Devotional Thoughts on
1 & 2 Corinthians
Going through the book of Romans, verse by verse, I’ll post a devotional thought Monday through Friday every week. Each will cover a verse to several verses.
Amply Supplied
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Philippians 4:19–20, KJV) Growing up in my household, I was truly blessed. My parents were not rich as we might think, but they were also…
Signing Off (2 Cor 13:14)
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2 Corinthians 13:14, ESV) One of the things we learned in school was how to compose a letter. We learned a proper format for a formal letter. While today there are several…
True Greeting (2 Cor 13:12-13)
“Greet one another with an holy kiss. All the saints salute you.” (2 Corinthians 13:12–13, KJV) Somehow, we have lost the fine art of greeting people in our world. Perhaps it is the impersonal way that our young people interact with one another through social platforms. I mean, there is more communication through text messaging,…
Harmony (2 Cor 13:11-12)
“Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (2 Corinthians 13:11–12, ESV) Once I gave a sermon where I played the guitar as an introduction. I just played the…
Tough Love (2 Cor 13:9-10)
“For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.” (2 Corinthians 13:9–10, KJV) I…
Self-Examination (2 Cor 13:5-10)
“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 indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV) I do not know of many students that enjoyed tests in school, especially the mid-terms and final exams.…
Purity (2 Corinthians 13:1-4)
“This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that,…
Preventative Care (2 Cor 12:19-21)
“Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying. For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest…
Offering of Love (2 Cor 12:11-18)
“I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?” (2 Corinthians 12:15, ESV) I had a pastor once that stated, “A pastor needs the skin of a rhinoceros and the heart of a lamb.” His point was that the work of the…
All Sufficient Grace (2 Cor 12:9)
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9, KJV) When the Lord saved me in 1983, the church we joined used to have an evening service with praise and worship songs. One of the songs we learned was Jehovah-Jireh. Jehovah JirehMy…
Greatest Weakness (2 Cor 12:8-10)
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake:…
Blessing of a Thorn (2 Cor 12:5-7)
“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.” (2 Corinthians 12:7, ESV) When I was in the Army Ranger School, we had a phase of training in…
Refraining From Boasting (2 Corinthians 12:1-6)
“On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me…
The Greatest Burden (2 Cor 11:21-33)
“Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” (2 Corinthians 11:28, KJV) When I served as an officer in the United States Army assigned as an armor platoon leader in Germany, I was responsible for the maintenance of six main battle tanks, the operational performance…
Speaking as a Fool (2 Cor 11:16-21)
“I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little. That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will…
Too Good to be True (2 Cor 11:12-15)
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:13–14, KJV) Some time ago, we saw an advertisement on the internet. It seemed to be from a major outdoors outfitter. Their clothing and other things…
Faulty Market Mechanism (2 Corinthians 11:7-11)
“Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?” (2 Corinthians 11:7, KJV) There is an economic/business expression that I heard while I was in college called, “faulty market mechanism.” It explains a somewhat deceptive marketing ploy. It works like…
Truth Trumps Eloquence (2 Cor 11:6)
“But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.” (2 Corinthians 11:6, KJV) There is an old joke, “How do you tell when a politician is lying?” The answer is, “When he is speaking.” It is unfortunate that we would make…
Godly Jealousy (2 Cor 11:1-6)
“Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the…
Proper Boasting (2 Cor 10:13-18)
“’Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’ For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” (2 Corinthians 10:17–18, ESV) My dad taught me a lot of things. One was that a man should not have to toot his own horn. To “toot…
Two Standards (2 Corinthians 10:12)
“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” (2 Corinthians 10:12, KJV) I used an illustration in a sermon once to demonstrate people’s flawed evaluation of themselves. I took a gray piece…
Be Consistent (2 Cor 10:6-11)
“For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.” (2 Corinthians 10:10–11, KJV) My wife…
Weapons of War (2 Cor 10:1-6)
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought…
The Greatest Gift (2 Cor 9:15)
“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” (2 Corinthians 9:15, KJV) I truly cannot think of a time that I was left speechless. As the saying goes, no preacher is ever left without something to say. I know there must have been some. I just cannot remember them. The only thing that comes to…
Unseen Gift Exchange (2 Cor 9:14-15)
“And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.” (2 Corinthians 9:14, KJV) We do have some strange practices in this life. One of them is in the giving of a gift. We will take a gift and put it in a container of some sort.…
Seed for Sowing (2 Cor 9:10-11)
(For those who missed my posts for Thursday and Friday last week, I apologize. I had family in town and forgot to post the devotions. Hopefully I am back on track now.) “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest…
The Lord Provides (2 Cor 9:9)
“(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.” (2 Corinthians 9:9, KJV) In the last devotional, I shared about my early days as a believer and the lesson of faith God gave me in the area of giving. While the lesson was powerful, there…
Divine Provision (2 Cor 9:8-9)
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” (2 Corinthians 9:8, KJV) In 1983, the Lord saved me while reading a Bible placed by the Gideon’s International in a Minneapolis hotel room. That evening, my life was…
Hilarious Giving (2 Cor 9:7)
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7, KJV) If you walked down the street and saw someone throwing hundred-dollar bills away and laughing hysterically you would probably conclude that the person had “bats in the…
