Category: Good Life Journal

Scripture:

2 Cor. 8:Vs. 1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia,
Vs. 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
Vs. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,
Vs. 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—
Vs. 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

Observation:

Paul is asking the Corinthian church to be generous and give toward his mission and the spreading of the Gospel.
He wants them to know the generosity of other churches, especially churches that are enduring tests and afflictions.
Paul let’s the Corinthian church know that their generosity is a direct result and response to understanding of the grace of God.

Application:

There are several levels of “giving” going on here.
First, “the grace of God has been given”.
Then, “they gave themselves to the Lord”.
Finally, “by the will of God, they gave to us”.
The physical, tangible giving was last.
This is the proper order for all truly “Christian generosity”.
I received God’s grace as a gift.
In overwhelming gratitude, I submit to Jesus as Lord and sovereign over my entire self.
As a result, an overflowing takes place of using whatever God has gifted me with for the sake of others.
If I get this sequence wrong, sin is inevitable.
I’ll treat giving as a form of contract, even a social one.
I’ll give, but I’ll expect something in return.
Or I’ll become judgmental of the recipient of my giving, forgetting the grace given to myself.
Or I’ll hold back, keeping a clenched grip on finances because I want something for myself.
But a miracle happens when we understand the “proper giving order”.
I trade my kingdom for another.
Paul says about the Macedonians, they “begged us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints”.
Do I get this?!
They “begged” to “give”!!
The only time anyone ever “begs” is to “receive”. Right?
Not so, the Christian!
Again, we … I am to look different from all the world.
I am to be eager to give.
I should be joyful to give.
Because God was “joyful” to give everything for me.
(“For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross …”)

Prayer:

Thank you again Father for your Word!
Help me Holy Spirit to live out these verses.
Help me to not only have right desires, but the courage to act fully in them.
In Jesus name, Amen.

Sent from my iPhone

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 7:6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,

Observation:

Paul shares with the church the great pain and distress that he has felt and experienced. He shares that in the darkness God was his comfort.

Application:

Depression, darkness and discomfort is to be expected in the life of a believer. Even when walking in step with the spirit in every way we are not immune to emotional distress or even depression. However we do have a place to go in our darkness. God is the comforter of those in distress. A few things…

-it’s ok to not be ok. Putting on a happy face isn’t always possible. Everybody has darker times.
-I don’t have to stay there. God offers me the comfort I need in the darkness.
-God uses other people to help us during our dark times. Paul had Titus. We have our Titus’ as well.
-Be a Titus to someone today. I can be a bright light in someone’s darkness.

Prayer:

Father help me remember that sometimes life is dark. Help me know where I can go for relief. Also help me be a light to others to offer comfort in distress.

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 5:14– 15 Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

Observation:

Christ’s love is so powerful that it motivates Paul and urges him to share the Gospel. Christ’s sacrificial death is for everyone, no one is excluded when they believe. When we place our faith in Jesus as our Lord and savior, we die to our old selves along with Jesus. As we receive the Holy Spirit we are new creations in Christ! Therefore, our lives are not our own and we are to live for Him!

Application:

Whatever I do, it can only be done through the love of Christ. I must make/keep my first loving relationship be with Jesus to serve correctly. If we live for Him, we need to make it about Him first in our lives as well to please/bring Him the glory! This can sometimes get skewed even if we are doing great service or building a successful ministry. Paul cautions the Corinthians not be boastful about a great ministry, rather be humble and sincere in our heart where or relationship with Jesus resides.

Prayer:

Father,
Thank you for your love for us through Jesus! Please help me keep a loving relationship with you be the main thing and motivator to share your Gospel. May your Spirit guide me to live a life to glorify you.

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 10:4

10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

Observation:

Paul giving descriptions on the new life in Jesus. He gives a clarity of the Gospel and its power and penetration power in the heart of man. He says this statement in verse 10 that is physical and spiritual.

