Category: Good Life Journal

Scripture:

Psalm 78:4-5, 9, 18, 41, 56
Vs 4 “… tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord …”
Vs 5 “He has established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to teach to their children”
Vs 9 “… they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation.”
Vs 18 “They tested God in their heart by demanding …”
Vs 41 “They tested God again and again and provoked the Holy One.”
Vs 56 “They tested and rebelled against the Most High God and did not keep his testimonies.”

Observation:

It cannot be over emphasized the importance of letting the next generation know the wonder and awe and glory of God.
God has shown Himself faithful over and over and over again, yet the people of Israel test God’s faithfulness over and over and over again.
How do they test God?
By making demands of Him
By provoking Him
By rebelling against Him

Application:

With Father’s Day coming up this is so appropriate. What a reminder of the incredible role fathers play in unfolding the story of God.
God has provided us everything we need by providing us His testimony … the “Greatest Story ever told”.
But somehow it isn’t enough. I want God to “prove” Himself again to me. I want to “test God”.
What am I demanding of God? If I’m demanding anything, I’m forgetting the immeasurable value of His Grace! His grace is sufficient!
How am I provoking God? The Israelites “provoked” God by not remembering He set the free from slavery and stayed with them in the wilderness.
I must remember that I am free. I am “redeemed”!
How do I rebel against God? The Israelites not only neglected to “teach His testimony”, but to “keep His testimony”.
I rebel when I want to live my life for me rather than God,
When I want the testimony to be about me.
I rebel when I want to live a biography and not keep a testimony.

Prayer:

Father God, You are, indeed a good father.
Thank you that you have made me your child.
Help me through your Holy Spirit to know you are with me always.
Forgive me when I fail to teach my children about You.
Strengthen & encourage me in your power to live out your testimony.
Open my children’s eyes to see your beauty and your love for them.
Amen!

Scripture:

Psalm 77:10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

Observation:

This Psalm of David is a comforting reflection in a time of great distress. In the beginning he cries out to the Lord and the Lord is silent. David fears that the Lord is rejecting him forever. The verse does not say that the Lord abandons David; only that David thought the Lord rejected him.

Application:

Our human understanding will not always comprehend God’s ways. The Lord seldom blesses us with what we want, but he often gives us what we need. We think we need the Lord to give us things. Often the Lord only gives us patience. Sometimes it is more important for the Lord to teach us faith. If God gave us everything that we asked for when we ask for it, God would only be our “Genie in a bottle” Instead; God has a different agenda for us. God gives us what he thinks that we need. His priority is His kingdom and making disciples in order to bring glory to God. His priority for us is not our physical pleasures. So here David is not given immediate relief from his trials, just as we are not always given immediate answers to our prayers and petitions. What David does realize is that he should not think of his own distress but he should meditate on God’s mighty past deeds. When we do this, the focus shifts from ourself to the power and glory of God. It is not about us, it is about the majesty of God. When we focus on God’s glory, our own problems and distresses become small. He who is in us is greater than anything of this world. When we focus on God’s glory and all the times that He has saved us, we enter an attitude of gratitude and faith rather than an attitude of selfish doubt. Our focus shifts from our minor problems to the majestic glory of our Savior.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for reminding me today of what is really important. It is not my petty wants and needs that matter. It is my growth in faith that leads to your glory. Your eternal world is much more important than my things in this world. Just as David took his focus off of himself and put it on Your great deeds, remind me to do this when I doubt your benign influence in my life.

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 13:8-10 – For we cannot oppose the truth, but we must always stand for the truth. We are glad to seem weak if it helps to show that you are actually strong. We pray that you will become mature. I am writing this to you before I come. For I want to use the authority the Lord has given me to strengthen you, not tear you down.

Observation:

Paul is telling the Corinthians that whatever they are facing they must stand for the truth. Jesus tells us in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father, except through me.” Paul wants what is best for the Corinthians and is willing to seem weak if it helps them to gain strength. Paul is praying for the Corinthians to heed his apostolic advice and mature. Paul’s preference is to build the Corinthians up, but has given them warning that he is prepared to rebuke them if they do not repent.

Application:

God is truth, therefore Jesus is truth. When we face immorality, false teaching, whatever challenge and succumb we are opposing God and the truth. We need to view things through the lens of the Gospel and realize that I do not know better than God. God’s plan is perfect and is the only way. Prayer to make me aware of anything in my life which is in opposition to God is essential. Repentance of my sin and a stand for the truth is part of the maturation process Paul desires for the Corinthians. Walking with the Lord will give me strength whereas unaddressed sin will lead to destruction.