The Universal Principle (2 Cor 9:6)
“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.” (2 Corinthians 9:6, KJV) Every farmer knows this universal principle. My grandmother moved from Trenton NJ to the country side. She was born and raised in the farmlands and always wanted to return to…
Boasting? (2 Cor 9:1-5)
“For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many. Yet have I sent the brethren,…
Actions Speak (2 Cor 8:24)
“Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.” (2 Corinthians 8:24, KJV) When I worked for a company in Zurich Switzerland, the company hired a man as the manager to take over the office in which I worked. Knowing that the director…
Appearances Matter (2 Cor 8:16-23)
“Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much…
Equality or Equality (2 Cor 8:10-15)
“For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, He that had gathered much…
Out of the Ivory Palaces (2 Cor 8:9)
“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9, KJV) Henry Barraclough wrote a Hymn in 1915 that is sung very little today but has deep implications for us. The title…
Inner Drive (2 Cor 8:8-9)
“I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.” (2 Corinthians 8:8, KJV) What drives a person? I remember my first car. My dad told me that I could have a car when I could afford one. By this he meant that I…
Acts of Grace (2 Cor 8:6-7)
“Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.” (2 Corinthians 8:6–7,…
Blessing in Giving (2 Cor 8:3-5)
“For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to…
Grace and Generosity (2 Cor 8:1-2)
“Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.” (2 Corinthians 8:1–2, KJV) In 2000, a film titled “Pay it Forward” emphasized…
Comfort, Confidence, and Joy
(2 Corinthians 7:13-16) “Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.” (2 Corinthians 7:13, KJV) “And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and…
Corporate Benefit (2 Cor 7:12)
“Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.” (2 Corinthians 7:12, KJV) One of the repetitive scenarios that pops up on movie and…
Results of Repentance (2 Cor 7:11)
“For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.” (2 Corinthians 7:11,…
Two Types of Sorrow (2 Cor 7:10-13)
“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10, KJV) Once I was leading a Bible study, going through John’s gospel account. When we came to the record of the Last Supper, a discussion broke out regarding Judas Iscariot. Someone mentioned…
Difficult but Loving (2 Cor 7:8-9)
“For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief,…
The Minister’s Comfort (2 Cor 7:5-7)
“For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted…
Confident Exhortation (2 Cor 7:2-4)
“Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you. Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you:…
Deep Cleaning (2 Cor 7:1)
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1, KJV) We live in a world where things get dirty. As a young boy, I had two pair of khaki trousers. Mom would purchase another pair for…
Yokefellows (2 Cor 6:14-18)
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of…
Religious Affections (2 Cor 6:11-13)
“We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.” (2 Corinthians 6:11–13, ESV) Many books have been written about the desires of the heart. Years ago, I…
No Obstacles (2 Cor 6:3-10)
“Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God” (2 Corinthians 6:3–4, KJV) In 1973, I went through the Army Ranger training at Fort Benning Georgia. In order to graduate the course, we had to run an obstacle course called the…
Gifts in Vain (2 Cor 6:1-2)
“We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” (2…
Trading Places (2 Cor 5:21)
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21, KJV) It was around Christmas time many years ago. Our Wednesday evening service was completed. I locked up the church and drove home. As I was driving…
Ambassadors (2 Cor 5:20)
“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20, KJV) When I worked for a company headquartered in Zurich Switzerland, I would travel to the headquarters two or three times a year. Each visit would…
Paying it Forward (2 Cor 5:18-19)
“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:18–19, KJV)…
New Creation (2 Cor 5:17)
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV) When I concluded my active-duty military service, I looked for a career that would utilize my undergraduate degree in engineering. I interviewed with several companies. One was an automaker and…
Proper Views (2 Cor 5:16)
“Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.” (2 Corinthians 5:16, KJV) The recently released movie “Jesus Revolution” recounts the Jesus movement of the 60’s and 70’s. It began in California and swept across the nation. The…
Power of Love (2 Cor 5:11-15)
“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” (2 Corinthians 5:14–15, KJV) In 1985, a pop…
You’ve Got to Have Heart (2 Corinthians 5:12-13)
“Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in…
Driven by Reverence (2 Cor 5:11)
“Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.” (2 Corinthians 5:11, ESV) Motivation in life is important. Some have an inner drive for survival. In 1914-15, Earnest Shackleton led the Trans-Artic Expedition to be the…
The Reward (2 Corinthians 5:10)
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10, KJV) When I attended college, I excelled on the rifle team. There I won trophies five years in…
Courageous Confidence (2 Cor 5:6-9)
“Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether…
Security (2 Corinthians 5:5)
“Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 5:5, KJV) In the recent financial news, there have been several banks that have collapsed. The first that was reported was the Silicon Valley Bank, SVB. As a result of…
New Clothing New Home (2 Cor 5:4)
“For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.” (2 Corinthians 5:4, KJV) After I received my Honorable Discharge from the United States Army, I went to work for a corporation in the pulp and…
Better Housing (2 Cor 5:1-3)
“For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (2 Corinthians 5:1, ESV) During the Cold War era, I was assigned as a second Lieutenant in the United States Army Europe. While there, we…
Perfect Sight (2 Cor 4:18)