Application:

Many times I don’t and actually most of the time don’t die to my flesh because I’m not consciously carrying the death of my savior. When I’m not aware and the death of Jesus and what it bought me there is no way I can live in his life. I don’t live in the flourishing life of Jesus because I’m not dying to sin like he did. Why is it so hard and why do I find myself not experiencing the joy that should be inevitable?

I’m not walking in the death of Jesus to experience the life.

Prayer:

Father, why you love me I don’t understand. Why you give grace and mercy I don’t get. I trust it and walk in it as Christ is my only hope. Grow me and change me daily and forgive me of me

Scripture:

 2 Cor. 3:3

And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Observation:

Paul says to look no further than the fruit of the church when seeking a letter of recommendation for Paul’s authority and call. Talk is cheap. However, when those you have discipled begin to walk in the faith and reproduce themselves, there is no greater evidence of the legitimacy of you ministry and call.

Application:

 When I first started in ministry, I was always the least educated, least qualified, least experienced person in the room. I used to seek the approval of man. I would attempt to avoid conversations about seminary and formal training with peers because I feared they would consider me illegitimate because I had neither. However as the years went on I realized that the legitimacy of my calling and ministry is most evidenced by the fruit that is produced in and through me. Answers to questions like; “how many of your disciples are reproducing?”, “How many are living out the Great Commission?”, became much more significant than where I attended seminary, or what degrees I held. By the time I finished my formal training I could see it for what it was, a tool. My legitimacy in ministry was best evidenced by fruit produced by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, not a certificate or a degree that hangs on my wall.

A few things…

-Remember that the “secret sauce” of ministry is the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. When I am walking in step with Jesus and growing in my own relationship with Him I am in best position to lead others in a healthy way.

-Pleasing man is a fruitless endeavor. People change.

-Don’t buy into the lie that a degree or a certificate makes me legit. The only thing that makes me legit is the gospel and God’s call on my life. Without those I am nothing.

Prayer:

Father Thank you for loving me enough to save me. Thank you for giving me the chance to make a difference in other people’s lives. May I never forget the great privilege it is.

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 7:22-23 – And remember, if you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now free in the Lord. And if you were free when the Lord called you, you are now a slave of Christ. God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world.

Observation:

Paul is responding to questions from the church at Corinth regarding how people should live their lives to serve God. Slavery was common at that time and Paul was illustrating that even if someone was a slave they were free from sin, death through their relationship with Jesus. Paul contrasts that by saying a freeman who is a believer belongs to Christ and should live a life of servitude to Him. God paid the ultimate price to save us as we were all bought with the precious sacrificial blood of Jesus. We all need to remember the cost God paid on the cross for us to live for Him not to serve the things of this world.  

Application:

A slave can be free and a freeman should be a slave. What Paul is teaching the 1^st century church at Corinth was as counter cultural then as it is today. However, that doesn’t mean that it is not true and equally as relevant for each and every one of us daily. By placing my faith and trust and deciding to follow Jesus I am free from the bondage of sin and death. We, who are believers, belong to Christ as God rescued us from our sin through the sacrifice of His one and only Son. Through faith we are saved, but as a follower of Christ I should live a life of servitude as modeled by Christ. Everyone is going to serve somebody or something. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve to masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Prayer:

Father,

Thank you for ransoming us from our sin through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus. Help me to remember the cost you paid for me and as such I belong to you. Let you Spirit guide me to live a life to serve you and not things of this world.

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 6 19-20

19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Observation:

Paul is clearly communicating that he can what he wants but sometimes chooses not to. It maybe lawful but it may not be good. Sins that are committed are damaging and reap death, yet the sin of the sexually immorality is directly tied to the body and the spirit. It is a spiritual sin. A sin that does WAY more than effect ones physical.

