datethewordtest

Tag: 2 Corinthians

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 19 (12/19) is 2 Corinthians 12:19

    “Have you (Corinthians) been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God
    that we have been speaking in Christ, for we do all things, beloved, for your edification.”   – 2 Corinthians 12:19
    For your EDIFICATION

    2 Corinthians 12:19 concludes with “for we do all things, beloved, for your edification.” What a great challenge to us as we consider our motives for ministry.  As a matter of fact, this concluding statement was made by the Apostle Paul to explain his motives for writing to the Corinthians AGAIN. As Paul wrote AGAIN to the Corinthians, he had to answer the age-old question of WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE TELLING US WHAT TO DO question. With that question hanging heavy, the Apostle Paul defends his apostleship in the letter we call 2 Corinthians. He, also, though does not back off calling for the Corinthians to live differently and to do what is right! His ultimate purpose in writing was not to DEFEND himself but for their EDIFICATION – for their UPBUILDING. His motive for ministry was building up the body!  

    As we minister in various ways, we will encounter people who may need an exhortation to stop sinning. (1 Thessalonians 5:14 says, “Brethren, warn the unruly …; James 5:19-20 says, “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back,  let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.)  So as “brethren” let us check ourselves to make sure our exhortation is for edification! When we take this approach Proverbs 25:12 is more possible!! Proverbs 25:12 says, “Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.”

    Our reason for rebuking (reproving) is to bring a person to repentance and then restoration! In other words, we are doing this for a person’s EDIFICATION.

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 19 (12/19) is 2 Corinthians 12:19. It says, “Have you (Corinthians) been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, for we do all things, beloved, for your edification.”  

    How might you apply “for we do all things, beloved, for your edification” to your life today?  

    Continue Strong ministering to one another with the pure motive of edifying one another!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on December 9 (12/9) is 2 Corinthians 12:9

    “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (Paul) Therefore,
    most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. – 2 Corinthians 12:9
    “THEREFORE MOMENT” THAT CHANGES OUR PERSPECTIVE

    Being very honest and transparent I will tell you that seeing life from God’s perspective is difficult. When I am going THROUGH IT and by “through it” I mean THROUGH IT, it is hard to understand what God is doing and it is hard to TRUST Him.  And I don’t think I am alone in saying there are times it is just hard to have God’s perspective on the circumstances and situations we find ourselves GOING THROUGH IT.

    The apostle Paul reveals in 2 Corinthians 12 that he is GOING THROUGH IT as he tells that starting in verse 7 about receiving a thorn in the flesh.  While we don’t know exactly what the thorn in the flesh was (and will not take time to speculate here) we do know it brought much pain and discomfort to Paul and it was to a level that he “pleaded with the Lord THREE times concerning this thing THAT IT might depart from him.”  2 Corinthians 12:8

    Now it is very possible for us to think that when the Apostle Paul prayed, he most certainly received what he requested.  After all, this is the Apostle Paul!  However, the Apostle Paul tells us that God did not grant his request but rather informed him about the perspective he should have as HE IS GOING THROUGH IT.  In 2 Corinthians 12:9a Paul wrote that God told him “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 

    Paul now has what I like to call a “THEREFORE MOMENT.” The “THEREFORE MOMENT” is a decisive moment.  Peter had one when Jesus told him to fish when as a fisherman he knew it was the wrong time to fish.  Peter said nevertheless (THEREFORE) at Your Word I will do what You said. (Luke 5:7)

    Paul’s THEREFORE MOMENT moves him to now embrace what God has him GOING THROUGH with a new perspective, with God’s perspective.  He writes, “Most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Continuing in verse 10 he writes another THEREFORE saying, “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.”  What a change in perspective.  

    Are you GOING THROUGH IT right now?  Hear your heavenly Father say, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”  And then have a THEREFORE MOMENT like Paul and embrace that God can do so much more through your weaknesses. 

    Verse to DATE the Word on December 9 (12/9) is 2 Corinthians 12:9. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (Paul) Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

    Continue Strong trusting His perspective during difficult times,
    And remember to DATE the Word.

