by Pastor Cecil | Aug 1, 2018 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 12:10
“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Don’t ever come to the place where you feel a right to have God heal you of some infirmity. A spiritual saint like Paul endured a thorn in his flesh that God chose not to heal. It was to teach Paul how be victorious over pain and suffering.
In our humanity we are eager to rush to the aid of people who are experiencing some type of pain in their life. The problem is that we sometimes fail to pray and seek God’s purpose in the matter. God may be allowing individuals to endure hardship in order to bring about His glory in the midst of their pain. I know that flies in the face of some of those who want every discomfort and pain removed immediately.
Once Paul learned the secret of the thorn, he could see that the Lord’s strength and power was made perfect in weakness. We may strive to be perfect and have it all put together, but remember the secret of the thorn. It is in our weakness that the Lord’s strength is demonstrated. We need to present our body to the Lord as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto Him. This is our normal act of worship.
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 5, 2018 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 10:12
“For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”
In the human heart there seems to be a strong tendency to boast. This tendency is graphically demonstrated at sporting events. The prancing and preening following a scoring play on the field is so alarming that penalties have been assessed to control it.
As children grow they often like to see the evidence that they really are getting taller. Many times parents will place a yardstick on a wall or in a doorway so they can measure their child’s growth progress year by year. The family takes great delight at each growth jump and will proudly boast about it.
Sadly, we frequently observe such unwise boasting in the church. Individuals, as well as congregations, display so much pride that it becomes troubling. Musicians posture to a distressing degree while the pastor/preacher often acts as if he were the star attraction strutting back and forth across the stage.
I think this attitude of pride is exactly what Paul is writing about in today’s Scripture. He strongly condemns personal boasting in 2 Corinthians 10:17-18: “But, let him 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.”
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 22, 2018 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 12:7
“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.”
In our humanity we often rush to the aid of those of our loved ones and friends who are experiencing some type of pain in their life. The problem is that we sometimes fail to seek God’s purpose in the matter. God may be allowing individuals to endure hardship in order to bring about His glory in the midst of their pain. I know that flies in the face of some of those who want every discomfort and pain removed immediately.
In our Scripture for today, Paul shares that he was given a thorn in the flesh. Some who have tried to guess what that thorn was. If it was important, Paul would have told us. By his not naming the thorn, we are better able to relate to the thorn that we may have in our life. I guess you might say that, “Any old thorn will do!”
Once Paul learned the secret of the thorn, he could see that the Lord’s strength and power was made perfect in weakness. We may strive to be perfect and have it all put together, but remember the secret of the thorn. It is in our weakness that the Lord’s strength is demonstrated. Paul was so excited about this discovery that he began to delight in his weaknesses, insults, and hardships. Why? Because it was then that Christ could be seen more clearly. It is presenting of our body to the Lord as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto Him.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 1, 2018 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 12:10
“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.“
Back in the 1970’s I seemed to have it made. I was Deputy Director of the Idaho Law Enforcement Planning Commission. The position paid well and I was offered a similar position with a Federal agency. But God had other plans for me.
I felt God’s call and took a part-time position with my home church. The pay was less and the hours longer, but it was God’s call and I could only obey. Since that time I have felt weak and inadequate, but it is in those times that I have most felt the power of God. It was not what I did but what God did through me.
There was a time in my life when I felt that retirement was something to look forward to. But I passed “retirement age” many years ago and now my ministry is more fruitful than when I was young and strong.
Why is that? I think the answer is that it is not my strength or ability, but God flowing through me. The less I am able to do, the more He is able to do through me. “Do you feel me?”
If you feel too weak or too inadequate to do work for the Lord, just start praising the Him. That is when His power and glory can be displayed. It is when we are weak that His strength is revealed! Thank God for the difficulties and watch Him work!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 16, 2018 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 2:15
“For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”
Imagine walking down the street on a warm spring day. The birds are singing and the sun shining through the trees makes dappled shadows on the sidewalk. Your mind is preoccupied with the joy of the day when suddenly everything changes.
There is an enticing aroma wafting across the street that draws you to a small shop with a familiar sign over the door — FRESH BAKED BREAD! You laugh to yourself, “As if anyone would have to tell you it is fresh bread!” That wonderful aroma by itself provided enough of an announcement.
You cross the street and peek through the window of the shop and see row after row of freshly baked bread on the counter. Having great will power you turn and walk away. RIGHT!
As we read today’s Scripture we are told that we are to be the aroma of Christ to those around us. In other words, we are to draw people to Christ.
What fragrant aroma of Christ do people sense when they are around you? Do you think they will want to “taste and see that the Lord is good?” Will they think of you when they desire spiritual counsel?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 15, 2017 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 10:7
“Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s.”
I do not like bullying of any sort. In the next few Daily-E-Votionals I would like to focus on some of the evil methods people use to bully others. The first type of bully that comes to mind is the one who uses physical superiority to abuse others — the strong-handed bully.
I know what it is like to be on the receiving end of being bullied by those who were bigger and stronger than I was. In games that required picking sides, I was often one of the last ones chosen when the “strong ones” picked sides. They seemed to delight in making fun of my physical weakness.
Over the years, however, I have come to understand that some of these strong bullies are really unsure of themselves. They use intimidation to make themselves appear to be stronger than they really are.
Paul urges us to never look at things according to their outward appearance. We belong to Christ and as His born-again children, we need to eagerly accept others who are part of the family. DO NOT BE A STRONG-HANDED BULLY!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
