2nd Corinthians 2

Here we see a pastor's heart for the church. Paul had to write some painful things to them and decided not to return to go over those things at this time. The distress and anguish he had for them is familiar if you've ever had a child or family member wander and were grieved as they reacted to your input in their lives. Vs4 "For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you." This love is a love that imparts the truth in love to restore the one you love. It is an act of love and caring. It may not always be received that way, but give room and time for the Lord God to work.
They had to do some hard things here and are now asked to forgive and restore in genuine love. 7"Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything."
Many times forgiveness is the hardest test of all. We are to be aware that Satan wants to use this to outwit us. We are not to let him get a foothold in our spiritual life through unforgiveness. Paul says "I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes."
Remember the opposite side of the equation 14"But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." God has good things in store for those who join in the procession. Have you seen those join Him lately? Do you desire for those in your life to meet Him? Please let God be your boss and join Him today and you will see the hand of God at work as He uses you to reach them. We all want to hear Christ tell us: John 11:40 Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?"

1 Corinthians 8

Today's passage starts out talking about eating food sacrificed to idols. It tells us "knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." Been puffed up lately? Could it be knowledge is getting a foot hold over what love wants to build in your life? verse2 explains: "The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3 But the man who loves God is known by God." What does this have to do about eating sacrificed food? First since idols are not real then it doesn't matter. The food isn't defiled because it is to a God that is not real. So where is the problem? This is a great passage that pertains to our freedom in Christ. Our activities can be a help or cause others to stumble and fall. Co 8:9 "Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ."
This passage can be applied to any of our activities that cause others to change their thoughts and behaviors. If I start smoking or drinking it will give others permission to do that. If I start staying out of church or engaging in other activities that have not been specifically prohibited in scripture, I may be sinning against my brother and Christ by exercising freedom through the knowledge I have obtained, So I must go back to verse 3 and understand the relationship with God will cause me to be more concerned about my fellow man than my desires. Love wins again over knowledge. Love has kept me from sinning against my brother and God and letting knowledge have the victory. Practicing love will always bring us together as the desires of the father prevails over our desires.

Acts 8

Today in Acts 8 we see the Apostles at work. We get an idea of how much they believed the gospel by the way they responded to God during their ministry. Stephen boldly spoke the word of God to the Sanhedrin and even prayed for them as He was being stoned. Peter and John went to Samaria and brought them the Holy Spirit showing they understood the global vision for the Gospel. They also stood up to Simon the Sorcerer as he attempted to buy the power of God. Then there was Philip who was used greatly by God as he listened to the messengers the Lord sent to guide him into the different areas he was to be used. At this time Paul was also doing things for God. He was persecuting the church, throwing believers in prison and on the job stopping them from having any peace. We all have to be on guard as we do things for God. We can all head in a direction the church leaders are going or even support a position a denomination has taken without checking with God. Many times we ask for His permission rather than direction on what we are contemplating. There is a huge difference. Asking for direction takes our desires out of the equation. Asking for permission says we have already decided what to do and want God's approval. He may allow us to do this putting us in His permissive will instead of His perfect will. This always comes with many trials and lessons to be learned just as Paul had to experience. God did reach him, but He told Ananias in Act 9:16 "I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
As we all seek God's will today pray, that He will instill in us the ability to follow in the way that He wants us to serve, and to make the mark in this world that we have been placed here to make.

Mark 13

The chapter starts out with Jesus prophesying about the things that are to come. Jesus talked about the temple being destroyed and it has been. Then He began to reveal what is going to happen in the rapture and tribulation. We don't know the time of His second coming, we can look for some signs and get our household ready to meet the Lord. Many will deceive us by saying they are the Christ, or they know the time,. but we are to look at the whole picture and believe the Lord and not them. Within the last several months we have had three major earthquakes. These are the beginning of birth-pains Christ talks about. Then we will see the abomination of desolation (vs. 14 also see Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11). Desolation is idolatry, and it will become rampant. Daniel puts it this way; 11:32 "Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall 5corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. 33 And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering."
It is important not to go off the deep end, but to stay true to the word of the Lord and keep instructing those in your path in the word. Encourage them to get ready spiritually for the day of the Lord. Christ is coming back. Mark 13:24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be ashaken. 26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then He will send His angels, and gather together His 8elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven."
There will be no time to prepare on that day. Now is the time to get the word of the Lord to your friends, family and co-workers in the way the Lord would have us do that. Pray about it and He will reveal the way He wants it done. That will be the only way for them to respond. When we follow God's plan, we always get His results. He will prepare them for you as you pray. "Watch and pray" as we prepare for the things of the Lord (Mark 13:33). This reminds me of the words of a missionary who sent a telegraph to his son who was hospitalized after a racing accident; "The things of this world will soon be past. Only whats done for Christ will last,"

