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Check Your Focus

Today’s reading:  Galatians 4

Paul proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Galatian churches early in his ministry.  Since his visit, however, false teachers had twisted the gospel claiming Jesus alone was not enough to save.  Specifically, they taught that Gentiles had to follow Jewish law in addition to accepting Jesus.  Paul was genuinely concerned.  Instead of experiencing joy from their freedom in Christ, the Galatians’ were battling with legalism.

Dictionary.com defines legalism as follows:

  • Strict adherence, or the principle of strict adherence, to law or prescription, especially to the letter rather than the spirit.
  • The doctrine that salvation is gained through good works.
  • The judging of conduct in terms of adherence to precise laws.

Legalism is diametrically opposed to the gospel of grace through faith in Jesus Christ.  If we could earn God’s favor through traditions, rituals or obeying a set of rules, it would mean Jesus’ death on the cross was meaningless.  The Bible is clear, we can’t earn God’s favor, Jesus bought it for us.

But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.  God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.  And because you Gentiles have become his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, and now you can call God your dear Father (Galatians 4:4-6).

Sadly enough, we still struggle with legalism in the 21st century.  Not necessarily legalism that aligns to Jewish law like Galatian false teachers were preaching in the 1st century, but the belief that God’s favor is earned.  It is focusing on a set of rules over a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Do you feel guilty or inadequate? Have lost your joy?   May I suggest you check your focus?  Legalism can rob you of joy by making you…

  • Feel guilty rather than loved.
  • Stress about your performance rather than relying on Jesus.
  • Focus on your inadequacy rather than how far you’ve come with Jesus by your side.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  For the power of the life-giving spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death.  The law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature.  But God put into effect a different plan to save us.  He sent his own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful.  God destroyed sin’s control over us by giving us his on as a sacrifice for our sins (Romans 8:1-3).

I pray the truth of Romans 8:1-3 fills your heart with joy today.

Joy – the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright and the determined choice to praise God in every situation. – Rick Warren

 

Go

The sermon titled Abrahamic Covenant from Sunday 6/18/17 at Eastview Christian Church hit so close to home, I really thought someone asked pastor Mike to share a sermon for the Harris family.

Today’s reading link:  Galatians 3

This is a story of faith going back to Abraham in Genesis 12, and still applicable to us today.

So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. (Galatians 3:9)

For over a year, our family has talked about the potential for us to move to Michigan. We have discussed the likelihood that my job would be changing and there would be new opportunities elsewhere for our family.

As we started to sense the probability of a move start to increase, our conversations became a little more serious. With this seriousness, reality started to settle in and that caused me to become uneasy.

Our life in Bloomington/Normal, Illinois is good; it is comfortable. My commute to work is an easy 12 minutes (15 minutes with bad traffic!), I’ve had a successful business there for over 12 years, our house is cozy and in a great location, we have friends we love and who would do anything for us (I just got tears in my eyes because this is so true), and now more tears… words cannot describe our love for Eastview Christian Church and our eternal gratitude for what God has done through the preaching, teaching, and love that abounds there.

Our boys are happy, they have super nice friends, a wonderful school, they’re enrolled in an affordable, phenomenal music program where they’ve learned to play the cello, and they have a multitude of opportunity when it comes to sports.

Why would we leave this comfort and goodness? The answer lies in God’s plan for us; not just the Harris family, but all of us. God has plans. We do not always know the plan, but he is calling each of us to himself, to his son.

The following verses were at the heart of the 6/18/17 sermon:

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3)

Abram was seventy-five years old at the time, and in the sermon pastor Mike shared that Abram was probably comfortable where he was. This reminds me of a lot of us being comfortable but then God calls to mission trips, serving opportunities, career changes, small moves and big moves.

What did Abram do after God called him? He went. “So Abram went, as the Lord had told him” (Genesis 12:4a). Abram went out of obedience and faith. God is a promise maker and promise keeper and he will never leave us.

Pastor Mike also shared that if we knew the timing and the exact plans God has, we’d likely shove God aside and say “I’ve got this” (I can say amen to that because of the many failures I’ve experienced when trying to take over). When I try to control the outcome, it typically results in frustration, anxiety and disappointment. When I give it all to God; both fear and hope, no matter the outcome from an Earthly perspective, the Heavenly rewards outweigh everything.

Lord God, we praise you for loving us first. For the grace and mercy given though your son Jesus Christ. Thank you for the work of your Holy Spirit; may we continue to see your hands in all of our experiences. May we have faith, inward and outward, that reflects your mighty power. I give you control God. Take my sinful pride, I’ve achieved nothing without you. Let me see you in the good times and bad times. Do not let me forget how you’ve saved me. Amen.

Justified by Faith ~ Freedom in Christ

Welcome to Galatia. Where life by many is lived by the law. Where your merit and what you do, means more than anything. This idea of, what do you do?; in contrast to, Who do you follow? Or the question of, what law or rules are you following? instead of,  Who do you have a relationship with?

The book of Galatians has been called the charter of Christian Freedom according to a couple study bibles.  Who better to write this letter than apostle Paul (formerly Saul). The story of Paul’s miraculous conversion on the road to Damascus is necessary story to the people in Galatia, it is necessary to us, it is necessary to me. Here’s a reminder. (Acts 26:5-23) As I reflect on this story, I think that when the Lord gives you an opportunity today write down or share your “Damascus Road” experience with someone who needs Christ will I? Will you? 

