DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- A THREEFOLD CORD

 A THREEFOLD CORD
II Corinthians 13:12-14
 
"Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen."
 
What binds believers together? It is the common salvation through the grace of the Lord Jesus, the love of God we have experienced, and the sharing of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Without these, the church would be just another social club like the Elks Lodge. God's grace, love, and communion (fellowship) give greater meaning to the greetings we give to each other, whether a simple "hi," a hug, or a holy kiss. We are bound together in Christ with these three cords, and "a threefold cord is not quickly broken" (Ecclesiastes 4:12b). We are one in the bonds of love.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Believers are bound together by God.
 
[end]
 
Have a bound-together day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- COMFORT AND PEACE

COMFORT AND PEACE
II Corinthians 13:11b
 
"Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you."
 
Paul ended this letter with the same word he began with: comfort. Remember Chapter 1 – "the God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our tribulation" (vss. 3-4). Comfort is not necessarily the same as ease. God has not promised us a life of ease – of just floating through life with no struggles or cares. There are battles to be fought. Even being of one mind and living in peace (in harmony with those around us) can be a challenge. But God has promised to be with us with His love and peace. I can rest in Him.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God has promised His love and peace in the midst of our struggles.
 
[end]
 
Have a comforted and peace-filled day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- REJOICE AND GROW

 IMPERATIVES: REJOICE AND GROW
II Corinthians 13:1a
 
"Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete."
 
Paul closed this letter with some words of instruction. They are plural imperatives to the church as a whole at Corinth, but can be applied to individuals as well. The first is to rejoice. The Greek word, xairete, is a form of salutation (as in farewell), but the basic meaning is to rejoice. God loves rejoicing people. The second imperative is to become complete. The Greek word, katartizesthe (present passive), means to be being made whole, complete, or mature. Maturity and wholeness do not happen in an instant by my own effort. They are a growth process, the result of learning from the experiences that I go through.. Experiences can make me better or bitter. Experience is the best teacher if I will submit to the learning and growing process. If I don't learn from experience, I will remain stunted and never grow into wholeness and maturity.

TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God want His children to be rejoicing, growing, and maturing.
 
[end]
 
Have a rejoicing and growing day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WORDS OF CORRECTION

 WORDS OF CORRECTION
II Corinthians 13:10
 
"Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction."
 
A common form of correction is to cut people down – to destroy them. Using a sharp tongue of sarcasm or belittling leaves the offender bloody, wounded, and sometimes scarred for life. The tongue can be a fire (James 3:6), but a fire can either warm, or scorch and burn. I know, because I have been burned badly by other people's comments, but I have also been warmed and encouraged, even when being corrected. The goal of correction should always be to build up the other person, or as verse 11 says, to make complete or whole. My ego should not be built up by putting down someone else.  If I can't correct with a gracious tongue, perhaps I should keep my mouth shut.  Lord, help me to use words of grace, even when correcting other people.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The intent of words of correction should always be to build up other people, and not to destroy them.
 
[end]
 
Have a building-up day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- COMPLETELY COMMITTED

 COMPLETELY COMMITTED
II Corinthians 13:8-9
 
"For we can do nothing against the truth but for the truth. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete."
 
Integrity is the issue. Integrity is being one, whole, complete, undivided in heart, soul, and spirit. There was only one goal in Paul's life: Truth. He was wholly committed to ministering the truth of the Gospel and all it entails – holiness, sacrifice, love, discipline, giving, and all the things that "adorn the doctrine of God our Savior" (Titus 2:10b), even if it demanded that he appear weak. His prayer for the Corinthians was that they would have the same commitment, being completely dedicated to living the truth of the Gospel. May that be my heart's desire also.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The Christian's one focus is to live the truth.
 
[end]
 
Have a complete day.   Love you.
 
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- LIVING HONRABLY

 LIVING HONORABLY
II Corinthians 13:7
 
"Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified."
 
Here is a prayer to pray for fellow-Christians – that they avoid evil and live praiseworthy. When a Christian sins, it brings dishonor to the Savior. So the motivation to live honorably is not so the preacher or the church should look good and be praised, but that Jesus Christ should receive glory and honor.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: A godly and honorable life brings praise to the Savior.
 
[end]
 
Have an honorable day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PASSING THE BIG TEST

 PASSING THE BIG TEST
II Corinthians 13:5-6
 
"Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you know yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified."
 
