Category: Good Life Journal

Journal 2 Cor 13 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.

Test yourselves—or do you not realize this about yourselves: That Jesus Christ is in you?!! (unless you indeed you fail to meet the test).

I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test.  But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed.  For we cannot do anything against the truth, but (do things) only for the truth.  For we are glad when we are weak, and you are strong.  Your restoration is what we pray for…” 2 Cor 13:5-9a

Observation:  Why should I examine myself?  Isn’t that like doubting?

Analysis:  Quick and concise answer: No, it is not like doubting.

It is, though, the attitude of self-testing, self-evaluation.  And it is good and preferable action on the part of a believer.

I need to remember the guardrails of the differences between Justification and Sanctification:

• Justification is all the Trinity’s initiative and execution.  My response to that FINISHED work is faith that it was done, and it was done for me.  I contribute ZERO and there is ZERO expected as a contribution to that Work.
• Sanctification is, broadly speaking, my RESPONSE to that Work of Justification.  If Jesus can die for me, the least I can do is live for Him.  Living for Jesus is pursuing in a determined manner righteousness, holiness, and godliness.

So, with these guardrails firmly in place, examining and testing myself makes perfect sense.

Therefore, my question to the face in the mirror, is “Do you, O Lord, live in me? Are my actions the actions you want me to have?”  When my spouse sees me before my first cup of coffee, does she see godliness on the hoof?  Or does she see something else?

This is a high bar.

Taking the metaphor of the athlete in play, how do I train to run a marathon?  Being a fat guy, I must start walking first, longer and longer distances.  Then maybe in several years I can attain that marathon distance.  It is the same with pursuing godliness—set attainable goals, reach them, then set more goals.  Set a stretch goal, something just beyond my reach but within sight just the same.

God tests his subjects.  Why does he do that?  Not because He needs to see how I would do because, being omniscient, He already knows.  God tests so that we can grade our own paper.  We evaluate ourselves; He doesn’t need to.

If I do not expect much of myself, then I produce little.  Godliness doesn’t come by osmosis—there is an effort expected by (and with) the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:  Lord God, this hits home today.  I look in the mirror and I see little.  Maybe I am too critical, beat’s me.  However, I know that you do not forsake me; you are intimately and persistently involved in my growth in You.  Your objective is to make me in the image of the Son.  Thank you, I am on board with that.  AMEN

 

Journal Ps 87-88 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “But I, O Lord, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you.

O Lord, why do you cast my soul away?  Why do you hide your face from me?  Afflicted and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am helpless.

Your wrath has swept over me; your dreadful assaults destroy me.  They surround me like a flood all day long; they close in on me together.

You have caused my beloved and my friend to shun me; my companions have become darkness.” Ps 88:13-18

Observation:  Such a gloomy set of verses.  Referring to the premise that Psalms is a mirror of the soul, a written example of real life, what could this be about?  Depression, despondency about failed/failing friendships…

Analysis:  The way Christianity is practiced is a strange thing.

Not that practicing Christianity is strange, just the way that I see it and have experienced it practiced, that is, alone.

Oh, the Sunday gatherings are emphasized (“…not neglecting to meet together (as is the habit of some) but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Heb 10:25), but hospitality with believers and more importantly, individual friendships in the Lord.

The Psalmist is wringing his hands over the sensation that he is alone; separated from God, from the Spirit, from his Face.  Moaning and groaning through the night.  Why?  Because he is alone.

Is he really alone, separated from God?  No, of course not.  But that knowledge in faith is not breaking through, either.

Feeling alone is like that.  Like a black hole in the heart.  “What am I supposed to do now?  I need help but who do I turn to?  Who is the Jonathan in my life like David had?”  (refer to 1 Sam 18:1-3)

I need a Jonathan in my life, knitted to my heart.  Everybody does.  The lack of a Jonathan may not be felt or recognized, but the need is there.  The Psalmist above knew it.

I know it too…

Prayer:  Father, you created deep friendships to occur.  I long for, even pine for one.  I have my wife, who is such a gift of Grace I cannot imagine life without her.  But it is not the same as you know.  Until then, until That Day, make me satisfied with what you provide, hoping for, but not presumptuous about a “friend closer than a brother.”  And, while I am at it, help me not to be shallow with the guys.  AMEN.

Scripture

 

Vs 1 I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.