Application:

You are not your own, for you were bought with a price so glorify God in your body really humbled me this morning. When I forget that the cross is a purchase, a payment to collect a payment due for a penalty. I belong to God. He had purchased me. He deservingly has rights to me with his blood. I am forever indebted to the Father through service to Christ. My life and my body are much more than what I see. This is huge for me as I so many times look at me and can be tempted to think I am in control and it’s my body to do what I want with. I must understand everything I do with my body should be ran through the Father. I’m his and I belong to him. The response to knowing I’m his is Glorify him, and I fail at this daily.

Prayer:

Father, help me understand and live out in my actions and flesh a God glorifying life. That my life is much more than waking up, working, and going to sleep. Help me to see I’m owned by you and my responsibility is to serve and point all back to you. Forgive me for not doing this. Thank you for loving me Lord

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 5:12-13 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

Observation:

Paul directs the church to deal with sexual immorality within the church. He also challenges them to not judge the sexual immoral that are in the world. It is the leaders responsibility to hold the congregation accountable to the commands of Jesus. However it is not the church’s role to be the moral police to those outside the church.

Application:

Overlooking sexual immorality is foolish. It diminishes the value of human beings and is a violation against the temple of the Holy Spirit. Sexual immorality is not to be taken lightly but confronted and dealt with appropriately. A church that makes light of sexual immorality within the congregation is church that risks ministry effectiveness and the purity of its witness to a lost world. Overlooking sexual immorality is not something to boast about.

A few things:

⁃ Sexual purity must be taken seriously in my life and the life of our leadership first. Accountability must be in place and correction of sin creeps into our lives.
⁃ Sexual purity must be taught and the congregation must be instructed in how to obey in the area of sexual purity.
⁃ The sexual misconduct of the world is to be met with grace and an understanding that apart from the Spirit our behavior and desires would be just as depraved. Once a person says yes to following Jesus they must understand the importance of repentance in the area of sexual purity for their own good and for the health of the local church.

Prayer:

This word is right on time. In a world that is so over-sexualized it is easy to make light of that which defiles the temple of the Holy Spirit. May I not only teach this well, may I be an example of purity to my family and the congregation. May I be graceful to those who are lost, and challenging to those who are found.

Scripture:

1 Cor 4:7 . For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

 Observation:

Paul turns his message from the privileges of the Corinthians to how they should be view their church leaders. Some of the leaders in Corinth were boastful and liked adulation and the praise they received from others. They were boasting about how superior they were to others based on their spirituality.

Paul made it clear that no one is superior in God’s eyes. We are all equal. And the spirituality they received was a gift from God, not something they had earned.

 Application:

It is easy to be humble when you are so good. Right? When things are going well and we are succeeding in our efforts, it is hard not to want to show others or think that we are better than others. We like to compare ourselves to others. It happens in sports. How fast can I run compared to others? It happens in business. How much money do I make compared to someone else? What is my title compared to his/hers? It even happens in church. How many people attended? What size/type of building does that church have? It is often the things that make us have a big ego that bring us the most pain. Wealth, sports, and even intelligence. These are all things that can over inflate our ego and cause us to live out of sync with the teachings of Jesus.

 Just as Paul reminds the leaders in Corinth that they need to listen less to their admirers and humble themselves, I need to focus only on what God has provided me and serve Him in any way He asks. No one is spiritually better than another person. No one earned their place in Heaven. No service is spiritually better than another task. I must be willing to serve where I am needed most and where God wants me to serve. Wow! I am able to serve God. I am thankful and grateful. I need to be reminded every so often that serving Him is a privilege. It is not something I earned but something that was given to me.

Prayer:

 Thank you for the gift you have given me. Let me praise you every day and serve you in ways that help further your Kingdom, serving with a servant’s heart.

Scripture:

1 Cor. 3

Vs 6 “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.”
Vs. 7 “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.”
Vs. 8 “He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.”
Vs. 10 “According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.”
Vs. 11 “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Observation:

The church is divided. People are claiming allegiance to some people and taking credit from some to make themselves look better than others.
Paul is having none of it!
Claiming allegiance to a person is ridiculous! Because Paul even states “neither he nor Apollos are anything!”
What’s more is, being divided as fellow Christians is ridiculous! “He who plants and he who waters are one.”
As Christians, our value comes from the same source, namely “according to the grace of God”.
What’s more is, our efforts build upon the same foundation, namely “that which is Jesus Christ”.