To be disqualified is to flunk the test. We have all kinds of qualifying tests. We test money to make sure it is not counterfeit. We test gold to see if it is real. A racer must pass a qualifying heat to be approved for the big race. In school, I had to pass a test to qualify for an A grade. The test of being a Christian is: Do I really believe that Jesus died for my sins and that now He lives in me? This is the big test. If I don't pass this test, I am just a Christian in name only and am a counterfeit. The Living Bible puts it this way: "Check up on yourselves. Are you really Christians? Do you pass the test? Do you have Christ's presence and power more and more within you? Or are you just pretending to be Christians when actually you aren't at all? I hope you can agree that I have stood that test and truly belong to the Lord." There is only one thing that makes me a Christian, and that is faith in Jesus. If I don't pass this test, I flunk.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Each person must test his own faith to make sure it is genuine.
 
[end]
 
Have a "qualifying" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE CHRISTIAN'S POWER

 THE CHRISTIAN'S POWER
II Corinthians 13:4
    
"For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you."
 
Anyone who thinks he can life for God in his own strength is only deluding himself. We are weak in our own ability to live godly. If it wasn't for the Holy Spirit invading my life with His power, I would be hopelessly defeated. The disciples before the power of Pentecost are prime examples of weakness. They stumbled and fell, and generally messed up. But after they received power (Acts 2:4), they became strong in their witness and faith. Paul said, "If the Spirit of Him who raised Christ from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you" (Romans 8:11). The answer to my weakness is the power of God in me by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Jesus took on Himself the weakness of a physical body so that the power of God would be demonstrated through Him in resurrection. And I have that same Spirit and power.  I must rely on Him and His power.  That is my only hope.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The strength of a Believer to live for God is rooted in the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
 
[end]
 
Have a powerful day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- JUDGMENT

 JUDGMENT
II Corinthians 13:2-3
 
"I have told you before, and I foretell as if I were present the second time; and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare — since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but is mighty in you."
 
Paul did not finish the sentence, "If I come again I will not spare —." He would not spare judging them for sin. God would bring His judgment through Paul. God does judge sin, even in His church. Before judgment comes warnings, and if a people do not heed the warnings, there will be judgment. Either we can heed the warnings and repent, or we can receive the judgment. Christ is not weak in this regard but is mighty as the head of His church. He is powerful in His people, even in judgment. As a side note, I believe America is receiving and will receive more judgment because she has turned away from God. She has spurned the warnings and continued in her rebellion against God. The only way to avoid judgment is repenting of our sin and crying out to Him (see I Samuel 12:8-10, 15). He is not weak, but mighty in judgment.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God will mightily judge sin on a personal and a corporate level.
 
[end]
 
Have a "repenting" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WITNESSES

 WITNESSES
II Corinthians 13:1
 
"Ths will be the third time I am coming to you 'By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.' "
 
This quotation. "By the mouth of two or three witnesses," is an established Scriptural principle. Moses first stated the principle in reference to accusations in a court of law (Numbers 35:30; Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15; Hebrews 10:28). Jesus used it in reference to accusations of wrong-doing by another person (Matthew 18:16), and also as confirmation of His own ministry (John 8:17). And Jesus used the writings of Moses and the Prophets to confirm that He was indeed the risen Christ (Luke 24:27). No accusation or pronouncement should be accepted on the merit of only one witness. Paul's use of this principle almost seems like a proof-text (taking a Scripture out of context to make a point) because he seems to use himself as the three witnesses. Be that as it may, the principle remains solid. If anyone brings an accusation or a new revelation, it is wise to get confirmation from other witnesses or sources before I accept it as true, lest I be sucked into believing something that is not true.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Having confirmation by more than one source will help avoid being deceived.
 
[end]
 
Have a "true" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PRACTICING SIN

 PRACTICING SIN
II Corinthians 12:20-21
 
"For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you as I wish, and that I shall be found of you such as you do not wish, lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; lest when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced."
 
Paul planned to visit the church at Corinth again, and he pleaded with them to clean up their act before he got there. He listed a catalogue of sins which they were allowing to continue in their midst with no apparent repentance. He did not want to find these things in their fellowship, and he threatened them with a rod of correction which they would not want. These sins are not just "accidental" sins; they are continuing lifestyles of ungodliness. We all sin and fall short of God's glory, and there is cleansing of these sins by the blood of Christ (I John 1:7). But blatant, willfull, and unrepented sin as a lifestyle is another story. "Practicing" sin as a way of life is repugnant to the true Christian. I think that Paul was incensed because he understood that Christ died so that He might have a church "not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:27). To claim to be a Christian and yet continue to live in ungodliness is a slap in the face of Jesus, and a contradiction of the name "Christian." May it never be! As a Christian, I need to practice holy living as an intentional lifestyle.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Sin is repugnant, but practicing sin is even more repugnant.
 
[end]
 
Have a godly day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- A SOFT GLOVE

 A SOFT GLOVE
II Corinthians 12:16
 
"But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by
cunning!"
 