Vs 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— ⁴ and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. ⁵ On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses …

 

⁷ So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 

Observation

 

God gave Paul a grand and glorious “vision”.

God also gave Paul a painful and lasting “thorn”.

Paul was hesitant to speak about the grand “vision”, but “gladly” boasted about the “thorn”.

Paul wanted God to get the glory, and the power of Christ to be upon him.

Paul did not want to speak about his own power, but the power of God.

 

Application

 

What am I eager to speak about? What am I hesitant to speak about?

Am eager to speak about my grandest endeavors and accomplishments?

Am I quiet or hesitant to reveal my weaknesses and struggles?

If so, I may be working against the very work of God!

 

God is in control and sovereign over all things.

God is the giver of all things.

God can give wonders and visions.

But God can also give struggle, or even pain … Do I have a category for that?

No one likes to think like that!

 

But perhaps my weaknesses are where God would be seen as strong … even glorious!

Ans if God is not answering my pleadings to be rid of my weaknesses … maybe He knows this is best!

 

So, what will I “boast” about, then?

In God’s “upside down kingdom” I need to boast about my weakness, then I have the power of Christ upon me … then I am strong.

 

Prayer

 

Thank you, God, for your word

Thank you that you always know what is best

Help me see my weaknesses from your perspective

Help me to be drawn to you in them

And Help me to see your grace, and strength, and power

In Jesus name

Amen

Scripture:

 

[13] For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. [14] And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. [15] So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

 

Observation:

 

One of the ways Satan disguises himself is as the angel of light. He can use this tactic to fool people in the guise of religion. It should not surprise us that his minions can do the same thing. Posing as teachers and prophets in God’s name.

 

Application:

 

One reason the scriptures warn us so much about false teachers and false apostles is because it can be very hard to discern that they are false and they can lead us far from God with their teaching.

 

The Church has had plenty of false apostles throughout history pretending to be true servants of Christ and it is no less of a problem now than when Paul wrote to the Corinthians. In fact, it is probably worse.

 

Corinth was going through all sorts of bad things when Paul wrote this. The people of the United States are now much like the Corinthians were then. Susceptible to sweet talk that may lead away from the Lord. Look around.. bad is good, good is bad. People are being led astray by false teaching and even Christians led away from the Lord by false apostles.

 

We need to all be very aware of what is going on around us. False apostles will have smooth speech and apparent wisdom but be motivated by power, greed or some other ungodly motivation. They will add or remove from the God breathed Word as thy see fit to meet their need.

 

Be alert. Have discernment. Compare a person’s outward appearance with their heart. Check what they teach – are they adding to, or removing from, the Word of God to suit their purpose? Are they staying strict to the Word or is there too much “interpretation”? Remember that Satan knows the scriptures and can appear to be something he is not.

 

Prayer:

 

Lord you are my cornerstone. Build be up with the strength of your Word and the Holy Spirit living in me. Keep me alert and give me good discernment. Let me glorify you in all I do and never be led away from you. In Jesus’ mighty name I pray, amen.

 

 

Journal 2 Cor 10 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…” 2 Cor 10:3-5a

Observation:  Every time I run across “spiritual warfare” references I am finding out I need to think about what the Scriptures are saying with increased concentration.  This is a subject that I can run off the rails about…

Analysis:  There are two venues that I think the Scriptures reference about “spiritual warfare.”

One is the spooky, unseen, spiritual realm.  This is referenced in Ephesians 2 (maybe other places as well).

Another is the spiritual realm that is battled within hearts daily.  I think that is what the Holy Spirit is referencing above.

Where is the Battle primarily being conducted?  It is not of the things of this world—those things are destined to rust, rot, and decay.

The primary battle is my heart and mind.  If my heart and mind can be dissuaded from practicing that Jesus is Lord, not with just lip-service, not by any demonstrative acts of claiming that Jesus is Lord (outward, seemingly pious appearances but with a deserted heart) then the enemy’s battle is won.

It is why my mind is desired to be renewed (Ro 12) so I can prove what the will of God is.  In this renewal I am waging war with arguments—bad doctrine— “lofty opinion”—so in proving what the will of God is, the good, acceptable, perfect, will of God I can…what?  What can I do?

