Scripture: 2Corinthians (NIV) 10:18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

Observation: The true measure of a man is not what he says about himself, but what others say about him. The true measure of eternal success is what God says about a person. Men measure success by results; God measures it by faithfulness.

Application: To hear God say, “Well done” will erase all the criticisms of others and all the hurt of failures in this life. His “Well done” will far surpass any commendations received from men.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, as people did not understand the success of Job in remaining faithful to you, so people may not understand our trials. Give me the strength to remain faithful. Amen

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 72:14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.

Observation: This week the governor of the state of Kansas signed a law which banns “dismemberment abortion.” The law defines them as “knowingly dismembering a living unborn child and extracting such unborn child one piece at a time from the uterus.” The baby in the womb bleeds to death as the abortionist pulls its arms and legs from its body. It is hard to believe that there were some legislatures that voted against the bill!!! It is hard to believe that such a practice was ever allowed in the USA; even still allowed in all states but Kansas. Obviously the blood of the innocent babies is not precious in the sight of the citizens of the USA! But it is in God’s sight!!

Application: It is important to put my belief into action. I need to seize the opportunities that come my way every day to be the voice of innocent babies and all innocent people who are perishing.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, the blood of the innocent is precious in my sight. We have sinned greatly in destroying that which was made in your image. Forgive us, O Lord. Help my actions to match my confession. Amen

Scripture: 2Corinthians (NIV) 8:20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.

Observation: Paul would be taking a liberal offering from the churches of the province of Asia to the church in Jerusalem. He wanted to make sure that everything was done in an open and proper manner. He did not want people to turn their eyes off Jesus and focus on mishandled money.

Application: Two pair of eyes are watching me as I handle money: the eyes of the Lord and the eyes of man. The Lord’s eyes are important because obeying Him in money matters is a way to show I trust Him. Generosity is a way to show my appreciation for Him and His generosity to me. The eyes of man are important because my life becomes a testimony of God’s faithfulness.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me demonstrate my love for God and my faith in God by how I use the money you have made available to me. I want my check register to make you smile! Amen

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 66:12 You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.
13 I will come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to you—14 vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble.

Observation: Because of their sin, God allowed other nations to rule Israel, but not destroy Israel. God had a plan for Israel in the future. The Promised Messiah would come through the nation of Israel. So God would deliver and restore Israel. Then the psalmist would go to the temple with offerings to fulfill the vows he made to God when they were in trouble. God had delivered them, now it was time to keep their promises.

Application: I remember a US Marine in Viet Nam who came to me one morning after our company had a meeting with the enemy. He said, “Doc, I got down on my knees and prayed last night!” I am sure he did, because I prayed too! In times of trouble we often make vows to the Lord, “If you get me out of this mess I will serve you, or I will take care of …, or I will make things right with …, or I will start tithing, or whatever. Like the psalmist, I must remember my word and keep the promises I made to God when I was in trouble. If there is any promise I break, let it not be one made to God!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me remember the promises I have made to God. Work in my life so that I can keep them. Amen

Scripture: 2Corinthians (NIV) 6:16 As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people…18 And, I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,” says the Lord Almighty.

Observation: Paul was quoting from several Old Testament passages that show the relationship God, our Creator desires with us. He does not want to know us from a distance, but close up. He does not want us to know Him from a distance, but close up. As Jesus taught us to pray, He is “Our Father…”

Application: A sweet lady in the care home service we had this morning told me, “I hardly ever pray; I just talk to God all day long!” It made my heart smile. God surely enjoys living in her life and sharing her days. I imagine that God just cannot wait for her to wake up in the morning so they can enjoy each other’s company for another day! That is the way I want to be with God and me.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, how privileged I am to be a part of your family! What a joy to share another day with you! Amen

Scripture: 2Corinthians (NIV) 5:14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 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!

Observation: Christ died for us and in response to His love, we have died to ourselves. He is now alive with power over death and the grave. His resurrected life now lives within those who believe! They now have a higher purpose than to live for themselves; they now live for Him!

Application: When a hero loses his life in the acts of saving another, the one saved has been known to dedicate their life to the memory of the one who saved them. When the hero is Jesus, and the one saved is Leon, the least I can do is to dedicate my life to living for Jesus! And since He rose from the dead and now lives in me!!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me to live in such a way that the Resurrected Jesus can be easily seen in me! Amen

Scripture: 2Corinthians (NIV) 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.

Observation: A sports team may be great, but if they only face weak opponents, no one will know how great they are. Their greatness can only be seen as they overcome great opponents.

Application: What God has placed inside me is greater than what I experience on the outside. Being “hard pressed,” or “perplexed,” or “persecuted,” or “struck down” cannot overcome the life of Jesus that lives in me. The greater the difficulty I face, the greater the life inside is seen to be! How I respond to trouble can reveal the character of Jesus who lives within me.

Prayer: Jesus, may it be easy for others to see your life in me. Help me not to give in to trouble and become discouraged. Amen

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 89:1 I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. 2 I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.

Observation: Man has discovered music to be a great medium to express love. Saying, “I love you” has meaning; singing “I love you” adds another dimension to the words. So it is natural that man would express his love for God, and to God, in song. Yet the greatest theme for a song is not our love for God, but God’s love for us.

Application: The Lord’s love is not to stay within my heart; it is to be expressed with my mouth. It is to be sung and declared! It is to be proclaimed in a way that others can hear and understand. Having experienced His love, it is my pleasure and privilege and responsibility to make it known.

But the greatest use of music I have found is in expressing my love to God. I like to take songs written about God and sing them to God. “And YOU walk with me and YOU talk with me…” Sometimes I hear a song the world is singing and I think that song should be sung to God!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, oh how you love us! Your love is the greatest theme for my song! Amen

Scripture: 2Corinthians (NIV) 2:10 Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

Observation: I hear Paul saying that his forgiveness has been given under the ever watchful eye of Jesus. The Great Forgiver had forgiven Paul. The Great Forgiver was watching Paul as he forgave. The Great Forgiver lived in Paul helping Paul to forgive.

Application: Whatever I do or say, I do it in the presence of Jesus who by the Holy Spirit lives in me. He is watching me as I forgive. He hears my words. He knows my heart. I must remember that I am forgiving “in the sight of Christ.” He taught me to pray, “Our Father which art in heaven…forgive us our debts AS WE forgive our debtors.” He taught me that if I do not forgive, I will not be forgiven!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, if anyone needs forgiveness, I need forgiveness. So it is important that I be a forgiver. I want you to be quick to forgive me, so help me to be quick to forgive others. Amen

Scripture: Psalm (NIV) 50:6 And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for he is a God of justice.

Observation: Here we live on a planet that is constantly spinning (at the equator about 1000 miles per hour—1600 km/hour). If that is not enough motion, the earth is traveling around the sun, a trip of 600 million miles (970 million km) at 66,000 miles per hour (107,000 km/hour). If that is not enough, the sun is traveling around in the Milky Way Galaxy, and if that is not enough, the Milky Way Galaxy is traveling around in the Universe! With all of this motion, how could there be order? One would think it would be chaotic!

All this motion, yet today when we look at the big dipper, we look at the same stars the first ocean navigators used to cross the oceans.

Application: The Creator is righteous; He did it right! He set things in order. When I look at the stars, I know the same creator is doing things right in my life. He is setting things in order. He is a God of justice! I am but a small piece in the large picture, but I am a special piece because the Creator loves me!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, what a special privilege it is to be your child. You are bringing order to my life and using me to bring order to others nearby. Use me for your glory! Amen