Prayer:

Father,
Please help me know that your way is the truth and not to use my own understanding to think my way is okay. Let me see areas where I need to develop a more mature relationship with you. May I use my walk to help disciple others to know you.

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 12:20-21 For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

Observation:

Sin ruins relationships. Even the best of friends and closest of confidants can be pulled apart by sin. Pride, jealousy, hostility, conceit, can all creep in and take what used to be edifying and uplifting and make it a mess. Paul, who was influential in building the foundations of the church of Corinth is now finding himself having to defend his apostleship. He knows that when he visits Corinth again things will be awkward. He won’t be able to be nurturing and they won’t be kind. He will have to confront and they will have to give an account.

Application:

A few things I see immediately.
1. There is no such thing as a perfect church. Even local churches the apostles started had serious issues. All those issues boil down to one issue…sin. If we are ever trying to put our finger on what is wrong in the local church it is simple. Sin. The church has been redeemed but the church still sins. Everyday our actions and attitudes highlight the reason Jesus came in the first place, because we are sinful and sin ruined our relationship with God.
2. Christian leadership has to call sin out. It isn’t easy and it’s not what a leader wants to spend their time doing, but it is part of the job. It isn’t comfortable and it shouldn’t be. No satisfaction is found in it, only when the people respond in obedience. If a leader enjoys calling people out, he or she is in fact in sin themselves.
3. A leader should mourn over sin. A leaders response to sin should not be simply frustration, anger, and impatience when people don’t obey Jesus’ commands. Most importantly it should be sadness and mourning. Why? Because the people aren’t disobeying the leader alone, ultimately they are disobeying Jesus. Sin ruins lives, marriages, relationships, friendships, and churches. When sin goes unconfessed and pride wells up and tempers flair and bitterness is rooted, then the love of Jesus is no longer the story being told. The beauty of the gospel is dwarfed by the shadow of sin and by a church that looks and acts like it isn’t redeemed. This should cause the leader’s heart to mourn. Anger isn’t a sufficient response to God’s glory being robbed. Only mourning is sufficient.

Prayer:

Father help me lead people to follow you. May I not be surprised when people act out in disobedience. May I be broken over my sin and the sin of the local church. May I lead, not in anger and frustration but rather in humility and brokenness. May I be the chief mourner over sin in our local church.

Scripture:

Vs 11 “Let a person understand that what we (Paul) say by letter when absent, we do when present.”
Vs 12 “… when they (Paul’s opponents) measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.”
Vs 17 “Let one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Observation:

Paul is frustrated at the Corinthian church here for having to defend himself against false attacks.
Paul simply wants to preach the Gospel to them, but they are listening to people who undermine the truth by casting doubt on Paul’s character and integrity. These opponents of Paul then go further to disparage Paul for superficial reasons like physical appearance and speaking ability.
But Paul’s opponents aren’t satisfied to try to tear down Paul.
We see their motivation: To boost their own stature!
But because they lack a true understanding and grasp of the Gospel, what they compare each other to is a false measure: Themselves!

Application:

What am I seeking on a daily basis? Truth? The Kingdom of God? Or the kingdom of self?
How can I tell? Who am I more critical of? Myself or others? And if I’m critical of someone, what are my intentions? To draw them closer to the Jesus, or to make me feel better about myself?
And this isn’t just about the people, in general, around me or in my life broadly. What about in church, specifically?
The Church as a global body is full of critics. Does it really need another one?
When I start measuring myself against others, it’s never going to end well.
I will either choose the wrong thing to measure or the wrong person to measure against.
Why? Because I want to make myself look good. I want to boast of myself.
I have a True measure I must stick to: God’s Word.
And I have a True Person to measure against: Jesus.
And what’s so beautiful about the Truth of the Gospel is that when I see how I don’t measure up, I don’t have to beat myself up or dwell in despair.
Why not? Because when God “measures me” or “compares” me” or “critiques me”, He looks at me and sees Jesus!
There is no better news than that.
And I pray I boast about all the days of my life!

Prayer:

God, you are so good.
Good to forgive me when I see others wrongly.
Good to forgive me when I see the leaders you out in place wrongly.
Good to forgive when I see myself wrongly.
Good to forgive me when I see You wrongly.
Thank you for Your Truth.
I pray I never seek another one.
Keep me from wanting to compare myself to false measures or boast about myself.
Thank you for loving me like the good father you are.
In Jesus name, Amen.

Scripture:

Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.”
??2 Corinthians? ?11:6? ?ESV??

Observation:

Paul admits his speaking isn’t as strong as others. Yet he does have both the strength of knowing Christ personally as well as theological depth.

