Day 244: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21

"So we have stopped evaluating others by what the world thinks about them." - 2 Corinthians 5:16 NLT

Trying to impress others is exhausting. It takes everything we have to try and convince them that we are worthwhile. Will they ever see us as those in whom the “new has come?”

When we come to Jesus by faith, He makes all things new. God no longer sees us as who we were. He sees us as who we are: His children.

The world sees who people are and says assertively, "Humans never change!" They add, "Sure, people can fool us for a while, but they'll always go back to their default ways."

Yet this kind of view dismisses the transformative power that God possesses.

Commenting on this verse, W.R. Baker says, "The typical human approach to personal relationships is disgustingly insufficient." 

Insufficient isn't a proper word to use to describe God. We believe He is all-powerful and thus able to change any heart. Maybe we should pray this prayer today: 

God, do what You do.
Afterward, please help me to see what You see.
Thank You for not just temporarily changing me.
Thank You for restoring my soul permanently.
Now, help my daily life to match my regenerated soul.
In Jesus' name, Amen.

Day 243: 2 Corinthians 4:13-18, 5:1-10

“Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.” - 2 Corinthians 4:16 NLT

I will never forget the sweet voice of one of our 90-year-old church members as she joined the group filing out of the sanctuary. She said, “Andrew, I know I’m old, but why don’t I feel old.”

I genuinely believe that the verse above is the answer to her question. Her lifetime of allowing Jesus to “renew” her inner life had resulted in a vitality she could feel every day.

The choice is ours. Jesus has already taken His stand. He longs to grow us more and more — for us to extend the same offer to others. Let's be honest, it's hard not to put all of our focus on what we can see and measure with analytics. There is not a spreadsheet big enough to contain the metrics Jesus produces with the entirety of who he is and what He has in store for us during this life and into an eternal one.

Knofel Staton said it well, “Paul ended this chapter the way he began it, ‘We do not lose heart.’ Paul had the right perspective on life.”

Let God take you up today in His arms and give you a bigger perspective right now. We will one day be raised with Christ. We will one day, “slip into new bodies.”

What now?

It is time to go hard. It is time to be renewed and offer it to everyone we meet.

Day 242: 2 Corinthians 4:1-12

“We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” - 2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT

What is your greatest strength when you start talking to someone who isn't yet a Christian? We want them to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, as we do, but we often neglect the most effective method.

So, what is it?

Paul makes it clear that it is the weakness of our "perishable containers" or our "dying bodies" that allow us to truly show how incredible God's light and power really are.

Do you lead with your weaknesses when talking to someone about Jesus? Paul didn't feel the need to "trick" them or "distort" reality in order to win the lost.

Our weaknesses put a floodlight on just how powerful God really is.

Psalm 44:3 drives this home: "It was not their own strength that gave them victory. It was by your mighty power that they succeeded."

Weakness is something everyone can relate to, which gives us the opportunity to tell them how great Jesus is at redeeming our inadequacies by His blood, His love.

“Jars” (σκεῦος, skeuos), or “containers” in the ancient world just as today could be made from a wide variety of materials, wood, glass, stone, brass, gold, silver, or clay. Generally, the more valuable the object to be stored, the nicer the container. Sometimes, how-ever, to throw off potential robbers, one might hide valuable objects, rings, jewels, spices, maybe even gold coins, in plain, unassuming containers. - William Baker

My friend, be an “unassuming container” in order to put the spotlight on the great power of God to all you meet.

Day 241: 2 Corinthians 3:1-18

“For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” - 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Since 1905, the “Indianapolis Star” has printed verse 17 at the top of their newspapers.

How are we to keep law and order in our world today? How do we motivate people to abide by the law? The Law of Moses only revealed the Israelites' inability to live up to the standards of a holy God.

True freedom isn't found in trying to finally play by all the rules. True freedom is found by being covered with the blood of Jesus, resulting in our forgiveness. Then we enter into the process of sanctification, where God draws us closer daily.

Colin Kruse says it so well: "The demands of the law cannot be fulfilled, and therefore they stand under its condemnation. But under the covenant of the Spirit, there is liberty."

Paul was desperately trying to convince the Corinthians that it wasn’t his job to play by their cultural norms and expectations. His role was to “see and reflect the glory of God,” not to hype his own image.

Day 240: 2 Corinthians 2:12-17

“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.” - 2 Corinthians‬ ‭2:14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Roman triumphal processions were common in the first century Empire. It had to do with slaves the armies led to execution. Paul draws on this picture as he writes that this is the proper view of what Jesus was doing with his life.

Ben Witherington helps us as he wrote, “As God drags Paul around as his slave, the knowledge of Christ emanates from Paul wherever he goes.”

The Corinthians were very unimpressed with Paul’s insistence on humility. His GoFundMe wasn’t flush with cash, and he wasn’t seeking one million Instagram followers. Paul didn't seek to build his own brand. He was in it to sacrifice for his Lord Jesus.

Where does this leave us? We are the true aroma of Christ when we reject self-preservation at all costs. We exist, as Christians, to try and bring life to those who smell us. There is significant risk in committing to this lifestyle, but it is a decision we won’t regret.