One way (and a bad way) is to cultivate a mind-set of arguing by stocking up Christian ammunition to be ready for anybody who may have a contrary opinion.  Yes, the Scriptures say “be ready to give an answer for the hope within you…”  (1 Pet 3:15) But this is not “I am right, you are wrong” type of arguments that folks (like me) usually get involved with.

The question boils down to about the Hope within me.  Once I am set and fortified with being able to talk about my Hope, then I can start addressing strongholds.  The first set of strongholds?  Those are the ones within me, concurrently living and battling parallel to my Hope.

Line upon line, precept upon precept: I must build my way to maturity and not just provocatively and presumptuously jump into the deep end of the pool without preparations.

Prayer: Lord, help me to pursue, aggressively pursue maturity.  I don’t want to live presumptuously on Your Grace when I know I have responsibilities toward drawing near to You.  Claiming you as my Lord in all things is not just going limp in Faith, it is becoming a factual disciple in all that implies.  AMEN.

 

Scripture-
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 – The point is this:  whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Observation-

Paul is writing to the church at Corinth about a gift of support for the saints in Jerusalem.  How we sow is what we will reap.  This is not only instruction about giving but how and why we give.  Giving is a condition of the heart in response to the gospel not something that we are just commanded to do as a transaction.  God loves when a person is glad to give!

Application –

God does not need my giving and he certainly doesn’t want it begrudgingly.  In verse 7 we are told that everyone must give as decided in our heart.  This is not just a matter of a mind exercise of budget and bills.  Giving needs to be in response to the grace we have been given to forgive our sins, provide for others in need as our needs have been met.   If this is not my mindset, I need to pray for the Spirit to let me see how I am forgiven and that all things provided to me come from God.

Prayer –

Father,

Thank you for your grace and forgiveness in loving us.  Let my gifts be a response from my heart to your love.  May my giving be first, cheerful and not out of compulsion to check as paid.

Scripture: “As it is written…” (2 Cor 8:15a)

Observation:  Four words.  A lifetime of learning, discernment, and practice.  Four words that can make all the difference in how I live my life before God.

Analysis: As I was reading this chapter, I stopped short at these four words.

Oh, I read and reread the entire chapter…twice…just to see if I should write about anything else.  I couldn’t.  These four words captivated me…. again.

I remember reading about this practice.  A long time ago I read that if I wanted to be a effective disciple I couldn’t get much better than to practice “It is written…”

I think that it is more, much more, than just reciting verses.  I got into that folly of using “scripture bullets” and “bible bombs” before.  I find these “bullets and bombs” being used out of context a lot.  I recognize that because I did it too.  Most folks fall into the same hole.

“As it is written” is more than rattling off chapter and verse references; it is getting to a point where the Living Word is pulsating through the fiber of my being, filling up the empty spaces between my ears, it is the first thing I think about in the morning and the last thought before drifting off to sleep.

It is knowing the story behind the story.  It is beginning to see in some manner the full council of God.  The Gospel is like that: it is not one, two, or even twelve verses.  The Gospel is woven in some manner in and out through all the Bible; from Genesis through Revelation.

How does “As it is written” change the way I think, the way I talk, the way I do things?  By committing to pursue this phrase, it causes me to be more thoughtful about the Word of God and less dependent on my earthly thoughts and specifically opinions.

I have a lot of opinions, some I speak about, others I now must choke back (or minimally preface “this is my opinion, I am not certain that the Bible supports what I am about to say.”)  “As it is written” keeps me from spouting off at the mouth on stuff I really don’t know about.

As a believer, I stand on the shoulders of godly men that came before me.  I am convinced and sure that there is not an original thought concerning Christianity going through my gray matter that has not been encountered before.

Here is the example to follow: Jesus.  Jesus confronted everyone with “As it is written.”  Paul does it.  Peter does it.  John does it.

Prayer:  Lord God.  I have inflated thoughts.  Can’t help it I suppose, sin is part of the old man in me that I am battling.  I am determined to make Your Word flow through my veins like was said of John Bunyan (“Cut him and he will bleed bibline..”).  Please make it so in me.  AMEN

Scripture: “As it is written…” (2 Cor 8:15a)

Observation:  Four words.  A lifetime of learning, discernment, and practice.  Four words that can make all the difference in how I live my life before God.

Analysis: As I was reading this chapter, I stopped short at these four words.

