Whatever Was to Our Gain

I can identify with 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 when it says, “outwardly we are wasting away.” After all, I'm in my 70's, and aging is a natural part of life.

But I can also identify with Paul's statement that “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” That's why we “fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

We can take our negative, fearful thoughts captive when we focus on the beauty of eternity (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Paul exemplified a passion for the Lord that I want to exhibit in my life too. He considered nothing more important than knowing Christ. He even welcomed suffering if it came from serving God (Philippians 3:7-11).

I admit I don't welcome suffering, but I pray God gives me strength to endure it for His kingdom. 

As we face life's difficulties in our anti-Christian culture, let's press into our Lord, trust the Bible, and speak up even when it hurts. 

We may suffer rejection from friends and family for our uncompromising faith, but we have a God who loves us with an everlasting love that is worth more than anything the world offers.

“The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
    but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:17

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For more encouragement to live for the Lord, see We Must Stop the "Judge Not" Shame Game and I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel.

Why the World Calls Christianity "Foolish"

Sometimes I act pretty normal…too normal. I slip into the ease and comfort of the human “wisdom,” which means life is about me. 

But Christianity is making my life about Jesus.

The world thinks it's pure foolishness to take up a cross, die to self, obey unpopular commands, return good for evil, love our enemies, forgive offenders, and take the narrow, unpopular road in life.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18

“The power of God” always has been and always will be foolishness to the unsaved world. To live in God's power, we must be willing to give up popularity and worldly comfort. 

The teachings of Scripture are contrary to human nature. That's why “the person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness” 1 Corinthians 2:14

Are you willing to look foolish for the sake of the gospel? Are you willing to speak truth even when it's hard? Are you willing to stand firm in the fight when everyone else is taking a seat in the audience?

Today let's ask God to help us be someone whom the world calls a fool for Jesus. 

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See One of a Kind Book and the Bite Size Bible Study The Bible: Nothing Can Compare!! 

If you find it hard to respond when people say negative things about Christianity, I encourage you to check out Lies in Disguise. This book can definitely help you explain Bible truths with accuracy and grace. 

And please send this link to your friends and tell them why they should sign up for a free subscription to Bible Love Notes: Stay Connected. 

 

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Why Did Paul Say We "Carry Around the Death of Jesus"?

In 2 Corinthians 4:7-12, Paul uses “jars of clay” as a metaphor for our human frailty, but he explains that persecution cannot crush (destroy) us because we're filled with the treasure of God’s strength. 

 

“We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

This is comforting because 2 Timothy 3:12 explains that all genuine believers will be persecuted, and this is especially true in our present anti-Christian world. 

Then Paul says something unusual:

“We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.  For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.” 

Jesus said we’ll be hated for His sake (John 15:18-19), which Paul describes as being “given over to death for Jesus’ sake” and death “at work within us.” Whenever we suffer for our faith, we’re participating in the persecutions that led to Christ’s death.

Paul considers everything unimportant compared to knowing Christ (Philippians 3:7-11). He participated in Christ's sufferings many times in his life (2 Corinthians 11:16-33). Dear Lord, give us that kind of devotion!

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For more encouragement on this subject, see “Dead” People Expect Persecution and “Dead” People Have a Different Perspective.

 

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8 Reasons to Journal

In Journal Is a Verb, I explained five things you can journal to help you stay focused on God. Today I want to offer some additional insights into the value of journaling.

Even if you throw your journal away when you're finished, journaling can help you honestly process your thoughts with God. 

God encourages us to come to Him when we're distressed (Psalm 120:1), in trouble (Psalm 50:15), fearful (Psalm 34:4), lacking strength (Psalm 105:4), joyful (Psalm 100:1), thankful (Psalm 100:4) … no matter our mood or situation.

Journaling:

1. Improves our memory and comprehension. Slowly handwriting a Scripture passage has more impact than reading or typing it (source). 

2. Helps us record answers we find in Scripture so we can refer back to them when we face similar situations.

3. Helps us release stress by Unloading and Reloading—unloading negative thoughts and replacing them with God's truth.

4. Helps us gather our thoughts for more effective prayer and gives us a place to record prayer requests and answers to prayer. 

5. Actually strengthens immune functions to improve our physical health (source). This one surprised me too!

6. Helps improve our brain function (source), keeping us focused and alert.

 

7. Need not be fancy or even grammatically correct. No one will be grading our work. 

 

8. Can serve as a testimony to future generations, showing them how you related to God.

So grab a notebook and get started! It’s good therapy for body, soul, and spirit.

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See  Unloading and Reloading and 4 Things Christians Should Write. 

Some resources used for this devotion: source/source/source/source  

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5 Biblical Truths that Help Us Share the Light of Christ

In 2 Corinthians 4:1-6, Paul explains what inspired his ministry. See the full passage below the devotion.

💙1. God’s mercy kept him from losing heart (v. 1).

What Christ did for us inspires us to make sacrifices for His purposes (Romans 12:1). 

💙2. He kept a clean conscience by presenting God’s Word accurately (v. 2).

Careful study of God's Word helps us share it correctly (2 Timothy 2:15). 

💙3. He knew those who reject God's truth are blinded by Satan (vv. 3–4). 

We must be aware and guard against Satan's influence in our world (1 John 5:19). 

💙4. He preached for Christ’s glory, not his own (v. 5).

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

💙5. He understood that God’s message offers light to a dark world (v. 6).

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” John 1:5

God has prepared ministry for each of us (Ephesians 2:10). So let’s share His light faithfully, accurately, humbly, and powerfully, bringing glory to His name.

 

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See Shining in the Darkness and Rise and Shine: 6 Ways to Start Your Day with Jesus for more encouragement to shine for Jesus.

 

Looking for a gift for a graduate who loves God's Word? Check out: Why Lies in Disguise Is a great graduation gift.  🠆

2 Corinthians 4:1-6: “Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, 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 everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” 

 

 

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