I think this may be another example of Paul's use of sarcasm. I'm not sure that being crafty and cunning are truly admirable Christian attributes. As an apostle, Paul could have demanded that they support him, but he chose to not be "burdensome" (vs. 14) in order to win them. But be that as it may, an oblique approach – call it crafty and cunning if you want – often gets better results than direct confrontation. It is called "tact." Harshness and abruptness are usually not effective ways to communicate. If I boldly tell someone the truth (like, "you have halitosis"), it will probably not be received well. There are better ways to get my point across, like giving them some breath mints. It does not change the truth, but it makes it more likely my message will be received. In any relationship, a soft glove is usually more effective than a steel bat.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: A "soft glove" approach is usually preferable to direct confrontation.
 
[end]
 
Have a "soft glove" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- TO SPEND AND BE SPENT

 TO SPEND AND BE SPENT
II Corinthians 12:15
 
"And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved."
 
This is pure agape love – to spend and be spent regardless of whether I am loved back. Paul's love for the Corinthians was not based on requited love. Jesus set the pattern. I believe Jesus would have given His life as an atoning sacrifice whether or not  anyone would have loved Him back  because of His great love for His creation. I heard a story recently of a man who loved a woman but she did not return his love. He wooed her faithfully for 30 years without any reciprocation of his love. It was not until he died that she understood how much he loved her. This raises the great question: How much of my love – for Jesus and for other people – is based on how much I get out of the relationship? Agape love is hard because it does not depend on my being affirmed or loved in return.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: To love without any requirement of reciprocation or return is evidence of true agape love.
 
[end]
 
Have an agape day. Love you (with agape love).

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- GIVERS AND TAKERS

 GIVERS AND TAKERS
II Corinthians 12:11, 13-14
 
"I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing .... For in what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me for this wrong! Now for the third time I am ready to come to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children."
 
Paul's sarcasm shines through again – "Forgive me for not being a burden to you!" He was not a sponger, trying to get all he could for himself out of this relationship. Paul did not want their money – he wanted them. The world is full of people trying to work the angles to advance themselves – even using friends and relatives to pad their pockets. The mature person does not want to take advantage of any relationship for his own profit. Instead, he wants to bless. That's why people save up for the twilight years, so they will not be a burden to their kids in their old age, and maybe there will even be enough left over to bless their progeny. I truly want to be a giver, and not a taker. Lord, make me a blessing to someone today.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The mature person wants to bless other people – not use them.
 
[end]
 
Have a blessed day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- STRENGTH IN WEAKNESS

 STRENGTH IN WEAKNESS
II Corinthians 12:9b-10
 
"Therefore most gladly will I boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

It seems like a contradiction – strength in weakness. God reveals His power in my needs. When I think I can handle things in my own abilities and strength, He will let me try. But it is in the testing times that my need of His power is most evident – when I am at the end of my own strength. I keep coming back to one of my favorite quotations of Jesus, Matthew 5:3: "Blessed are the poor in spirit" – those who know their need of God. Paul could even take pleasure and gladly endure the tough times. Knowing Christ's strength helped him keep a positive attitude when things didn't go right. Lord Jesus, I need Your strength today.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: We are strongest in Christ's power when we are weak and needy.
 
[end]
 
Have a weak/strong day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE THORN

 THE THORN
II Corinthians 12:7-9a
 
"And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' "

What was Paul's thorn? This has caused much speculation, since he did not elaborate. Was it a physical ailment, such as his eyesight as many have proposed? Was it psychological (like depression)? Was it an spiritual (like an unconquerable habit)? Or, as one preacher I heard who suggested that it was his mother-in law? Whatever it was, it caused him much anguish, but God chose not to answer his prayer to remove it. It was a reminder to Paul of his humanity to keep him humble. It also was a reminder of Paul's reliance on God's strength in his weakness. Most of us have a "thorn in the flesh" that we have pleaded for God to deliver us from, but He has chosen to leave it. The pain of that thorn reminds me of my own weakness, and God's promise of grace to get me through.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: A thorn in the flesh is God's reminder of our own weakness and His strength for living.
 
[end]
 
Have a "grace" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- FOOLISH BRAGGING

 FOOLISH BRAGGING
II Corinthians 12:1-2, 5-6
 
"It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: I know a man .... such a one was caught up to the third heaven. .... Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me."
 
It is a human weakness to try to present an inflated image to other people to cause them to think more highly of myself than I really am. So I brag. But it is not profitable, because it doesn't change me into a better person. Even though I try to gloss over my infirmities (weaknesses), they are still there. Paul did not want people to think more of him more than he was – a sinner saved by grace whom God used. It is a fool who brags about himself rather than speaking the truth of his weaknesses. The fact that God used him mightily in visions and revelations was not because Paul was great, but because God was great. I can testify of what God has done, but the glory belongs to Him. No matter how I try to present a better persona, I am still a piece of clay, a cracked pot.  An honest assessment of myself is best.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Bragging does not increase my stature one iota; I am still an imperfect piece of clay with weaknesses whom God, in His grace,  may choose to use.
 