Oh, I read and reread the entire chapter…twice…just to see if I should write about anything else.  I couldn’t.  These four words captivated me…. again.

I remember reading about this practice.  A long time ago I read that if I wanted to be a effective disciple I couldn’t get much better than to practice “It is written…”

I think that it is more, much more, than just reciting verses.  I got into that folly of using “scripture bullets” and “bible bombs” before.  I find these “bullets and bombs” being used out of context a lot.  I recognize that because I did it too.  Most folks fall into the same hole.

“As it is written” is more than rattling off chapter and verse references; it is getting to a point where the Living Word is pulsating through the fiber of my being, filling up the empty spaces between my ears, it is the first thing I think about in the morning and the last thought before drifting off to sleep.

It is knowing the story behind the story.  It is beginning to see in some manner the full council of God.  The Gospel is like that: it is not one, two, or even twelve verses.  The Gospel is woven in some manner in and out through all the Bible; from Genesis through Revelation.

How does “As it is written” change the way I think, the way I talk, the way I do things?  By committing to pursue this phrase, it causes me to be more thoughtful about the Word of God and less dependent on my earthly thoughts and specifically opinions.

I have a lot of opinions, some I speak about, others I now must choke back (or minimally preface “this is my opinion, I am not certain that the Bible supports what I am about to say.”)  “As it is written” keeps me from spouting off at the mouth on stuff I really don’t know about.

As a believer, I stand on the shoulders of godly men that came before me.  I am convinced and sure that there is not an original thought concerning Christianity going through my gray matter that has not been encountered before.

Here is the example to follow: Jesus.  Jesus confronted everyone with “As it is written.”  Paul does it.  Peter does it.  John does it.

Prayer:  Lord God.  I have inflated thoughts.  Can’t help it I suppose, sin is part of the old man in me that I am battling.  I am determined to make Your Word flow through my veins like was said of John Bunyan (“Cut him and he will bleed bibline..”).  Please make it so in me.  AMEN

Scripture: “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God….

As it is, I rejoice—not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting.

For you felt a godly grief so that you suffered no loss through us.  For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves—what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment!” 2 Cor 7:1 and 9-11

Observation:  What is the nitty gritty of holiness and what am I bringing to completion?

Analysis:  My wife asked me this morning during devotions why it is that I ask so many questions and provide so few answers?

“Good question, I replied: Why do you think?”  No, I didn’t, but it would have been a good reply just the same.

The real answer is what Paul will write later to the Corinth church: “Examine yourselves; see if you are in the Faith.” (2 Cor 13:5) Asking questions of the Face in the Mirror is not an exercise in doubt, it is exercising self-evaluation, leading to increased godliness and maturity.

These are in the same category of self-questions like “Humble yourselves before the Lord…”  (James 4:10) If I do these things (with our God’s explicit approval by the way) then I don’t have to wait on His Hand when I perhaps least expect it (or want it).  His mind and objective is to make me in the Image of the Son (Ro 8:29) so I might as well actively submit, rather than passively wait.

I want to bring holiness to completion in me; not for any other reason than it honors my Lord who died for my sin and brings redemption and adoption as a gift.  I am justified before the Father only by His choice in being my Atonement.  Why is this important to note and continually review?

The Gospel has two parts: Justification and Sanctification.  I am Justified through the Atonement, a process that I had absolutely zero to do with and wouldn’t qualify for it in any stretch of the imagination.

I can be Sanctified; not only objectively but subjectively as well.  Fact: I am called, directed, encouraged, exhorted to pursue Sanctification (or holiness, godliness, righteousness, etc.) until the End of My Days.  I can either be passive about it or ACTIVE.  Since the Holy Spirit is going to conduct His business in this, do I wonder if He wants a passive participant or an active and willing one?

Repentance is a response to the revealing of Sin in my life.  I can acknowledge Sin and ask for forgiveness.  Inbetween somewhere is REGRET.  One side of this coin is “I am sorry I got caught” regret.  The other side is Regret that I dishonored the One whom I fear.

One leads to “oh, well…”; the other leads to a regret of godly sincerity and a determination to change (repentance).

I have encountered that I repented for the same thing repeatedly in my lifetime.  This doesn’t mean my repentance is ineffective, it is a sign that I have willing engaged in the battle of what is going to dominate my Soul.

