Day 338: 2 Corinthians 10, 11, 12 and 13

I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Don’t talk. This is one of the lessons pounded into dysfunctional families. Don’t talk about the bruises; don’t talk about the infidelities; don’t talk about the family shame… the proverbial elephant in the room. Our heroes from film and literature tell us much the same thing. Don’t talk about weakness unless it’s someone else’s. Be strong and, if that’s not possible, keep quiet and pretend to be strong so as to avoid someone exploiting the chinks in your armor.

Unfortunately this same tendency has leached into the church. There is a tacit understanding that we must never air our dirty laundry, and always put on our Sunday face for church. Don’t let anyone in. Don’t admit you need help.

By contrast, James writes about confessing our faults to one another that we may be healed (James 5:16), and in Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes regarding a Christian who is struggling: “The Christ in his own heart is weaker than the Christ in the heart of his brother” [2]. Satan loves secrets.

In today’s reading, Paul reminds us that only in our weakness can we be strong. If boasting about my weaknesses allows Christ’s strength to rest on me, what about my secrets? Does not staying silent then hinder Christ’s strength from working in my life?

TODAY’S MEDITATION

What would it mean to boast of your weaknesses that your life might be filled with the power of Christ?

Day 337: 2 Corinthians 7, 8 and 9

Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit (2 Corinthians 7:1).

I was preaching through Paul’s letters to the Corinthians some years ago, and when I came to this verse I stopped in my tracks. The Holy Spirit got my attention, spoke into my life about some changes I needed to make, and promised to help.

I made one change right then and there. I tossed my 32-ounce Coke [1] from McDonald’s into a trash barrel and vowed I wasn’t going to let sugar and caffeine control me anymore. I had tried stopping before, but failed. This time, though, things were different. Now I go years between Cokes instead of hours. And when I do imbibe, it doesn’t hook me the way it used to.

Since then, I’ve pretty much broken with the whole sweet tea (best thing about the South) thing too. And if I’m not drinking Coke or sweet tea, there’s really no other reason to go through the McDonalds drive-thru… or any other drive-thru. In fact, what the Holy Spirit started in my life several years ago has about bankrupted the fast food industry. And not only has it made a huge change in my eating habits, it’s also significantly lowered some key numbers at the doctor’s office.

As I continue walking in freedom, God loves me enough to show me other areas where I need to change. With his help I’m decontaminating my body and my spirit.

TODAY’S MEDITATION

Are there things contaminating your body and spirit? How does reverence for God dictate what you’ll do about that?

Day 336: 2 Corinthians 4, 5 and 6

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).

Trading Spaces was a home improvement and design show that aired on the TLC and Discovery Home television networks from 2000 to 2008. Two families (friends or relatives) who both wanted a room makeover would trade spaces and, guided by a professional designer, do the remodel for the other team. The show ended with the reveal where each group would see, for the first time, what their new rooms looked like. Sometimes the results were fantastic, and sometimes… not so much.

While not the first home improvement show (Does anyone else remember the original This Old House with Bob Vila?), Trading Spaces introduced the reveal, and launched the career of Ty Pennington of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC – 2003 to 2011), a show that took the reveal to a whole new level.

While it might be nice to have friends remodel a room in our home, or have a TV network backed by its advertisers build us a brand new house, there are some trades that neither friends nor TV shows can make for us.

Paul writes that Christ has traded spaces with us. Jesus, who knows no sin, has become our sin; while we, who know no righteousness, have become the righteousness of God. That’s what I call trading spaces.

TODAY’S MEDITATION

Thank God the Father for sending his Son to trade spaces with you – taking your sinfulness upon himself and giving you his righteousness. Is grace amazing or what?

Day 335: 2 Corinthians 1, 2 and 3

You are a letter from Christ (2 Corinthians 3:3).

Paul writes to the Corinthians that he needs no credentials, for they are his letter of reference. Their changed lives are proof that his ministry is legitimate.

Just as the Corinthian Christians documented the validity of Paul’s ministry, our lives are also living letters that corroborate or refute the claims of Christ. This concept is dressed up in varying illustrations throughout the New Testament.

In Christ’s Gethsemane prayer we read: May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me (John 17:23). Jesus knew that friends and neighbors would be examining the lives of believers to determine if they too should accept him as Messiah.

In 2 Corinthians 5:20 Paul tells us: We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. Again, a clear reference to the truth that we represent Christ to the world around us.

Peter writes: Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us (1 Peter 2:12). They may not admit it, but in their hearts they know there is something different about us, and they can only give God the credit.

It’s vitally important that what people read in us is congruent with the words we speak.