Mark 12

Jesus had been dealing with the Sadducees and Pharisees and Chief priests. He is trying to tell them that they have been entrusted with the things of God and explaining in parables about them taking over the things of the master and not preparing for the master's return. They did not want to pay what they owed, in fact they wanted it all for themselves. It will always eventually turn into that when we do not make God the first priority in all things. The master deceiver will tell us things that make sense but are contrary to the things of God. When we put God first, we begin to see what the Lord wants and things begin to get in the right order. Then the stone that the builders rejected will be your chief cornerstone.

In paying taxes Jesus said "bring me a denarius that I may look at it." Here He would say bring me a quarter. Whose image and inscription is this? Give the government what is due to them. Whose image are we made in? We are to give our life to our creator and He will do a work in us and give us life.

This is by the author of life, the author of redemption and the author of all creation. He has taken care of mankind since the beginning of the world. He loves you immensely and has made provision for you in His kingdom. We don't have to know all the detail, we must know the living God who takes care of every detail. He is alive, well and just as powerful today as ever. Not even a bird drops to earth that He is not aware of. In Matthew 6:26 Jesus says "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" And in Mark 12:27 Jesus says "He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.”

Jesus answered the greatest commandment question: 29"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. 'There is no commandment greater than these." Understanding this the way our Lord does, brings us into a true kingdom viewpoint of God's purpose for His world. We then see Jesus instructing us to watch out for those who like importance and seats of honor yet will mistreat widows and make lengthy prayers only for show. we see Him saying the widow,s offering was more than their great showy gifts. We must keep our hearts humble and clean to have the Lord greet our offerings and sacrifice of service as acceptable to Him. That only comes through the cleansing power of Jesus when we confess our sins and pray daily and walk in the light as He is in the light.

Today's Reading; Mark 9

Peter James and John were taken to the mount of transfiguration with Jesus where they saw Him talking with Elijah and Moses. Then they heard God speak and say; "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" They were later told not to tell anyone about this until He had risen from the dead. These three were taken into Christ's inner circle where they experienced great things and heard directly from God the father. They received the instruction to listen to Him. I believe that would change the way they would pray and seek God. We see later in the chapter that power over certain demonic strongholds can only be given through much fasting and praying. Hhhmmmm... gaining power over Satan by humbling ourselves before God in prayer and becoming first by becoming like a child. And what about Jesus knowing what we say without telling Him? Sounds like He really does get personal. He really cares, He really loves you and wants to change our hearts to be like His. Ready to get into the inner circle? Stat praying, listening and obeying and you will be surprised at what God will do next.

Mark 7

In Mark 7 Jesus dealt with where our heart is. We have things that are important to us because of tradition. These things are familiar and become dear to us. We have to guard ourselves to make sure our tradition doesn't get in the way of the way the Lord is working and the things He wants to do in our presence. These things can allow us to remain in disobedience to God. 9-13He went on, "Well, good for you. You get rid of God's command so you won't be inconvenienced in following the religious fashions! Moses said, 'Respect your father and mother,' and, 'Anyone denouncing father or mother should be killed.' But you weasel out of that by saying that it's perfectly acceptable to say to father or mother, 'Gift! What I owed you I've given as a gift to God,' thus relieving yourselves of obligation to father or mother. You scratch out God's Word and scrawl a whim in its place. You do a lot of things like this." (the Message)
We should be careful that we check with God and seek His heart on these things. Then Jesus went on to say that out of our heart comes the things stored up in it. The depravity of man takes over in the absence of God in our lives. Gen 6:5 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. This is called the depravity of man. When we fill ourselves with the Lord it will take over the thoughts and attitudes of our heart. It is very important we do this especially during trying times in our lives so Satan will not get the best of us.

The Faith of a Syrophoenician Woman
24Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. 25In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. 26The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.

27"First let the children eat all they want," he told her, "for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."

28"Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." 29Then he told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter." 30She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. (NIV)
Jesus had come for the lost sheep of Israel and He knew that. He did have compassion on others as the Spirit led Him. Today have compassion on someone that is foreign (a challenge) to you and see what God will do. Ask God to open your eyes so you can see Him clearly and follow in service to our Lord.