Prayer:  Lord God: Thank you for keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing in me.  I fall, I stumble, I start to turn my back on the road of righteousness, and You tap me on the shoulder and turn me around.  Every time.  You have never forsaken me in this.

Keep me on the narrow road.  Increase my comprehension of the Scriptures that I may know You, the only Lord.  AMEN.

 

Scripture: “…but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way:

• by great endurance; in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;
• by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love;
• by truthful speech, and the power of God;
• with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left;
• through honor and dishonor;
• through slander and praise.

We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.” 2 Cor 6:4-10

Observation:  The above is not the section of 2 Cor 6 that gets mentioned the most (“Do not be unequally yoked…” probably gains that prize…) but, talking about godly character trumps “watch outs…”

Analysis: The long-term gain in being a disciple is the increasing development of godly Character.

There are several metaphors that can describe the process of being a disciple.  Most are inadequate in a full sense but do start to give a mental picture of what discipleship is about.

I am under no illusion: all of these are shadows of the depth of what Jesus is doing with me.  One thing that I have come aware of is that, if I want to be serious about my Faith, I must take an active role in cooperating with the Holy Spirit to accomplish the Goal of the High Calling in Christ. (Phil 3:14)

One of these metaphors is the pattern of Craft: Apprentice, Journeyman, Master.

How many times have I been satisfied to settle for being an apprentice, or worse yet—a wanna be apprentice?

Paul writes of himself and, hopefully, for Timothy and Titus who are accompanying Paul here.  How much of this, as Paul dictates, is Timmy or Titus saying to themselves, “Whoa!  What have I signed up for?”  That kind of reaction should be hitting me every day—more challenge for me to surrender my life to the Cross.

Reality: I am presented with what Paul is writing about every day—just not to the extent he relates.  I am tested and confronted to act and react in godliness daily.

Preach the Gospel.  To preach, I first must REMEMBER the Gospel.  To remember, I must teach myself the Gospel.  To teach myself, I must go over and review every aspect of the Gospel.

This just came to mind: I stand fast in the Faith of the Gospel.  But the Scriptures do not ask me to just stand, it calls me to Walk—walk worthy of the Gospel.  It wants me to contribute in cooperation to grow in Godliness.

Prayer:  Father, how I want to split the idea that declaring the Kingdom is different from growing in Holiness.  But it isn’t, and yet it is.  Perhaps it is just because I am a creature, bound by limitations that it is easier to choose one function/task over another.

Help me to integrate all the facets of the Gospel into my walk. I want to serve You fully.  AMEN

 

Scripture:

 

[1] Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.

 

Observation:

 

Paul considered the gift of his ministry to be mercy of God. After all, look where he came from, so to be sharing the gospel as his ministry, can only be through the mercy of God.

 

Paul goes boldly. He says not to lose heart because some are just not ready to hear – the gospel is veiled to those who are perishing.

 

He says he will preach God’s Word as it is, with no tampering.

 

Application:

 

Paul is talking about his ministry but this applies to all of us as we do what God is leading us to do as we minister to others.

 

Speaking for myself I can say that it is only by God’s mercy that I am where I am, helping build his kingdom. I was not persecuting Christians, but in my own way I was Paul. Many of us can probably relate to that.

 

Go boldly and know that it takes some people quite awhile to see the light of the Gospel and live by it, so be patient and don’t get discouraged and lose heart. Let the Holy Spirit lead you to recognize those whose eyes are so blinded by the god of this world that they will never see the light of the Gospel.

 

Maybe all of us already know this but if not, ask – What message is God giving me? How is God calling me to build his kingdom? Are my words and actions glorifying him? Am I following his will ministering to others with my words and actions? Am I getting discouraged and losing heart?

 

Whether through our words or our actions, we are producing something. Pray and ask that the product of our words and actions be the fruit of God and not leaves that wither away, or worse yet, fruit that is not of God.

 

It has never been so obvious in my lifetime just how lost this country is without the peace and love that we get for free by God’s grace as we follow Jesus Christ. Go boldly in these tumultuous times, in Jesus’ name, knowing that this world is lost without Him.

 

Prayer:

 

Lord we need you desperately. Thank you for your mercy. Use me Lord. Help me to go boldly in your name to help produce fruit that honors you. Show me when I’m on the right path, and redirect me when I’m not. Keep me from being discouraged as I stumble, fumble, hit barriers, and when it seems like I can’t go any further. In Jesus’ holy name, amen.