  • Verse to DATE the Word on October 5 (10/5) is 2 Corinthians 10:5

    “Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 10:5
    WINNING THE BATTLE WITH YOUR THINKING

    One of the greatest battlefields is our mind!  In our minds, we have a battle for WHAT we will be thinking. Our thinking has to be controlled as 2 Corinthians 10:5 teaches for while our thinking can be incredibly creative and constructive as well as having compassionate thoughts toward others we can have evil and wicked and CORRUPT thoughts.  Our thinking can be cruel toward others.  WHAT we allow our mind to think about matters as wrong thinking can lead to wrong actions.  Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.”   

    Reminding us of why WHAT we think about matters Emerson wrote 
    Sow a thought reap an action;  
    sow an action reap a habit;  
    sow a habit reap a character; 
    sow a character reap a destiny.

    Let us be reminded of what we should be thinking about the Apostle Paul wrote in
    Philippians 4:8 these words: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, THINK about these things.”

    How is your THINKING? Are you hourly winning the battle of your mind?  To win we find a great strategy in 2 Corinthians 10:5. It tells us to cast down or DEMOLISH those arguments against Christ and His teachings. Like the military breaking down a fortification, we demolish those arguments that are incorrect, that are wrong about Christ.

    The military analogy continues as we now TAKE CAPTIVE thoughts.  To take captive is to have CONTROL OVER.  Your thoughts are now to be considered a PRISONER. You don’t answer to them. They answer to you! Those who are captive are REMOVED from the battlefield.  

    A third action then takes place as our thoughts are OBEDIENT to Christ.  The NIV says, “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”   This means HIS WILL and HIS WAYS ARE RIGHT and are to be FOLLOWED! 

    So, I ask again HOW IS YOUR THINKING?  What are you ALLOWING your mind to THINK ON?  Does God see a CLEAN mind or a CORRUPT mind?  

    Are you CONTROLLING your THOUGHTS or are your thoughts controlling you?

    Verse to DATE the Word on October 5 (10/5) is 2 Corinthians 10:5.  It says, “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”

    Up close question: Have you memorized Philippians 4:8 so that you might use Philippians 4:8 as a filter for what you will think about?

    Continue Strong with thinking on RIGHT things!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on September 15 (9/15) is 2 Corinthians 9:15

    “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” – 2 Corinthians 9:15
    Trying to DESCRIBE the INDESCRIBABLE

    Occasionally I get the opportunity to watch a sunrise over a beach in south Florida.  As the morning broke one particular morning the sky was filled with such brilliant color that I found myself at a loss for the exact words to describe what I was seeing.  It was so incredible that I found myself saying this handiwork of God is INDESCRIBABLE.   

    Have you ever found yourself looking at something that you found INDESCRIBABLE? The Apostle Paul was a wonderful and gifted wordsmith who could give us very descriptive words to define what love does in 1 Corinthians 13 but when he sought to describe God’s gift of Jesus Christ as our SAVIOR and the gift of salvation that He and He alone provides he found the best he could do to describe this gift was to say it was INDESCRIBABLE – too extraordinary for description.  

    Ponder what God did for us in GIVING His Son (think John 3:16!) and what Jesus GAVE (think Galatians 1:4 “Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father).  Is it not beyond description?  Can any words truly express properly the greatness of the gift? I don’t know about you, but it is so very hard for my mind to comprehend such love, such a free gift!!

    Yet while the gift of salvation from our gracious Savior is so hard to describe and comprehend it is not a gift that cannot be understood by a young child.  A child can hear the glorious gospel and be saved. 

    I challenge you to ponder the gift of salvation that you received from our Heavenly Father.  As you ponder consider just how truly indescribable His gift is as you seek to fully express how meaningful and grateful you are for God’s gift of salvation. I suspect the exercise will be very humbling as to consider His gift of salvation is to consider what it took for our Savior to provide such a gift.  He loved us and washed our sins away by dying on the cross.  He restored us to a relationship with God that comes with a promise of an eternal home in heaven when we die.  WHAT A GIFT!  What an undeserving gift.   