[end]
 
Have an honest day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
II Corinthians 11:12-13
 
"But what I do, I will continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light."
 
Satan is always trying to infiltrate the Church to preach his deceit, pretending to be an angel of light. So we find heretical doctrine – such as post-modernism – being taught by false apostles and prophets in our churches. Last night, I had a dream. In the dream I was visiting a church where the pastor invited a Buddhist to speak. Half the congregation walked out of the service, while the other half supported the pastor and the Buddhist. There is a trend in America toward ecumenism, which treats all religions as equals. So we have services – especially after 9/11 – where Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims are all given equal opportunity to participate. The ungodly mind regards all religions as being the same, but not all religions are equal. Non-christian ideologies are really messengers of Satan posing as angels of light. We need to be alert with spiritual discernment to recognize false apostles and prophets and deny them opportunity to preach their deceit in our churches.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE – Satan comes as an angel of light to deceive people by false doctrine.
 
[end]
 
Have a discerning day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- BOASTING

 BOASTING
II Corinthians 11:10-11
 
"As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the region of Achaia. Why? Because I do not love you? God knows!"
 
This section of this epistle (II Corinthians 11:10-12:11) seems peculiar. The word that ties it all together is the word "boast" or "boasting" ("glory" or "glorying" in the King James), which occurs 14 times in this passage. Paul has just written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord" (10:17). Yet now he proceeds to boast. Yet, as I read this passage, it is apparent that he is not boasting in his status and position as an apostle but in the his sufferings (beatings and stonings, imprisonment, deprivation, and dangers – vss. 23-27), his weaknesses and infirmities, and God's grace that brought him through (12:9). I guess I could boast in the sacrifices that I have made as a minister of the gospel. But if I have anything to glory in, it is the faithfulness of God through the times of trial and tribulation, and even my own weaknesses and failures. "God forbid that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Galatians 6:14).
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The sacrifices and trials of life are opportunities to glory in the grace of God that
brings us through.
 
[end]
 
Have a "boasting" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- BURDEN OR BLESSING?

BURDEN OR BLESSING
II Corinthians 11:7-9
 
"Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel to you free of charge? I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked, the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you and so I will keep myself."
 
It is a principle of the church that those who are ministered to are to financially support those who minister (I Timothy 5:17-18). However, the minister cannot put a price on his ministry. If a candidate for a pastorate demands a certain salary and benefit package as a requisite for his labor, then he is not worthy of being a shepherd. A true shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Any other kind of shepherd is a hireling and only in the ministry for financial reward (John 11-13). It may mean that the minister will be in financial need, but God will supply from other sources. The preacher can either be a blessing or a burden. Paul was determined to not be a burden. I want to be a blessing, not a burden.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The person who puts a price tag on his ministry is not worthy of his calling.
 
[end]
 
Have a blessing day. Love you.
 

THE IMPORTANT THINGS

THE IMPORTANT THINGS
II Corinthians 11:5-6
 
"For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles. Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things."
 
The Corinthians knew Paul. They knew that he did not speak as eloquently as some of the other teachers. Here I am reminded of Moses' inability to speak well (Exodus 4:10). But there were other things that Paul demonstrated by his life that were more important than his speaking ability – his love, his faith and devotion to God, his integrity, his knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures, and his purity of life. At any rate, Paul knew who he was and his calling by God. I respect a person who knows what he is talking about and demonstrates godly character – the important things – even if he does not have great communication skills. There are things more important than flowerly speech.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE:  There are more important things than the ability to talk eloquently.
 
[end]
 
Have an "important things" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- DON'T PUT UP WITH IT!

 DON'T PUT UP WITH IT!
II Corinthians 11:4, 19
 
"For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted – you may well put up with it .... For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise!"
 
Paul's sarcasm is cutting. The Corinthians were "putting up with" doctrines and teachings which were contrary to what he had taught them. These groups are all around us – Unitarians, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses – who preach another Jesus and another Gospel. They are a different spirit. They are tools of Satan who, by his craftiness, corrupts the minds of people in order to draw them away from the true Jesus and the true Gospel. The message is clear: Do not put up with or entertain any doctrine that is contrary to sound biblical instruction.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The wise person is alert to any teaching which changes the doctrine of Jesus or the Gospel from what is taught in God's Word.
 
[end]
 
Have a discerning day. Love you.