2 Corinthians 2:7-8 – so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.  So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.

Observation-

Paul is writing this letter to the Corinthian Church to issue guidance on how to the deal with sin within the church.  This is the focus on why he wrote this part of the letter before seeing the church in person.  Paul instructs the church to forgive and comfort a brother or sister that has sinned.  If we don’t forgive, the person could be overcome with sadness.  Lastly, Paul begs the church to love their brother.

Application –

This is the model for how Christians are supposed to respond to sin within our body.  Just think about how and what we have been forgiven of even though we are undeserving.  How many times did I have to hear the gospel yet God forgave me as I was still a sinner. Sin has serious consequences and we can’t just ignore it. We may not like what someone has done especially if it was against us, but as Jesus tells us at the conclusion of the Lord’s prayer we are to forgive others and we will be forgiven.  If we do not forgive others then the Father will not forgive us.  Only the love of Jesus can allow us to forgive and bring back the one lost sheep.                                                                             

Prayer –

Father,

Thank you for your love, grace and mercy for us.  Help me to be one who realizes the magnitude of forgiveness you have for me of a debt that I could never pay.  Let the love of Christ power me to forgive others as I have been forgiven.

Scripture: “Now if the ministry of death (carved in letters on stone) came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory (which was being brought to an end), will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?

For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, [then] the ministry of righteousness much far exceed it in glory.

Indeed, in this case, what once had glory (the Old Covenant) has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it (the New Covenant).  For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

Since we have such a hope, we are very bold…And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another…” excerpts from 2 Cor 3:7-12 and v18

Observation: Here is where I must think about what the Scriptures say.  I can get lost in the “because of this, then that” assertions being made and want to jump right to the eye-candy of…well, I don’t know here.  Hard to see, isn’t it?

Analysis: Reading several chapters in a row and daily starts me thinking.

I have usually read a single chapter and tried to drain it dry, or more likely, found one little nugget that was easy to find and latch onto that with vigor.

Problem is with that process; I am only finding the one nugget in a field of nuggets—one is easy and fits into a pocket.  What about the rest that could fill a wheelbarrow?

What is Paul hammering here?  He is being thorough and pounding a theme using the comparison between the Old and New Covenants.  I am of the generations of the New Covenant, right?  Old has passed away?

I think that Paul is hammering on vision.  What am I supposed to be about?  The ministry of Condemnation or the ministry of Righteousness?  Old Cov or New Cov?  Death or Life?

Vision is what can drive me forward, always forward.  As a believer my voice should be “Follow me as I follow Christ!”  The focus of the statement isn’t “Follow me” as the primary part of the statement; no, it is “as I follow Christ.”

As God appointed Moses for the ways of the Old Covenant, there was Glory in it.  Mounds and heaps of Glory.  But it was, at it is said, not of Life but of Death.  If the testimony of the Old Covenant was of Death, and it had Glory, mounds of Glory, then what of the New Covenant?  How much Glory does the New Cov have in comparison?  Tons and Tons and Tons.

This is the kind of stuff that punches up the Vision quotient.  It is what can charge me every morning, put punch in my reading, makes me want, really want to pursue holiness (sanctification) in my conduct and relationships, inspires me to pursue the higher gifts and want to prophecy.

It makes me understand that I have been set free, really free from the bonds of sin and death.  I can learn to Love like Jesus loves, and so much more….

I am, and can be, transformed!

Prayer:  Father, this morning I wondered where this Chapter was going to take me.  Thank you for opening my heart and mind and letting my fingers talk.  AMEN

Journal 2 Cor 1 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “For our boast is this: The testimony of our conscience (is) that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.

For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand and I hope you will fully understand—just as you did partially understand us—that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you.” 2 Cor 1:12-14

Observation: What does Paul boast about here?  In another place Paul writes about his boast is in the Cross; but it isn’t singular.  Boasting comes at all different experience levels—and there is hope on this acknowledgement on That Day….

Analysis: Could I have referenced something else?  Sure.  I could have thought and written about afflictions or about Yes and No’s.

In all my readings I have experienced skipping over the “in-betweens” and paying attention to the “eye-candy.”  But that doesn’t get me into the details of walking worthy of the Gospel.  Some of the fine-tuning of discipleship are found in the in-betweens.