    No wonder the Apostle Paul described it as INDESCRIBABLE.

    Verse to DATE the Word on September 15 (9/15) is 2 Corinthians 9:15. It says, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”

    Continue strong with gratitude for God’s indescribable gift of salvation,
    And remember to DATE THE Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on September 7 (9/7) is 2 Corinthians 9:7

    “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly 
    or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” – 2 Corinthians 9:7
    The CHEERFUL Giver

    Every now and then we get a glimpse into what EXCITES God – what He loves! Here in 2 Cor. 9:7, we learn God loves a CHEERFUL giver. This description of God’s feelings regarding giving comes from the Apostle Paul who is encouraging a group of believers in Corinth to contribute to some suffering saints back in Jerusalem.  He wants them to be ready to present their contribution when he arrives.  However, he does not want them to give GRUDGINGLY or because of ARM TWISTING.  When one gives this way both resentment toward the one asking grows and regret within the giver grows. The Apostle Paul wants their giving to be genuine.  He tells them to PURPOSE in their hearts or MAKE THEIR OWN DECISION as to what they will give.  Rather than giving because of PRESSURE, they will be giving based on PURPOSE. He does not want grumbling, or complaining, and he definitely does not want them feeling like THEY HAVE TO BE a part of sharing with others in need.  For Paul, there should be joy in giving and helping others!  

    So, what is your attitude toward giving? Do you grumble as you give or is there cheerfulness as you contribute? Are you a purposeful, cheerful contributor to charities, the church, and other causes? 

    As well I would ask what is your plan for being a giver to God’s Work?  Have you prayerfully purposed in your heart to willingly and cheerfully give a portion of your income to the Lord and His work?   

    Verse to DATE the Word on September 7 (9/7) is 2 Corinthians 9:7. It says, “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”

    What changes need to take place based on the teaching of 2 Corinthians 9:7?

    Continue Strong cheerfully contributing to God’s work!   
    And remember to DATE THE WORD!

  • Verse to DATE the Word on August 7 (8/7) is 2 Corinthians 8:7

    “But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in
    complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you —see that
    you also excel in this grace of giving.” – 2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV)
    EXCELLING in the GRACE of GIVING.

    Having read a verse about giving it seems logical to start by asking how is your GIVING. Are you a GIVER?  Do you give a portion of your income to a local church?  Do you give to various charities? Would you consider yourself as one who EXCELS at GIVING?  What are your feelings toward GIVING? Does the question about your giving rub you the wrong way? Are you a little sensitive to any talk or questions about your MONEY?  Does on the other hand the thought of giving excite you and you look for opportunities to “invest” in others and into God’s Work?  As you set goals and priorities for your life, have you established a goal to EXCEL AT GIVING?

    The setting for our verse to consider is the Apostle Paul is raising money for needy believers in Jerusalem and the appeal had gone out to Corinth and they made a commitment to give. Having heard through the “grapevine” that the Corinthians have not collected the money and the excitement about giving has waned the Apostle is now reminding them to be ready to give when he comes to pick up the gift!  In our verse to DATE, he commends them for things they are doing well. There are several things that they are excelling in, but generosity is not one of them. So, he challenges them to EXCEL in this ACT of the GRACE of GIVING, of being GENEROUS.
     
    What does EXCELLING in the act of GIVING look like to you?

    As I think of excelling in giving, I think of the Shunammite family for providing a room for the prophet Elisha to stay when he was in their area.  The story is in 2 Kings 4:8-11.  They wanted to make sure he had a nice comfortable room.   They excelled at giving.

    Another of many stories we could reference is when God’s people gave abundantly to repair the House of the Lord.  The story is found in 2 Chronicles.24:8-11 and it tells how God’s people brought financial gifts in the Chest of Joash.  As the appeal went out the people gave in ABUNDANCE. They excelled at giving. 

    The best example ever of giving is none other than Jesus Christ!!  2 Corinthians 8:9 says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”   Jesus lived giving and He excelled at it.   

    What do you need to do differently in order to EXCEL at GIVING?  What is something you need to do right now to EXCEL at GIVING?