Application:

So, if I’m “nothing” apart from the grace of God, and the foundations have already been put in place “that which is Jesus Christ”, then what exactly is my role and responsibility?
It is to “take care how I build” on the foundation of Christ.
I must have a faithfulness “according to my labor”.
My role is faithfulness in labor.
God’s role is fruitfulness in growth.
It seems I want these roles too often reversed.
I want to be fruitful in my own endeavors.
I want God to be faithful to my endeavors.
Are my endeavors, labors, efforts built and dedicated on a foundation of Jesus? If not, they are worthless and will be gone.
Only what is built upon Christ lasts forever.
And I must “take care” in this! How amazing is it, truly, that I have the privilege of building the same temple, that is us now, that Paul and Apollos did?!
I am a fellow laborer. Of course, I should “take care”!
This should give fresh meaning and purpose to every day.
I will “receive wages according to my labor” that have eternal worth and consequence.
Do I understand this privilege?
Do I understand this responsibility? To continue the building upon the foundation of Jesus Christ!

Prayer:

Thank you again, Father.
Thank you for you grace in enabling me.
In your grace continue to give me faithfulness to build your church.
I pray for your divine fruitfulness and growth.
I pray to see others and opportunities to share your love and your truth.
In Jesus name, Amen.

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 2:2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Observation:

Paul continues his letter to the church and recounts his ministry and investment into them. He shares that he humbled himself and shared with them the basic foundation of the gospel and stuck simply to life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus. This is fact is all that is needed for life transformation.

Application:

Just as in the first century, there are a lot of things to be distracted by when it comes to faith and religion. Arguments as silly as holidays, and disagreements as serious as the end times. There are always subjects that divide and confuse. However Paul shares that his investment into the Corinthians was done with a dedication to the simplicity or the gospel. He didn’t argue the law; he didn’t debate genealogies; he didn’t demand a theological stance on the sovereignty of God. He did however preach the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Christ. This critical teaching is what the Corinthians needed and it is what we need today.

A few things:

-Keeping it simple is a conscience decision made by the teacher/mentor/discipler for the good of the one learning. I must make the decision to humble myself and stick to the basics of Jesus. These “basics” provide enough discipleship curriculum for my whole life.

-A focus on the gospel provides the basis for living and multiplying the Christian life.

-The goal is not to teach everything I know/believe theologically but rather to share the truth of Jesus in a way that will transform their lives.

Prayer:

Father I don’t care if people know the depth of my theological knowledge or opinions. I just want them to know you. Keep me focused on teaching and modeling the gospel.

Scripture:

James 72:18-19 – Praise the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does such wonderful things. Praise his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen!

Observation:

The psalmist here is concluding that the God of Israel is deserving of praise for all things including righteousness, defense of the poor, abundance from the land. God is to be praised forever and all the nations will experience his blessings/glory.

Application:

I must remember that all good things come from God and He alone is deserving of all of our praise. While it is important to praise God for specific things in our life like safe travel or a successful operation He is deserving of all praise for who He is and what He has done. We are to praise God and give Him the glory in whatever we do and accomplish! I am to praise God for everything for all time. The great commission is mine and everyone’s responsibility and in so doing, we help spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the nations so they may see His glory revealed.

Prayer:

Father,
Thank you for who you are and for your salvation. You are deserving of all of praise forever! Help me to be Spirit led to help fulfill your great commission. May the Glory be to You in all things!

Scripture:

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God…For since in the wisdom of God the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: A stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles. But, to those who are called both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18-24 (changes in punctuation by author)

Observation:

Paul is getting right to a point in the greeting to the Church at Corinth. Already Paul is addressing a principle among them: Division. This principle will be addressed on many fronts and subjects throughout this Letter. But Paul will continually point us at the Cross, remind us of the Gospel, and remind us that no matter what we are about and have a point of view about-the Cross is the Wisdom and Power of God.