• “…we have behaved with simplicity and godly sincerity.”
• “…saying nothing but what you (yourselves) can read and understand…”
• “…that you will (decide) to have occasion to boast of us in the Day…”

How can I do any of the above?  Do I do any of the above?  Do I do these unconsciously or with conscious purpose?

I confess that only (and maybe) the second one is the one I adhere to the most—it wasn’t always that way.  A lot of time I either ignored the Biblical record or was just happy to go so far, but not beyond, no deeper.  I was a boor and the only boasting was done by me about me—even if I was silent.

However, these are three characteristics of godliness that I have been pursuing in the last number of years.  I needed to so that I would be a godly example.

Paul wrote to Timmy: “Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all would see your progress.” (1 Tim 4:15) Who did I need to see my progress?  My number one disciple, the only disciple that God irrevocably assigned to me: My wife.

I know that I may be stretching the point with a mishmash of scripture references, but on That Day, when I stand before my Lord, justified and redeemed, having done the crown toss thing a moment before, and now I get to present my Wife, all done up like Eph 5 indicates.  Jesus goes, “Well son, did you behave with simplicity and godly sincerity towards this woman?  Were you saying and teaching stuff you couldn’t support in my Word, much less comprehend?  If I ask the question, will she boast about you?”

I think of this kind of conversation happening, I really do.  It is kind of a test for the man in the mirror—I am grading my own paper here on earth before I see heaven.

Prayer: Father, there may be folks reading this that will read this but forget that Justification and Sanctification are two separate functions.  Keep me remembering that as well so that, in that Day, I don’t stumble and fall.  AMEN

Journal 1 Cor 16 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.  Let all that you do be done in love.”  I Cor 16:13-14

Observation: Like a good father, Paul appears to be winding up his letter with tidbits of wisdom and direction.  I can almost hear Obi Wan: “Don’t give in to the dark side, Luke…”

Analysis:  I have wondered what Paul meant of “Act like men…”

I suppose if will differ depending on my imagination of what a Man is?  I notice that Paul didn’t say, “Act like godly men.”  The adjective would have caused me to shift a gear into “Christian Man” mode.

I think that there is an implication of what a man is supposed to be like, even in the natural.  Of course, wracked by sin the way I am it is difficult at time to separate sin-natural from any other vision of man.

The two verses, broken down, BUT put back together gives me a clue.  Here are my “face in the mirror” questions:

1. Watchful: Am I paying attention, not only to my own walk (conduct) but for others as well?  For sure I need to examine myself often (if not daily) to see if I am in the faith—basically to see if I am ship-shape, aligned to the objective(s), not distracted from the narrow path.  I also need to assure myself I am not walking/conducting myself in a bubble—unknown to all but the Spirit and the mirror.
2. Standing firm in the faith: I could say to myself “I am saved and continue believing; therefore, I am firm in the faith.”  How so far off the mark I would be.  It all goes back to the parable of the soils: If I am rich soil (like I would think myself to be), then roots should be reaching for nutrients daily.  What is the root of my faith?  The Gospel.  So: am I growing in the knowledge of the Gospel or not?  And if I am, then in ever-increasing faith I stand firm.  Not growing?  Weak roots and tenacious foundations…
3. Act like men: One aspect of man that I have learned from my Dad is that men do what is right, without regard for their own desires or welfare.  While I have learned that, I haven’t always done that.  Men should not be self-serving or selfish: nobody that knows me well can testify of that in me.  Sin runs rampant in me and It is a daily battle.  But a man has a backbone, and a godly man has a godly backbone; not in stubborn willfulness, but in tenacious grip of the Truth.
4. Do all in love: Love is not the ooey-gooey, soft-sided, flabby conduct AND THOUGHT that is associated with the idea of non-judgmentalism (I have mine, you have yours, everything is cool…) but is softly and gently persuasive communication of conviction.

What do I stand for?  Do I even know?  The Spirit helps me with these discussion points to inquire from Him.

Prayer: Lord God, I remember that Men’s Conference in 2004 where the speaker started off “Men!  And I assume I am talking to Men…” This one sentence had a profound impact from there on and even today.  Make me continue that path, becoming more manly, in a godly manner, daily.  AMEN.