    Our verse to DATE the Word on August 7 (8/7) is 2 Corinthians 8:7.  It says, “But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you —see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”  (NIV)

    Continue Strong excelling at generosity,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on August 5 (8/5) is 2 Corinthians 8:5

    “And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves
    to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.” – 2 Corinthians 8:5

    JESUS FIRST!   

    The background of 2 Corinthians 8:5 has the Apostle Paul holding up Macedonian believers as examples of generosity to the Corinthians.  2 Corinthians 8 begins, “Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3 For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4  imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.”  

    Having shared about the willingness to give above and beyond what they could really afford to give the Apostle Paul now makes one of the most powerful statements one can make about a person or a group of people as he tells how they made JESUS FIRST, stating that “THEY FIRST GAVE THEMSELVES TO THE LORD.”  Yes, they gave money but FIRST and foremost and more importantly, they GAVE THEMSELVES TO THE LORD.

    What a powerful description!!!  Their first priority was for Jesus to be their FIRST priority!  

    Have you considered all that Jesus did in order to give you life?  He died and then arose that He might give you abundant life now and eternal life later!  Have you in turn given Him your life? Romans 12:1 speaks of presenting ourselves to the Lord. Have you made a present of yourself and presented yourself to Jesus? Has there been a time in your life when you said, “HERE I AM, LORD!!?” Has there been a time when you fully GAVE YOURSELF TO THE LORD?

    Verse to DATE the Word on August 5 (8/5) is 2 Corinthians 8:5.  It says, “And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.”

    Continue Strong with Jesus FIRST,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on July 13 (7/13) is 2 Corinthians 7:13

    “By all this we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were
    especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been 
    refreshed by all of you.” (NIV) – 2 Corinthians 7:13
    REFRESHED

    The discouraged Apostle Paul of 2 Corinthians 7:5-6 tells how he is now encouraged, encouraged by a report from Titus that the Corinthians have received his letter and that while it was a difficult letter for him to write and for them to read, it brought about great results.  This news was encouraging!  As well Paul tells the Corinthians how encouraged, ESPECIALLY DELIGHTED, (OVER-JOYED), he was because of how happy (ENCOURAGED) Titus was. Paul commends them for refreshing his spirit. 

    REFRESHED.  It is a word we often think of in the hot summer.  Working on a farm as a teenager I can recall numerous times looking forward to a very refreshing drink of water from a well on our property.  The water drawn from that deep well was so cold.  I would get a drink from the bucket and then dump the bucket over my head.  Oh, it felt so GOOD.  It was REFRESHING!

    REFRESHED.  From the dictionary it means to give new strength or energy to one; to reinvigorate.  The Greek word speaks of “giving one rest.”  It is the word Jesus used in Matthew 11:28 as He invited people to come to Him as they would find REST.  It is the word Jesus used to tell His disciples to come apart and REST in Mark 6:31.  After serving and ministering to numerous people He knew they needed time to REST, to be REFRESHED.  The Apostle Paul will use the word to describe what he felt when he was with Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus.  He said they refreshed his spirit.  See 1 Cor. 16:17-18

    As you DATE 2 Corinthians 7:13 ask yourself if you are being described by others as a refreshing drink of cold water on a hot summer day.  Does your presence refresh others?  Do your words refresh others?  Do your actions refresh others?   

    It is worth saying here as well that you make sure you are being REFRESHED. 

    Verse to DATE the Word on July 13 (7/13) is 2 Corinthians 7:13. It says, “By all this we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.” (NIV)

    What are ways you can be a “refreshment” to another person today?

    Continue Strong bringing “refreshments” to others,
    And remember to DATE the Word
     

  • Verse to DATE the Word on July 6 (7/6) is 2 Corinthians 7:6

    “But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, 
    encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.” – 2 Corinthians 7:6
    THE NEED FOR AND THE POWER OF ENCOURAGEMENT!

    To get the fullest impact of this verse we need context. We need to understand WHO was discouraged, (other words could be used like downcast, deflated, feeling defeated) and needed encouragement.  That person is none other than the Apostle Paul. Yes, the great apostle Paul was discouraged and was greatly in need of encouragement.  Pay attention to his description of himself in 2 Corinthians 7:5, as he writes, “For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears.”

