Dec 12, 2008 - Being One with God

2 Corinthians 6:11 - 7:1
11. We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us.13. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.14. Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15. What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16. What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” 17.“Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” 18.“I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 1. Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

The first few passages shows how the Corinthians rejected the Word that Paul has been trying to share with them. I think it hurts more when there's rejection from a believer verses a non-believer. So, it's important for us to have open hurts like Paul demands the Corinthians to do. Also, it is powerful to hear from Paul saying that we shouldn't yoke with non-believers but it is such a challenge. With peer pressure and so forth, it is hard times to not go 'with the flow' but as scripture says I have to try not to do that! And obviously by not united with the world, I will be closer to God and be in the zone of holliness that God has.

Dec 11, 2008 - Representing Christ

2 Corinthians 5:11 - 5:21
11. Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13. If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14. For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18. All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19. that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Verse 17 is such a wonderful verse. Telling us that we are a new creation in Christ when we believe in him. My sinful, evil, nature is gone and now reborn as new in Christ! So, it tells me that I need to be Christ's ambassadors and share the gospel with everyone for if I don't, it is like me saying that I don't love them. And, God's loved us so much to send his one and only son and by his love, I am motived for God and for other people around me.

Dec 10, 2008 - All in God's Time

2 Corinthians 6:1 - 6:10
1. As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. 3. We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5. in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6. in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7. in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;8. through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9. known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10. sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

I was surprised to see this verse when I started my quiet time today. I've been preparing to share for the prayer meeting tonight and it was about waiting for God and this verse came up! As always, it is hard for me to realize that things are done in God's timing not my timing. I fall short and get impatient at times for this and that because I didn't expect it that way but always at the end, I realize God had a different plan for me. That time of so called suffering or hardships always build me to be more like Christ, and to be a more mature Christian.

Dec 9, 2008 - Looking Heavenward

2 Corinthians 5:1 - 5:10

1. Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3. because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 6. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7. We live by faith, not by sight. 8. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Now and then I go through this 'i want to dwell in the eternal house in heaven' or 'I wonder what it'll be like in heaven' thoughts and I can't wait till the day enter the gates to heaven and be clothed with our heavenly dwelling! at first I didn't understand what 'clothes' it meant but I realized it was about how the fall of Adam and Eve caused us to feel shame for being naked therefore we resulted in wearing clothes. Verse 7 is a very important verse. Telling us that we should live by faith and by sight, but I think it's hard at times to live by faith. There are times where I fall short and try making decisions and things by just what I see and see no hope at times. I fear for the day of judgement seat of Christ as portrayed in verse 10. It seems there are more bad then good and that is one of many things I need to improve on...

Dec 8, 2008 - Being Spiritually-Minded

2 Corinthians 4:13 - 4:18 13. It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, 14. because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. 15. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 16. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

I think verse 15 is a beautiful scene where we see those that hear the Word is compelled to give thanks to the glory of God. This is probably one of the reasons why Paul was so into sharing the Gospel with everyone around him. And in verse 16, of how we are inwardly being renewed day by day, and this is why as a Christian, I need to do my daily quiet times. I think without being renewed everyday, I'll be weak and will not be able to live this world with God's eyes but more with my own selfish desired eyes. Verse 17 is one of my favorite verses. It gives me hope whenever I face hardships and motivates me to go on. Especially this week, I pray that I try my best to study in all of my courses this week and next week even though it is hard and tiring!

Dec 7, 2008 - Freedom from Sin and Shame

2 Corinthians 3:12 - 3:18

12. Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

I had a hard time understanding this passage. But verse 17 and 18 touched my heart. I pray that I am one of those that have unveiled faces and that I find freedom in the Lord everytime from Sin and Shame for he is the Spirit. And I also want to be transformed into his likeness more and more every day!

Dec 6, 2008 - God is powerful!!!

2 Corinthians 4:1 - 4:12
1. 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 every man’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 of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5. For we do not preach 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 the glory of God in the face of Christ. 7. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9. persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

I was really sad to read verse 4 of how the god of this age, satan, has blindfolded nonbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ! I have been blindfolded before and I am glad now i can see the truth of the gospel and I want others to experience this too! I love the verses 8 through 10. Through my weaknesses God's strength is shown and how amazing is it that life of Jesus is revealed in my body! I am embarrassed the fact that there are times where Jesus's life is not revealed in my body to others but actually do things where nonbelievers wouldn't be able to tell the difference having Christ as a centered life and not having Christ as a centered life. I pray for repentance and I pray that like the QT from before that others can sense the fragrance of Christ from me.

Gospel of God

2 Corinthians 28:12 - 2:17
12. Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, 13. I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to them and went on to Macedonia. 14. But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 15. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? 17. Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.

I think the last few words of verse 12 is really powerful; of how the Lord had opened a door for Paul to preach the gospel of Christ. Even though I never really felt this or went through it, I think it'll be an awesome experience! And the "Aroma of Christ", it's amzaing how Paul describes us as we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being savedand those who are perishing in verse 15. I want to be the fragrance of life to others, those that haven't been saved by Christ.

Grief over Relationships

Verse: 2 Corinthians 1:23 - 2:11

23. I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth. 24. Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm. 1.So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. 2. For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? 3. I wrote as I did so that when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. 4. For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you. 5. If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent—not to put it too severely. 6. The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 7. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9. The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10. If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11. in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

When I read this passage at first.. it kinda made me think of my church back in kentucky.
Paul said in verse 5 through 7 of how if someone causes a problem or whatever within the church, we shouldn't punish him but forgive and comfort him. My church back in kentucky went through a split within the church, even know it wasn't one person causing a problem, it was pretty nasty and I did get mad at the deacons and the pastor for letting our church go through this painful time for all the church members, but now I see that I should forgive them for I should reaffirm my love for God as verse 8 says. And also by verse 9 of how I should stand the test and be obedient in everything.
Putting aside my church, I realize I probably done things that might have grieved others, and I pray that those people forgave me and that have reconciled with me. Also, I want to be able to forgive others since we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.
Lastly, I thank God for forgiving me for my sins...

Consistency

Verse: 2 Corinthians 1:12 - 1:22
12. Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God’s grace. 13. For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, 14. as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus. 15. Because I was confident of this, I planned to visit you first so that you might benefit twice. 16. I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea. 17. When I planned this, did I do it lightly? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, “Yes, yes” and “No, no”? 18. But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 19. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” 20. For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22. set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.


I realize that I haven't been consistent with God.
I cry to him when I am in trouble or going through a hardship but when everything is going smoothly, it is easy for me to put God aside.
I want to be like Paul in verse 15. I want to be able to firmly say that I put God at the top of all my priorities but there are times where I will be having quiet times but my mind is else where.
Like verse 19 and 20, I believe that God will always be there for me and that even though I fail, He will never fail me.
For God is always faithful, I want to be more like Him.

-Dec 1, 2008