2 Corinthians 4:13-15 says...
Today's verses are 2 Corinthians 4:13-15, which read,
v.13, 14 - But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed, therefore I spoke," we also believe, therefore we also speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.
This quote is from Psalm 116:10, "I believed when I said, 'I am greatly afflicted.'" The psalmist was in distress and wanting deliverance from his suffering and in the midst of that he kept believing God for His answer. The psalmist was walking by faith and not by sight. Paul starts by saying that he was of the same spirit of faith as the writer of the Psalm in the condition and situation he was in and encountering. Paul continued to speak of his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of the persecution and opposition because he knew that just as God raised Jesus from the dead so he would be raised up too. Paul's joy was the fact that at the raising of the dead he would be standing with Jesus and with them also because they also spoke and affirmed through their lives the same faith.
v.15 - For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.
The suffering of persecution and opposition of Paul and his companions had a purpose. It was for the sake of the Christians in the church in Corinth to hear of the gospel of the new covenant in Jesus Christ. It was for the sake of more and more people hearing and accepting the grace of God through Jesus and giving thanks for it. It was for the sake of the glory of God being magnified through the transformation of souls in the midst of the persecution of opposition.
From yesterday's devotional, you can afflict Christians but the message of Christ will not be crushed. You can perplex Christians but the message of Christ will not be despaired. You can persecute Christians but the message of Christ will not be forsaken by them. You can strike down Christians but the message of Christ will not be destroyed.
It makes me think of the shootings that happened in Oregon at a community college this week. It is coming out that someone had something against Christ and he took it out of some of Christ's faithful servants who stood for their faith. By scripture, they did not die in vain but rather like Stephen, the first martyr for the faith of the new covenant, stood with the message even in the midst of persecution. Their standing was not about them, the earthen vessels, but about what was within them that was so much greater than the physical host. By scripture we know that what was attempted will not result in a ceasing of the message of the grace of God through the Lord Jesus Christ. It will do just the opposite as it has over all the years when people have tried to kill the message by killing the messenger. We grieve with those families today that lost loved ones in this tragic event but we are also thankful they had such a faith that even in the midst of danger would stand for Someone, Jesus Christ, they believed in. They stood and they will stand before God and there will be others who will also stand with them influenced by their witness on that day in a classroom in Oregon.
"Lord, we pray for the families of the victims today. We mourn with those who are mourning. We also thank You that You have provided a place with You whenever and however we leave this earthen vessel for those who believe. Thank You for setting the first example on the cross of standing in the midst of persecution and opposition with the grace of God. It resulted in the first resurrection with many more to follow for those who believe and stand for You. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.13, 14 - But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed, therefore I spoke," we also believe, therefore we also speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.
This quote is from Psalm 116:10, "I believed when I said, 'I am greatly afflicted.'" The psalmist was in distress and wanting deliverance from his suffering and in the midst of that he kept believing God for His answer. The psalmist was walking by faith and not by sight. Paul starts by saying that he was of the same spirit of faith as the writer of the Psalm in the condition and situation he was in and encountering. Paul continued to speak of his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of the persecution and opposition because he knew that just as God raised Jesus from the dead so he would be raised up too. Paul's joy was the fact that at the raising of the dead he would be standing with Jesus and with them also because they also spoke and affirmed through their lives the same faith.
v.15 - For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.
The suffering of persecution and opposition of Paul and his companions had a purpose. It was for the sake of the Christians in the church in Corinth to hear of the gospel of the new covenant in Jesus Christ. It was for the sake of more and more people hearing and accepting the grace of God through Jesus and giving thanks for it. It was for the sake of the glory of God being magnified through the transformation of souls in the midst of the persecution of opposition.
From yesterday's devotional, you can afflict Christians but the message of Christ will not be crushed. You can perplex Christians but the message of Christ will not be despaired. You can persecute Christians but the message of Christ will not be forsaken by them. You can strike down Christians but the message of Christ will not be destroyed.
It makes me think of the shootings that happened in Oregon at a community college this week. It is coming out that someone had something against Christ and he took it out of some of Christ's faithful servants who stood for their faith. By scripture, they did not die in vain but rather like Stephen, the first martyr for the faith of the new covenant, stood with the message even in the midst of persecution. Their standing was not about them, the earthen vessels, but about what was within them that was so much greater than the physical host. By scripture we know that what was attempted will not result in a ceasing of the message of the grace of God through the Lord Jesus Christ. It will do just the opposite as it has over all the years when people have tried to kill the message by killing the messenger. We grieve with those families today that lost loved ones in this tragic event but we are also thankful they had such a faith that even in the midst of danger would stand for Someone, Jesus Christ, they believed in. They stood and they will stand before God and there will be others who will also stand with them influenced by their witness on that day in a classroom in Oregon.
"Lord, we pray for the families of the victims today. We mourn with those who are mourning. We also thank You that You have provided a place with You whenever and however we leave this earthen vessel for those who believe. Thank You for setting the first example on the cross of standing in the midst of persecution and opposition with the grace of God. It resulted in the first resurrection with many more to follow for those who believe and stand for You. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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