Application:

I sometimes idolize Paul. Much of my practical Christianity comes from his letters to the churches in the first century. I have studied the letters he penned under the inspiration of the Spirit, I have memorize parts of them, and I have preached them for 15+ years. Yet there is a story in scripture that has always made me think. Paul was preaching so long one night that a guy fell out of a window and died. Paul then lays hands on him and he comes back to life. What does that have to do with 2 Corinthians 11? Everything. It means that Paul was boring sometimes and he preached way too long other times. It means that Paul was learning and growing. He wasn’t a super Christian. He was a normal guy. Paul reveals in 2 Corinthians that he is aware that speaking isn’t his main contribution to the church. Now we know historically that Paul could handle himself from the front, but he recognizes that he is better reasoning with people through letters and one on one, than he is speaking in front of large crowds.

A few action steps…
1. Be aware of my strengths.
2. Be equally aware of my weaknesses.
3. Recognize it is ok to not be great at everything.

Prayer:
Father, Thank you for your love. Thank you that I don’t have to be an expert at everything. You have simply called me to do what I have been gifted to do through the power of your Spirit. Help me learn to be ok with doing my part and trusting others to do theirs.

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 8:9

9: 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 through his poverty might become rich.

Observation:

In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, chapter 8, he turns to collections for the poor. Titus had organized this collection the previous year. Paul is sending Titus back with this latter to renew the efforts.
In verse 9, he uses the example of Christ giving his life for us to show the ultimate selfless sacrifice. Christ was God, equal in power and glory with the Father. Yet for our sake he became poor. Not only did he become man for us, but he was a poor man too. He was born of poor circumstances, lived a poor life and died in poverty. He did this all for our sake.

Application:

When I first read this verse, I looked at it on surface level about giving. As I reread it I found God speaking to me about my life and the worries that I have. I realize that I spend too much time with worldly pursuits and trying to maintain the worldly things that I have accumulated. When I see the example of Christ giving all of his riches for us, it puts my worldly riches into perspective. Christ died so that I could be rich. My possessions pale in comparison to being rich in the love and favor of God. My home, my job, and my things are unimportant in comparison to the riches of the hope for eternal life and the inheritance of the kingdom.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for giving me the reminder today of what really counts. Keep me focused on the promise of the riches of Your kingdom. When I get occupied chasing worldly riches, remind me of the things that really count. I know that I am part of the riches of Your grace, and the promise of your kingdom.

Scripture:

“For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10 ESV)

Observation:

Why does Paul make a distinction about grief/sorrow comparing to effective repentance? Is there such a thing as ineffective repentance?

Application:

Effective v. ineffective: Most times I pretty much know when I am spinning my wheels. When I spin my wheels I know I am not getting anywhere, not getting the results I want. But when it comes to aspects of sorrow and repentance nowhere is it murkier than dealing with my heart. I do things and can be “sorry” for them (more often than not when I get caught at something) but I am sorry I got caught, not that I did it in the first place. Not exactly a picture of “godly grief.” What I do not bring to mind or to meditate on is the nature of the thing that I did: Is it sin? If so, am I aware of who I sinned against? Every time I sin, I first and foremost sin against God. Period. I can toss that off quickly because He isn’t backing me up against the wall, my wife is (or child, brother, employer, etc.). I can even toss that off too quickly by claiming forgiveness. James writes about confessing sin to one another that we could be effectively healed. How does the healing take place? I acknowledge that confession is cathartic: Makes me feel good about laying my burden down. But what else?

I must come to grips with the fact that my sin, wherever and to whomever it occurred, was first and foremost an offense to His Holiness. If I don’t do that then effective repentance (if possible at all) is difficult to obtain. I want my repentance to produce as lasting fruit as I can obtain even if the same confession comes out of my mouth day after day. What I need to do: 1) be sensitive to sin—do not become hard hearted or calloused “Soften my heart, O God…”; 2) Take opportunity to confess, not only to God, but to others as well. Want accountability? I must develop both a willing tongue to confess and a merciful ear to hear; 3) Make this habitual and part and parcel of walking worthy of the Gospel.

Prayer:

Father, please make it so. I want my heart to be continually softened so that I am more sensitive to You every day. I depend upon Your work in my life and I engage in cooperation with You Holy Spirit to bring it about.

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 6:8-10 – We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. We are ignored even though we are well known. We live close to death even though we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, yet we have everything.

Observation:

Paul and Timothy serve God through the power of the Holy Spirit regardless of their circumstances. The truth of the Gospel they preach is consistent, yet the very people who they brought the message to may choose to ignore it or even retaliate against the messenger. Paul’s ministry remains faithful through trial and hardship. Paul’s heart is broken for the lost, but he is spirt filled with joy. Poor by earthly standards, Paul is filled with spiritual riches that he shares and he wants for nothing.

