“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.” (2 Corinthians 8:9 NIV84) So, tell me, what does it mean to be rich? For most human beings in the West, we spend 90+% […]
08/29/23 Daily Devotion – Do you forget this, too?
“But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.” (2 Corinthians 7:6, […]
08/28/23 Daily Devotion – What’s the difference between Godly sorrow and worldly sorrow?
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV84) The words sorrow, contrition and repentance are used in Christian circles constantly. I’m certain you have heard them and even used them; but do we know what they really mean? In our verse for […]
08/27/23 Daily Devotion – Why we ought to do good works!
“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1 NIV84) There is only one way to rightfully teach and understand why we as Christians ought to do good works. All other approaches lead to bad practices […]
08/26/23 Daily Devotion – ‘Do not be yoked together with unbelievers’
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?” (2 Corinthians 6:14, 15 NIV84) As a young pastor I recall these verses […]
08/25/23 Daily Devotion – Watch those stumbling blocks!
“We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.” (2 Corinthians 6:3 NIV84) There is a bit of Paul that needs to rub off on all of us in ministry today. We seem to be driven by events, special-interest ministries and budgets. In the spirit of true discipleship, […]
08/24/23 Daily Devotion – My most recited memory verse!
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV84) Just ask anyone who has been in my Bible classes or who has ever heard me preach, and they will tell you that this verse is quoted by […]
08/23/23 Daily Devotion – The key to reconciliation!
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making […]
08/22/23 Daily Devotion – You are a new creation!
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV84) For a moment, let’s focus on the word “creation.” Creation is a powerful word. It takes us back to the beginning of time when God made the heavens, the Earth, and everything […]
08/21/23 Daily Devotion – We do NOT live for ourselves!
“And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” (2 Corinthians 5:15 NIV84) Living for one’s self began in the Garden of Eden. No, not when Adam and Eve were created, but when they fell into sin. The […]
