When Paul wrote to the Corinthian church the first time around, he held nothing back in addressing the immorality and ungodly behavior that was running rampant in the church at that time.
By the time 2nd Corinthians was written, Paul was glad to find that his stern warnings originally given were heeded by the people. The result in their hearts was not merely sorrow, but godly sorrow. The kind of sorrow that leads to repentance and change for the better, rather than the hopeless sorrow that leads to despair.
If you find yourself realizing that you have fallen short of the Lord’s call for right living and are left feeling deep regret and sadness, don’t let it stop there. Turn immediately to the One who offers grace, forgiveness, and a brighter future. Embrace the opportunity to move forward, changed and renewed by the power of His Spirit.
Jeff Deal
As the American culture moves away from God and His design, people have adopted false ideologies in His place. They pursue these false doctrines believing that there is truth and joy to be found in them, only to find out that they are chasing a lie. As a result, they are more lost than they were before and they are left hopeless.
In his second letter, Peter talks about the devastation of false doctrines. When we pursue these false doctrines, it is like trying to draw up water from an empty well, depressing and devastating. As Christians, it is important that we heed Peter’s warning and stay within the confines of scripture. When we part from the Word, even in the slightest, we find devastation and sorrow. We have the Words of life that lead to joy, let us keep these words and share them with a world that needs Him more than ever.
For the King,
Daniel Batistelli
All throughout scripture we find how the Lord really loves sacrifices. This is not because God needs the sacrifice from us to feel needed or anything like that, but rather the most pleasing thing to Him is a sacrifice done not only out of obedience, but a love for God, which is why we should always give our best!
Here, Paul gives a strong encouragement as he pleads with us by the mercy that God has shown us to offer ourselves to God in three ways: 1) Living. 2) Holy. 3) Acceptable. Am I living a life that is FULLY sacrificed to Him so that He always gets the very best of me, so in turn, people get more of God in my life? Live a life FULLY for the Lord and see how He will fill you and shine through.
Blessings,
Pastor Sean Boehm
Have you had a situation in your life lately where you had no other choice but to trust? It can be hard. To truly trust is to seek refuge, flee for protection, or completely confide or hope in. Trusting means we need to be willing to let go of control, like a downhill skier.
David in Psalm 31 is praying desperately for God’s deliverance from his adversaries. As we see, the prayer begins as a statement of trust, and he had such a deep level of trust that he even challenged God to not let him be ashamed in his deliverance. He knew that God would deliver him one way or another. Might we walk in that kind of trust today and take our hands of control off of ourselves and others. God’s got this.
Falling into His open arms,
Pastor Gerard Deleeuw
Years ago, when I was an atheist, I told someone I knew something that convicted her of her sin. She would repent from that point forward to give up this sin and live for Jesus Christ. This person was so upset an atheist noticed her sinful lifestyle.
At least that’s what I was told by this person. I don’t remember saying anything about this sin and it certainly doesn’t sound like something I would have said as a non-believer. It reminds of the verse above where God controlled the mouth of a donkey to make a point to a stubborn prophet, Balaam.
Sometimes we are afraid to say things to others because we don’t have the right words, but God can certainly give us the things to say. If He can speak through a donkey, He can certainly speak through us! Trust in God for your words.
Speak through me, Lord,
Pastor Ron Kitchell
There are few people viewed more despicably than traitors, someone who turns on family, friends or nation. By contrast, faithfulness, allegiance, fidelity, devotion, and loyalty are words that describe a life that all would admire and God looks for from His own. Here in our verse the word faithful is the word for trustworthiness or loyalty. It is important in our relationships to be trusted and loyal. That is even more so when our loyalty to God is in view. Loyalty to God to love Him with all of our hearts, souls and minds. David prayed for his son Solomon that he would be loyal and faithful (1Chr.29:19) and we read of kings that were loyal to the Lord while others were “right with the Lord but not with a loyal heart” (Amaziah 2Chr.25:1-2). So how about you? Does your life cry out “loyalty to the Lord” or would that be an overstatement?
Longing in my heart to be loyal to the King
Pastor Jack Abeelen
The sword of the Spirit is the first piece of armor that Paul provides us that is both defensive and offensive. All of the previous pieces were defensive. The weapon most effective to not only shield off the enemy but also to fight back with is none other than the very word of God. The word of God, according to Hebrews 4:12, is living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword. The Bible we have on our bookcase, or in the trunk of your car, or in an app on your phone, is more than just words printed on a page or screen.
Just as Jesus warded off the Devil when tempted in the wilderness, we have this great gift available to us to not only defend but strike back. But in order to use this weapon, we must know it in order to apply it. We must study it and be a constant learner of it. You won’t know it by casually reading it every so often. You know it because you devote yourself to it. You study it carefully and read with the intent to understand, which requires discipline. It’s no different if you were to learn how to combat with a real sword; if you don’t know how to use it, it will be of no use to you.
Pick up your Bible, study it, know it, and you’ll see a difference in your ability to fight the enemy.
Pastor Jason Witt
John 3:16 tells us everyone has a chance to go to Heaven. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. What does it take to have eternal life? Believing in God’s Son, Jesus. That’s how people get saved.
The above verse tells us why people don’t get saved, because of their own love for darkness. In John 3:16, the word for love in “God so loved the world” is the Greek word agape. In John 3:19, the Greek word for love in “men loved darkness” is a form of the same word. The people who reject Jesus do so, not because of any kind of intellectual argument, but because they love the life they’re living and don’t want to give it up to worship God.
Our prayer for them is their eyes should be open to God’s love and they would turn from darkness to the Light, Jesus Christ.
I once was blind, but now I see,
Pastor Ron Kitchell
Mercy, by biblical definition, is God holding back judgment we rightfully deserve or, as it is often said, God not giving me what I deserve. No wonder the psalmist writes that the earth is full of His mercy. How often we see tragedy and sorrow caused by others and wonder why God has not yet seen fit to address it, to balance the books, to punish the offender. Indeed the earth is full of His mercy. God waits long for each of us to turn to Him for forgiveness and salvation. If not, then the mercy we see around us will only be temporary until we die and stand before our Judge.
But if we turn to Jesus in faith and cry out for His mercy, it will be permanent as Jesus paid for all our sins. Look around and see the mercy of God waiting patiently for us to turn to Him. Then pray, oh God, teach me Your statutes!
So amazed at God’s merciful ways,
Pastor Jack Abeelen
The last protective piece of the whole armor of God that Paul teaches every believer to put on to battle the enemy is the helmet of salvation. The salvation referred to here is not the salvation we receive when we first put our trust in Jesus. There are three stages to our salvation: first is our justification, becoming right with God as soon as we accept Him as Savior. The second is sanctification where, because we have God now living inside of us we are to walk or live in this new identity, becoming conformed to the life of Jesus. Then there is the third stage, glorification. This is what Paul is referring to in regards to putting on the helmet of salvation.
The helmet of salvation is the understanding that we will one day be freed entirely from this body of death. We will walk with Jesus in heaven and no longer be tempted or challenged. It is eternal life where we share in and enjoy Christ’s glory. To put this on means to be reminded every battle we face is temporary. It will soon be over and there will be no more; the reward to persevere is glorious and worth every bit of the difficulties we face now. Without this mindset, the battle can begin to wear on you and you begin to doubt.
Keep your eyes on the prize, put on the helmet of Salvation, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Pastor Jason Witt