“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18, KJV) When I was younger, I had better than 20-20 vision. I could see a fly on…
Perspectives (2 Cor 4:17-18)
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen…
Renewal (2 Cor 4:16)
“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16, KJV) Recently, there was a revival that caught the headlines. It broke out at Asbury University. A routine chapel service began and did not conclude at the normal time. The chapel…
Multiplication (2 Cor 4:15)
“For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:15, KJV) In elementary school, we learned the three Rs, reading, writing, and arithmetic. My best subject was arithmetic. In those early days we memorized our multiplication tables. In my…
Cannot be Silent (2 Cor 4:13-14)
“We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.” (2 Corinthians 4:13–14, KJV) It is amazing how…
Inner Radiance (2 Cor 4:11-12)
“For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” (2 Corinthians 4:11–12, KJV) When you go into a jewelry store, you will notice that the goods are in…
No Pain No Gain (2 Cor 4:10-12)
“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh…
Inner Power (2 Cor 4:8-12)
“We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” (2 Corinthians 4:8–10, KJV) While…
Jars of Clay (2 Corinthians 4:7)
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7, KJV) Growing up, there was this thing that grandmom had called the cookie jar. It was a ceramic jar with a lid that would seal the contents to protect them.…
Radiance (2 Cor 4:6)
“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6, KJV) You cannot give away something that you do not have. Rarely do many of us carry around…
He Is Lord (2 Cor 4:5)
“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” (2 Corinthians 4:5, KJV) I read a passage in a book written by A.W. Tozer some years ago that presented this truth. He indicated that in every Christian’s heart there was a cross and a throne. However, he…
Blinded (2 Cor 4:3-4)
“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Corinthians 4:3–4, KJV) One night,…
Ministry Integrity (2 Cor 4:1-2)
“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:1–2, KJV) There…
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18)
“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. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV) When you see something glorious, something changes inside of you. I remember certain times, when…
True Freedom (2 Cor 4:17)
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17, ESV) There is a strange idea that is prevalent in our society today that freedom gives men license to do whatever a person believes is correct. We see it in the political wrangling that is…
The Veil (2 Cor 3:12-16)
“Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken…
More Glorious (2 Cor 3:7-11)
“But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration…
Sufficiency (2 Cor 3:4-6)
“And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit…
Heavenly Letters (2 Cor 3:1-3)
“Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not…
Prophets for Profits (2 Cor 2:17)
“For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 2:17, KJV) A recent Gallup poll rated the top ten least trusted occupations in America. Tied for the number one of the least trusted…
Fragrances (2 Cor 2:14-17)
“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death…
Focus (2 Cor 2:12-13)
“Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.” (2 Corinthians 2:12–13, KJV) There are times when we…
Forgiveness and Love (2 Corinthians 2:5-11)
“But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up…
Love’s Painful Side (2 Corinthians 1:23-2:4)
“But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from…
Confidence (2 Cor 1:20-22)
“For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” (2 Corinthians 1:20–22, KJV)…
Does yes mean yes? (2 Corinthians 1:15-22)
“When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay? But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.” (2 Corinthians 1:17–18, KJV) One day while…
Humble Glorying (2 Cor 1:12-14)
“For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. . . . As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing,…
Prayer Support (2 Cor 1:11)
“Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.” (2 Corinthians 1:11, KJV) In the book of Exodus, we see a vivid picture of a battle between Amalek and Israel at Rephidim. (Exodus 17:8-13).…
Reliance (2 Cor 1:8-10)
“For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the…
The Best Comfort (2 Cor 1:3-7)
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3–4, KJV)…
Communications (2 Cor 1:1)
“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:” (2 Corinthians 1:1, KJV) The introduction to First Corinthians, bears a similarity to this introduction. Yet, there is a difference. Here, Paul…
Blessings (1 Cor 16:23-24)
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.” (1 Corinthians 16:23–24, KJV) How do you signoff with a letter? How do you signoff with any communication? When I was in the United States Army, the standard way to end a radio communication was…
First Love (1 Cor 16:21-22)
“The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema. Maranatha.” (1 Corinthians 16:21–22, KJV) One of the saddest things I have observed is a marriage where one person does not love the other. It is sad, because the joy that should be…
Greetings (1 Cor 16:19-20)
“The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.” (1 Corinthians 16:19–20, KJV) One of the things that seems to be fading in our society is the art…
Recognition (1 Cor 16:15-18)
“I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth. I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus…
Demonstrate Love (1 Cor 16:14)
“Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14, ESV) Popular culture has always been obsessed with love. As we look through some of the most popular songs in the past 50-years, we see many hits. In 1956, Elvis Presley recorded “Love Me Tender.” In 1975, Captain and Tennille recorded “Love Will…
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Renewing the Heart 
Your new book is going to be awesome, Pastor Steve!
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Thanks, I am working on it diligently. You will see excerpts daily until I have finished. Blessings to you.
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