Application:

When serving God, that is what must be kept first and foremost. We are privileged to be able to serve God! Hardships, trouble, people upset or wanting to shut down the message is all part of the territory. Therefore our service, is not conditional on acceptance or praise. Subsequently, our message is the truth that Jesus is our only hope to be made right with God through his sacrifice on the cross for our sins. There is not an alternate Gospel that is more palatable but has the saving power of Jesus work on the cross. God did this because he loves each and every one of us so much. Let this be enough to fill me to share His love and disciple others out of His love.

Prayer:

Father,
Please help remind me that it is a privilege to serve an all-powerful, all knowing, all loving God. Let my service not be deterred by trials or adversity from others. May your Spirit guide me to share your truth with love to those who are yet to know you.

Scripture:

2 Cor. 5:18-19 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Observation:

Salvation is from God; it was His idea. The story of salvation is the story of reconciliation. In order to be reconciled we first had to be separated. The understanding that we were separated from God before the work of Christ is essential to understanding the gospel. The gospel is that God no longer counts the trespasses of men against them because the payment for their trespasses was paid through Christ’s sacrifice. A believer not only receives this but spends his life with the entrusted responsibility of sharing this message and life with the world around them.

Application:

I can’t ever forget that apart from Christ I would be separated from God. I did not woo God over to my side, but rather through Christ, I have been won back to God. I have been both purchased and adopted through the work of Christ. I have been reconciled. This is my life. This is my story as well. As a follower of Christ I have the privilege of being reconciled to God and the responsibility to share this with the world. I have been entrusted with this new life and with this message of reconciliation. I don’t have the freedom to be selfish with the story. I must share it with my life and with my words. We have but one story to share and it is a great honor to share it!

Prayer:

Father don’t let me think that the message of reconciliation you have both saved me with and entrusted to me is only “my story”. Remind me it is my song as well. May my life and words sing the ministry of reconciliation to the world around me. Thank you for reconciling me back to Yourself!

Scripture:

2 Cor 4:8-9, 17 NIV

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.

17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Observation:

Pain
Purpose

Pain – If there’s one thing Paul is familiar with – it’s pain. I bet you are, too. Who enjoys pain? I’ve been in pain because I lived for Christ and I’ve been in pain for living unlike Christ. You too? I’ve yet to prefer the pain which comes from Sin.

When we are going through any type of pressure or pain for Jesus, it becomes a game changer. It becomes bearable, tolerable, and purposeful. Jesus does the heavy lifting. We are never abandoned or destroyed. Ever!

Purpose – in verse 17 Paul points out we’re doing this, not for short term but “eternal glory”. The purpose is what determines our ability to tolerate the pain. The “why” – Eternal Glory.

Triathletes, pregnant moms, and Jesus prove that humans can not only handle pain, we can thrive in it, produce from it, and profit from it – depending on the purpose.

What is the purpose of the pain you’re going through?

Application:

Pain for the proper purpose is productive. I’ve spent more time in un-purposeful pain because I ran from purposeful pain. There are sayings like “pick your poison”, “choose your battles”, etc.

The application here is – pick your purposeful pain. All paths in life are painful. Satan will fool us with fake paths of pleasure. Pick the ones which serve the purpose of eternal glory. Jesus has your back!

Prayer:
Father, thank you for doing our heavy lifting. I’m honored to suffer for you. I’ve tried suffering for myself. Not good.

Thank you for never abandoning us. For being in the foxholes with us. In Jesus name, amen.

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 3:2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all.

Observation:

Paul shares with the Corinthians that the proof of the legitimacy and authority of his ministry is the Corinthian church themselves.

Application:

A letter of recommendation is requested in order to give credibility to someone’s ability, talent or legitimacy. Some people seek out degrees, titles or certifications to legitimize their ministry. However the best proof of legitimacy for someone’s ministry is fruit. Some seek applause for their work in ministry. I say, let the applause for my labor be found in the obedience of generations to come.

Prayer:

Father may I never seek for anything to legitimize the ministry you have called me to but the fruit of the labor you have empowered me to do.

Scripture:
“For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.”
??2 Corinthians? ?2:4? ?ESV??

Observation:
Paul shares with the Corinthian church that he recognizes the heaviness of his first letter and how strongly it came across. However he shares that it wasn’t easy for him to write it. That though it caused them pain in reading it, it caused him pain in writing it.