    Did you read what the Apostle Paul said about his life?  
    He has NO rest!  Physically, he was exhausted.
    Troubled or afflicted!  Emotionally, he was exhausted.
    Struggling with conflicts! Mentally, he was exhausted.
    Battling personal fear!  Spiritually, he was exhausted. 
    (I just described many of you as you seek to lead or work in Christian organizations and do ministry, didn’t I?) 

    The work of the ministry is work, hard work!  The work of the ministry has opposition. It is difficult and at times downright DISCOURAGING.   

    Now with that background notice 2 Corinthians 7:6. Faced with discouragement and being down in the dumps, the apostle Paul starts this verse with GOD saying. “But GOD.”  With those two words, the Apostle Paul is acknowledging that God was watching over him and God was working for him. It was God who sent TITUS to a discouraged Paul and Titus comes to ENCOURAGE. He comes to speak in to Paul the courage to keep on going, to never quit.

    Titus brought a good word in a difficult time that kept the Apostle Paul going.

    Do you need a TITUS? (I will answer for you.) Yes, you do!  I pray you do have one.  If you don’t have one then you should pray that God will send you one.  We are all in need of a Titus touch!   

    Do you need TO BE a TITUS? (I will answer for you.) YES, you do!  I pray you will be one and you will be the answer to someone’s prayer.

    Make July 6 (7/6) a special day of encouragement!  Be a TITUS to someone.  Give them the Titus Touch!

    Verse to DATE the Word on July 6 (7/6) is 2 Corinthians 7:6. It says, “But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.”

    Who has been a TITUS to you?  Maybe today your Titus needs to hear a word of appreciation from you.  Your encourager might need encouragement.

    Continue Strong receiving encouragement and giving encouragement,
    And remember to DATE the Word
  • Verse to DATE the Word on May 21 (5/21) is 2 Corinthians 5:21

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 21 (5/21) is 2 Corinthians 5:21

    “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become
    the righteousness of God in Him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21
    THE GREATEST EXCHANGE. 

    Jesus Christ, 2nd person of the Trinity, the Son of God, comes into this world as a human. Coming to this earth as a human He came with a purpose and in I John 3:5 we see the main reason for His coming as it says, “He was manifested to take away our sins AND there is no sin in Him.”

    Just as the Apostle John has written, the Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:21 that Jesus did not sin.  He was perfect.  He was completely righteous.  Paul then writes that while He never sinned, He is made sin.  This is to be understood that at Calvary, on the cross, He takes our sin. On the cross, He takes the punishment and pays the penalty for our sins.  The One who never sinned takes all our sins and pays the penalty for our sins.   Overwhelming to consider is it not?

    But there is more.  He then gives to those who accept Him as Savior His righteousness. He imparts His righteousness to the one who accepts Him.   He takes our sins and gives us His righteousness!

    Christ lived as if He lived my life or your life so that we might now have a life as if we had lived like Him. 

    Let’s just take a moment and say WHAT AN EXCHANGE!!! WHAT A SAVIOR!!! 

    BTW – The prerequisite for entrance into heaven is to be as RIGHTEOUS as God. The only way that ever happens is for Christ, who was perfect, to give us His righteousness. Our righteousness is so bad that it is described as filthy rags. You are not getting to heaven keeping the Ten Commandments – (no one is able to keep all of them,) You are not getting to heaven being a good person because while you may be good you are also bad. You are not getting to heaven because you love people or help people or serve people or even attend a church. You get to heaven by accepting Jesus who died and rose again for you and with that acceptance, you are justified, and being justified you receive Christ’s righteousness.

    Without a doubt, 2 Corinthians 5:21 is one of the most informative verses we have concerning our great and wonderful salvation!

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 21 (5/21) is 2 Corinthians 5:21. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 

    Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior?   I trust you have and that you have experienced the greatest exchange of all time. 

    Continue Strong praising God for the great exchange,
    And remember to DATE the Word