so that others would know about salvation through faith in Jesus. He literally laid down his life as a messenger of the Gospel. How much would I be willing to suffer so that others could go to heaven? Another purpose is so that we can partake of the consolation. We can only truly appreciate comfort in relationship to the pain we suffer. The greater the pain, the more we appreciate the lack of pain. Warm, sunny days are more highly treasured when we compare them to cold and rainy days. The pain of a broken arm makes us more thankful for the healing. Jesus suffered great pain on the cross "for the joy that was set before Him" (Hebrews 12:2). That's why James could say, "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials" (James 1:2). He understood this principle – the end result of the suffering makes the pain worth it.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Comfort can only be truly appreciated when compared to the pain of suffering.
 
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Have a "consolation" day. Love you.
 
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ABOUNDING CONSOLATION

ABOUNDING CONSOLATION
II Corinthians 1:5
 
"For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation (paraklesis) also abounds through Christ."
 
I really don't know what suffering for Christ is like. I may have endured some minor rejection or ridicule, but nothing like the beatings and torture believers in other cultures and generations have suffered for their faith in the Lord Jesus. Most of my suffering has probably been a result of my own doings. But even in my insignificant trials, the Holy Spirit – the Paraclete – has been there to support, strengthen, and encourage my faith. The consolation is proportionate to the severity of the trial, and abounds in greater suffering.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The Holy Spirit is present to console, strengthen, and encourage the believer who is persecuted because of faith in the Lord Jesus, in proportion to the severity of the suffering.
 
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Have a "consolation" day. Love you.
 
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PASS IT ON

PASS IT ON
II Corinthians 1:3-4
 
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulations, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."
 
The night before Jesus was crucified, He gathered His disciples and told them that He was going away, but that He would send the Holy Spirit – the Comforter (paraklesis) – to be their Helper. Paraklesis or parakaleo means to come alongside to help, to strengthen, encourage, and comfort. Paul used the same words in this passage. When we are going through challenging times, the Holy Spirit comes to strengthen and encourage. But that is not the end of the story. God's purpose is that we in turn would encourage other people who are going through deep waters. I get so absorbed in my own problems, I fail to be sensitive to those around me who also need comfort. Lord, help me to be an encourager today to people around me who need Your strength.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God comforts us so that we can in turn comfort others.
 
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Have an encouraged day. Love you.
 
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THE SQUEAKY WHEEL

THE SQUEAKY WHEEL
II Corinthians 1:1-2
 
"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in Achaia; Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
Paul wrote at least three, and maybe even four, letters to the church at Corinth – more than to any other church. Only I and II Corinthians survive. He did not necessarily write so many letters because he loved them more than other churches, but because they had so many problems. Parents are sometimes accused of loving one child over the others because they give that child more attention. Or pastors are accused of playing favorites. It is not always because they love one person more than the others, but because he or she causes the greatest concern. The squeaky wheel gets the oil!
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The greatest problem gets the most attention.
 
http://www.wordpress.com
 
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Have a "loved" day. Love you.
 
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MINISTRY FROM THE GRAVE

MINISTRY FROM THE GRAVE
II Kings 13:20-21
 
"Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands of Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year. So it was, that as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet."
 
Elisha was so full of the Spirit of God that even in the tomb, his ministry continued and he still affected the lives of people. Even today, 3000 years later, we are still blessed as we study his life and ministry. This is the last of our Ramblings in the life of Elisha, but his legacy will live on. It is worth pondering what lasting impact my life will have after I am dead and buried.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: A godly person can have continuing ministry, even from the grave.
 
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Have an "impacting" day. Love you.
 
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OLD AGE

OLD AGE
II Kings 13:17-19
 
"And [Elisha] said [to Joash], 'Open the east window'; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, 'Shoot'; and he shot.....And he said, 'Take the arrows'; so he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, 'Strike the ground'; so he struck three times and stopped. And the man of God was angry with him, and said, 'You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times.' "
 
This is perplexing. Elisha gave Joash specific instructions – "open the window; shoot; take the arrows; strike the ground" – and each time Joash did exactly as he was commanded. But there is no record that Elisha told him how many times to strike the ground. Even Elisha's expectations were not precise – "five or six times." How was Joash to know? So where did the anger come from? If Joash had struck the ground 100 times, would Elisha have been satisfied? Perhaps the simple answer is that Elisha was losing it in his old age and was becoming senile. Maybe he forgot that he did not tell Joash all he needed to know. As an "old man," I understand memory loss. Lord, help me in my senior years to not be a crochety old man who gets impatient with others who do not meet my unspoken expectations.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Senior citizens need to have patience with other people who do not meet their expectations.
 
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Have a "patient" day. Love you.
 
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