TODAY’S MEDITATION

You are a letter read by everyone with whom you come into contact. Are your actions and behaviors congruent with the words of your mouth?

Day 338: 2 Corinthians 10, 11, 12 and 13

I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Don't talk. This is one of the lessons pounded into dysfunctional families. Don't talk about the bruises; don't talk about the infidelities; don't talk about the family shame... the proverbial elephant in the room. Our heroes from film and literature tell us much the same thing. Don't talk about weakness unless it's someone else's. Be strong and, if that's not possible, keep quiet and pretend to be strong so as to avoid someone exploiting the chinks in our armor.

Unfortunately this same tendency has leached into the church. There is a tacit understanding that we must never air our dirty laundry, and always put on our Sunday face for church. Don't let anyone in. Don't admit you need help.

By contrast, James writes about confessing our faults to one another that we may be healed (James 5:16), and in Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes regarding a brother who is struggling: The Christ in his own heart is weaker than the Christ in the heart of his brother. [1] Satan loves secrets.

In today's reading, Paul reminds us that only in our weakness can we be strong. If boasting about my weaknesses allows Christ's strength to rest on me, what about my secrets? Does not staying silent then hinder Christ's strength from working in my life?

Is there a weakness in your life for which you need Christ's strength?

[1] Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Life Together. (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1954), 23.

Day 337: 2 Corinthians 7, 8 and 9

Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit. (2 Corinthians 7:1)

I was preaching through Paul's letters to the Corinthians some years ago, and when I came to this verse I stopped in my tracks. The Holy Spirit got my attention, spoke into my life about some changes I needed to make, and promised to help.

I made one change right then and there. I tossed my 32-ounce Coke [1] from McDonald's into a trash barrel and vowed I wasn't going to let sugar and caffeine control me anymore. I had tried stopping before, but failed. This time, though, things were different. Now I go years between Cokes instead of hours. And when I do imbibe, it doesn't hook me the way it used to.

Since then, I've pretty much broken with the whole sweet tea (best thing about the South) thing too. And if I'm not drinking Coke or sweet tea, there's really no other reason to go through the McDonald's drive-thru... or any other drive-thru. In fact, what the Holy Spirit started in my life several years ago has about bankrupted the fast food industry. And not only has it made a huge difference in my eating habits, it's also significantly lowered the number on my scale every morning.

As I continue walking in freedom, God loves me enough to show me other areas where I need to change. With his help I'm decontaminating my body and my spirit.

Do you need to decontaminate?

[1] Cola drinks may be fine for you, but they were enslaving me. Please don't take this as me saying anyone else should quit drinking soda or eating fast food. That's between you and God... and your doctor.

Day 336: 2 Corinthians 4, 5 and 6

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)

Trading Spaces was a home improvement and design show that aired on the TLC and Discovery Home television networks (2000 to 2008). Two families (friends or relatives) who both wanted a room makeover would trade spaces and, guided by a professional designer, do the remodel for the other team. The show ended with the reveal where each group would see, for the first time, what their new rooms looked like. Sometimes the results were fantastic; sometimes... not so much.

While not the first home improvement show (Does anyone else remember the original This Old House?), Trading Spaces introduced the reveal, and launched the career of Ty Pennington of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC - 2003 to present), a show that took the reveal to a whole new level.

While it might be nice to have friends remodel a room in our home, or have a TV network backed up by its advertisers build us a brand new house, there are some trades that neither friends nor TV shows can make for us.

Paul writes that Christ has traded spaces with us. Jesus, who knows no sin, has become our sin; while we, who know no righteousness, have become the righteousness of God. That's what I call trading spaces.

Have you thanked God this week for sending his Son to trade spaces with you?

Day 335: 2 Corinthians 1, 2 and 3

You are a letter from Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:3)

Paul writes to the Corinthians that he needs no reference letter, for they are his letter of reference. Their changed lives are proof that his ministry is legitimate.

Just as the Corinthian Christians documented the validity of Paul's ministry, our lives are also living letters that corroborate or refute the claims of Christ. This concept is dressed up in varying illustrations throughout the New Testament.

In Christ's Gethsemane prayer we read: May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me... (John 17:23). Jesus knew that friends and neighbors would be examining the lives of believers to determine if they too should accept him as Messiah.

In 2 Corinthians 5:20 Paul tells us: We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. Again a clear reference to the truth that we represent Christ to the world around us.

Peter writes: Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us (1 Peter 2:12). They may not admit it, but in their hearts they know there is something different about us, and they will give God the credit.

It's vitally important that what people read in us is congruent with the words we speak.

Do those near you hear the same message in your words that they read in your life?