It is worth it to follow Jesus, in life or death.

Paul's words are being brought into full view for us today as we see our brothers and sisters in Christ walking through extreme suffering because of their faith around the world.

Oh, the stories we will tell for eternity in heaven of God’s unending faithfulness.

Day 239: 2 Corinthians 1:12-24, 2:1-11

'When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.' - 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 NLT

Paul is here referencing the man he had rebuked in 1 Corinthians 5 for sleeping with his stepmom (I know, gross). As you can imagine, it caused a stir throughout all the house churches.

Whenever there is division among Christians, we know who the initiator is: The Devil (our adversary). God, on the other hand, is always trying to bring us together. Friends. Spouses. Even those we naturally bump heads with.

The last word in these two verses is noema in Greek. In a more fleshed-out view, the word means "the content of thinking and reasoning." (Nida/Louw)

The mind of the Devil never stops working to tear us apart, and his method is to encourage us to see another human as standing in our way, preventing us from happiness.

Can you see how Eve, then Adam, gave in to the deceit of the Devil in the Garden of Eden?

The temptations that come are always sugar-coated with something that seems like it'll satisfy.

Don't take the bait!

Day 238: 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

"In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on God who can raise the dead." - 2 Corinthians 1:9 NLT

The Greek word that is used for comfort in our passage today is parakaleo. This is very similar to the term that's used to describe the Holy Spirit. It can also be translated as "to encourage" or "to urge" or "to cause someone to be consoled."

He gives them strong teaching about troubles and parakaleo-ing each other, and then in verses 8-11 he shows them how they helped save his life from afar. How did they do it? What was the great difference maker in bringing Paul comfort?

It was their prayers.

Paul really believed that his life was spared in Asia Minor because people in southern Greece were praying. He was crushed and overwhelmed and didn't think he would make it (verse 8).

Yet the church in Corinth prayed.

What differences will we make when we pray?

Never believe the lie that your prayers don't matter. They can make all the difference.

In 1914, Miriam Arnold wrote the following chorus to a beautiful hymn. What a great reminder these words are!

O how praying rests the weary
Prayer can change your night to day
So, in sorrow and in gladness
Don't forget to pray

Day 237: 1 Corinthians 16:1-24

“Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.” - ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭16:13-14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

These two verses have it all when it comes to practical advice for living as a Christian. I love them so much that I pray them over my son every day.

1. On guard >> there are no off-days as Christians; we have to be ready

2. Stand on faith >> not on our own efforts, but Jesus’

3. Courageous >> we need to be brave and unintimidated by the world

4. Strong >> this is the same Greek word used for Jesus and John the Baptist as they grew up; I'd say we want what they had

5. Love >> wanting what is spiritually best for others

On another note, the older I get the more refreshing the end of Paul's letters become to me. I love seeing the teams that God had given him in order to do ministry all across the Mediterranean. I'm also encouraged by the tone of endearment he gives. These weren't just people Paul had assembled to do his bidding. He saw them as family members worth sacrificing for; people he wanted to see thrive in their pursuit of Jesus.

Our challenge for today is to realize that we won't accomplish the above list of five without each other.

Day 236: 1 Corinthians 15:29-58

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” - 1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:58‬ ‭NASB‬‬

This is such a fantastic verse to share with those who are struggling to hold on. The very thought of becoming “immovable” strikes us with courage to face whatever is to come. It is the Greek word ametakinētos, which can also be translated as “not to be moved from place to place.” (LSJ) When we stand with Jesus, we will not need to stand anywhere else for this life and the one to come!

Yet still, how can we stand so assured, knowing that our work for Jesus isn’t useless (all for nothing)?  Resurrection is yet again the answer. The hope of new bodies. A new heavens and a new earth. All things new. 

C.S. Lewis’ thoughts fit well here: “He (God) knows what a wretched machine you are trying to drive. Keep on. Do what you can. One day (perhaps in another world, but perhaps far sooner than that) He will fling it on the scrap-heap and give you a new one.”

Don’t give up just yet. Dig your heels in if you need to. Do whatever it takes to make sure your dependence on Jesus grows more and more every day. In the end, we won’t regret it.

Day 235: 1 Corinthians 15:1-28

“And if we have hope in Christ only for this life, we are the most miserable people in the world.” - 1 Corinthians 15:19 NLT

Have you ever met a truly miserable person? Maybe you’ve seen yourself in this kind of state. A miserable person is someone who has nothing to look forward to. It seems that this is one of the favorites of our enemy, the Devil. If he can get us to believe that tomorrow isn’t worth living, he feels as though he has won.

As Christians, we know that Jesus’ resurrection ensures that we will always have something better ahead of us. This is despite painful circumstances we will face.

We know Jesus was raised, and we understand that this means we will one day be raised as well. We are assured of this because of our being united with Jesus when we came to faith initially (Romans 6:4-6).

The world may pity us because of our faith, but we can smile — because we know the truth. The empty tomb continues to be the proof.

Now the challenge is to share our salvation story with the world.

“We all announce that Christ died, was buried, and was raised. There is no Christianity without this affirmation.” - C.K. Barrett

Life is worth living. Jesus being alive is the evidence.