Application:

“The word of the Cross is folly…” To the world, to any person this is dumber than a box of rocks. God became Man while still staying God. This Man (who is God) submitted himself to a horrible death. Most folks could stop right here and say “Sacrifice. Martyr. Statement against his times. I admire that-I couldn’t do it but what a guy!” He came back from the dead? Inconceivable! (Like this Princess Bride reference?) The point is that a natural man doesn’t get the Cross-What good did it do? What good does it do? What does it do for me? Why do I need to know and understand this? And so the natural man’s attitude is the Cross equals Foolishness because the benefits are not right out in front.

There are times however that I succumb to the foolishness attitude as well. Why is that? The Gospel is sooo much easier to talk about when I don’t have to throw that speed bump of “Jesus died for your sin-your real sin, not just that theoretical sin.” A nifty sign, miraculous if I can get one, makes the message easier to hook those folks in. Or wisdom: Jesus died for you is a reasonable theory to get you better; you can “smart” your way into salvation-do you know enough? In like Flynn.

But preaching the Cross: all of it, not skipping over the “uncomfortable” parts is preaching the Power of God (says so, read above). It is preaching the Wisdom of God. God, being way smarter than me, says so. With that in mind, how do I respond if I want to experience the Power and Wisdom of God?

1) Learn about the Gospel-all of it. Salvation is part of the Gospel, so is condemnation-for both show the Justice, Holiness and Love of God toward men.

2) Learn deeply about the impact the Gospel has for me; in every part of my life. Pray the Gospel.

3) Practice speaking about the Gospel. In the mirror; during your commute as Prayer; with your spouse and family; with your friends-and ultimately with strangers.

Prayer:

Lord God, Father: Having You open the eyes of my heart to the Gospel is more wonderful than I can express-at least express adequately to the Wonder of the Cross. As you have set the objective of learning how to pray without ceasing in front of me, please help me to reflect frequently and to think deeply about the Gospel and every facet of that Miraculous Jewel. Hear my prayer, O God. AMEN

Scripture:

Psalm 70:3

3 Be to me a rock of refuge,
to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.

Observation:

David is being open and honest with God who. Seek him. But also he is being honest and upfront with his response. I can learn so much not only about about the response (prayer) but the content of the response.

Application:

I just got done watching “War Room” which is a movie on prayer. What better way to follow yo the film with reading a man that prayed like no other. What I love and need to preach to myself daily is, i continually come to the God who loves me. He doesn’t get tired yet he welcomes me. He welcomes my mess, my doubt, my hurt, my attitude, and all that keeps me from coming. As a father there is one thing I pray, that my son comes to me for and about everything. This is so true of the Father in heaven!! He is my strength and David though knows this truth he seems to CONSTANTLY verbalize it.
A couple things:
-Pray without seizing
-Let nothing hinder me from coming to God!
-Help others realize this truth

Prayer:

Father, forgive me for distancing myself. You love me and your good. Help me to bring all of me to your throne and trust that all of you will make me whole. I pray I come continuously and that I trust in your grace for forgiveness and strength to make it to the next breath. Thank you father for loving me and I pray I love you in return to the same extent.

Scripture:

Psalm 68:20 Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.

Observation:

Though God does bring judgment upon the wicked, He is a God of salvation. Apart from Him there would only be the absence of life.

Application:

God is my deliverer. I can’t count the amount of times that God has saved me from myself, from others, from the enemy. Though I am disciplined by my Father, I sense that above all, He loves me and wants me to live the life He has called me to live. This reality about The Father causes me to respond to Him in love and an increased desire to obey because he is my deliverer.

Prayer:

Father may I always realize that above all you are my deliverer, my rescuer. Even in the chastisement you are delivering me from myself.