Application:
Calling people out seems easy. You know the truth, they aren’t living it out and so BAMM, you drop a truth bomb and walk away. Yet it isn’t that easy nor is spiritual leadership that cavalier. When people are in sin and their lives are in disobedience it is the role of the spiritual leader to call it out. With years of ministry experience I have done this both the wrong way and the right way. The wrong way is to deal with it in a black and white, you’re wrong, I’m right manner. Rarely are things as black and white as we make them. Sin complicates things and muddies the water. Also if I deal with their sin in a non caring way I have to check my motivation of getting involved in the first place. Paul cried as he wrote 1 Corinthians. He called out sexual sin. He called out misuse and abuse of spiritual gifts. He called the church to order. Yet it reads totally differently when you recognize Paul was crying as he wrote it. He cared about the church and wanted them to walk in the light. The darkness that was creeping in bothered Paul deeply. He wrote the letter because he cared, not because He wanted them to know he was right. I must check my motives. DO I correct because I care or because I know I am right. The answer changed everything. Correcting without care is judgment. Correcting because you care is pastoring.

Prayer:
Father help me check my motives when I correct. May I only shy away from correction because I sense my heart is judgmental. May I never shy away because it is hard or uncomfortable. Teach me to be broken over other people’s sin the same way I am broken over my own.

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 1:4

4: The God of all comfort, who comforts us in all of our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort that we ourselves receive from God

Observation:

Paul is writing to comfort the Corinthians after severely correcting them. Paul had just faced trouble in Ephesus.
He talks about thanksgiving for divine comfort in afflictions. “The God of all comfort, who comforts us in all of our afflictions.”

Application:

What a wonderful soothing assurance to know that the God of ALL comfort has comfort for me. God loves me so much that when I need help most, He is there for me. Paul suffers persecution greater than I can imagine, yet God comforts him in his sufferings. I must always remember that God is there. He has his arms open wide for me, ready for a huge embrace. What a wonderful place to be, in His arms. I just have to lean in and accept it. He is the God of ALL comfort. This world makes it easy to get down. Sometimes, I may even blame God for my troubles. I must remember to lean in, into the embrace of the God of ALL comfort.

Prayer:

Holy Father, my troubles seem so large without you holding me up. When I need it most, I survive only because you are there with me. I must remember that you are always right there. I just have to lean in and let you comfort me. I open my arms wide to receive and enjoy your embrace. You are the God of all comfort, who comforts me in all of my afflictions.

Scripture:

“, act like men…” (1 Corinthians 16:13c ESV)

Observation:

Why did Paul slip this in? I almost just blew right by this. “Be watchful.” Ok, got it. “Stand firm in the faith.” Goes without saying. “Be strong.” Ok, got this one too. “Let all that you do be done in love (v 14).” Yeah..you bet this one. But what is meant by “act like men?” What does that look like?

Application:

Once upon a time I attended a Men’s Conference where the main speaker was this guy Mike Bulmore. He opened with the declaration “Men! I assume I am talking to men. This is going to be a conference about being godly men so I am going to be blunt and clear and…” so forth and so on. But whatever he preached and taught on I was done for the weekend at: “I assume I am talking to men.” The way I look at the Scriptures changed with that. There is now a mental picture of what a godly, pursuing man looks like—not benign but purposeful, eager to embrace the Word of God as a reflexive condition—so that I grow into a mature man, eager and ABLE for good works. Some scriptures that come to mind: Describing David: “…having served the purpose of God in his generation…” Paul to Timothy: “Embrace these things, be absorbed in them…” All throughout the Psalms: “I shall…I must…I will…” (My pencil lead gets empty trying to circle all the “shalls, musts, wills” (called imperatives)). And Jesus: “..set His face like flint…” I look at these and I get discouraged because what I have written is difficult. And at the same time I am up for the Challenge. Being a man then is to remember that in my weakness He is made strong. Therefore I participate in His strength by being determined to do the “shalls, the “I will.., the “I must”—to be determined to serve the “purpose of God” for me in my generation understanding that He is defining that day by day; that being “faithful” is an action, a verb, and not a noun or adjective in this application. A man works and doesn’t coast in following Jesus. To the End of my days….

Prayer:

Father, Every time I write I pray that I am writing to myself. The danger I face is thinking that this is somehow a teaching moment for someone else. It could be. But I am the one that must be reminded day by day that I am weak and needy. Oh, how I need You. Therefore I take strength from the Word of God, embrace those imperatives and encouragements, and set my feet (weak and meager and smelly that they are) to walk purposefully worthy of the Gospel. Today I set my shoulders square, my jaw firm, eyes clear, with joy in my heart and a song in my mouth for You alone are worthy of anything of worth that I can bring. Today I declare again my desire to “serve the purpose of God in my generation…”