Paul wrote this letter to defend his apostleship and to defend the authority of the Gospel. To help the Galatians turn from legalism to faith in Jesus. This issue can still be present today where we try to earn God’s favor through doing so many things, following rituals, or obeying a set of rules.  I found a great reminder for myself in Our Daily Bread: Rhythms of Grace. It reminded me to take a second to pause and take inventory of your life: “If you find that Christianity exhausts you, draining you of your energy, then you are practicing religion rather than enjoying your relationship with Jesus. Your walk with the Lord will not make you weary; it will invigorate you, restore your strength, and energize your life” ( Matthew 11:28-29)

Paul gives a realistic picture of the challenges of transitioning from a religion based on rules to one based on a relationship with Jesus Christ. From a life based on entitlement, to one given through grace; to a life not lived out through our flesh, but through the power of the Holy Spirit.

So are we working for Him, or walking with Him? While you read through Galatians be reminded that we are justified by faith not just the law. ( Galatians 2:20 Galatians 3:10-11) That our list of do’s and don’ts doesn’t confine us, it is our relationship with the Lord. We have freedom in our faith in Christ alone.  He is all we need now and for eternity. (1 John 2:1-2)

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for your grace. I accept that I am just like everyone else and can’t do any of this life on my own.  We are imperfect in so many ways and prone to sin. There is nothing we can do that makes me better than anyone else.  You love us so much you gave yourself up on the cross for me. That’s a grace so amazing that I can’t wrap my head around it, I can only accept this free gift and know that I’m saved.  I pray for guidance and willingness to submit the rest of my life to you.  That as we walk together I grow my faith and serve you with continued joy.  As we read through Galatians keep your words through Paul in our hearts.

Amen

 

Grace, Love and Fellowship

As I read the last chapter of Paul’s letters to the Corinthians, I had a difficult time deciding just what to write to you about today. There are lots of good lessons here for us to consider in 2 Corinthians 13. The primary theme is the importance of self-reflection in the form of spiritual check-ups. He encourages the Corinthians to be ever aware of Christ’s presence in our lives and to take active steps toward growing closer to God. As we celebrate Father’s Day today, I’m aware of the parallels between Paul’s role as an elder or father figure to the early Christian’s and our relationship with our Heavenly Father. I think it’s a wonderful reminder to us that our perfect Father is in heaven. Our connection with Him is unbreakable, despite our sin.

In reading notes and commentary for today, I found myself returning to verse 11 over and over:

“Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live and peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” 2 Corinthians 13:11

Who among us doesn’t need a little restoration? The NIV Study Bible ends its commentary on Corinthians 13 with this:

“Paul was dealing with an ongoing problem in the Corinthian church. He could have refused to communicate until they cleared up their situation, but he loved them and reached out to them again with the love of Christ. Love, however means that sometimes we must confront those we care about. We can be legalistic and blast people away with the laws they should be obeying. We can turn away from them because we don’t want to face the situation. We can isolate them by gossiping about their problem and turning others against them. Or like Paul, we can seek to build relationship by taking a better approach-sharing, communicating and caring.”

I know that I’ve done all these wrong things in my relationships. How often are we short sighted and give up on someone we love when we grow impatient with their sin. I close examination reveals that some people close to me may have given up or refused to communicate with me until I cleaned up my sin. Paul’s message of the importance of restoration both in our own spiritual life and in our relationship with others is powerful. I’m grateful for the opportunity to first hear it and then share it with you today.

“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

 

Have a great week.

 

 

Problem or Possiblity?

2 Corinthians 12

I read an interesting blog post last week from Seth Godin.  He talks about making two lists.  On the first, we list all of our troubles and ailments.  The second gets filled with our opportunities, strengths and talents.  Godin’s challenge is to choose, intentionally, which list you are going to focus on.  This list, you will read everyday.  There is no question that the list you choose will shape your day, your year and your life.  I found this axiom playing out in today’s reading as well.  As you know, Paul suffered from an ailment.  A “thorn” in his flesh.

Paul wanted nothing to do with his affliction.  Who would?  In fact, as it drew his attention and distracted his purpose, he did exactly what I would do.  He “begged God to remove it” (2 Corinthians 12:8).  (I would have added some complaining and self-loathing to the equation.)  As Paul persisted in begging God for relief, he was continually denied, which produced an interesting crossroad for Paul.  Just as Godin suggests, he had two choices.  Either focus on the his debilitating weakness, and wonder why God would do such a thing to him, or accept God’s sovereignty.

No matter our hardship, if we accept God’s sovereignty and authority in all things, He will offer us solutions.  Rather than shut God off, Paul continued to submit and listen.  As he did, God provided him with encouragement, assuring him that grace was all he needed.  Immediately upon his acceptance, Paul understood that any affliction, when compared to the grace that God supplies is irrelevant.  All work is possible despite our human weakness.  In fact, it is in our weakness that God receives the most glory.  Why?  Because without Him, our affliction is debilitating and the work is impossible to complete.

Paul’s new understanding prompts gratitude.  He comments that, “I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift” (2 Corinthians 12:9, MSG).

Take a moment to list of all your troubles, as Seth Godin suggests.  Now, imagine that they may never go away.  Rather than tuck them away in a drawer, consider what will change in your life when you submit them to Gods sovereignty and treat them as a gift, not a curse.  I find incredible peace in that exercise. The peace comes not from a second list of my strengths, but  from God’s presence.  It is His power, His strength, His glory, His perfection and His grace that make me whole.

Is It Worth It?

2 Corinthians 11

What can I physically and emotionally endure? How much pain, stress, and anguish can I take? Well, probably not as much as Paul. He states in this chapter five times he received thirty-nine lashes by the Jews. Three times he was beaten with rods. He tells us here he was stoned which we remember from Acts 14. Stoning is intended to kill a person. Three times he was lost at sea and shipwrecked. He references threats from both his own people, the Jews, as well as the Gentiles, the Romans.

Let’s stop and reflect on that for a second. The two dominant groups at the time were the Romans who wanted to kill Christians for denouncing that Caesar was God and Jews who wanted to persecute Christians as well because they did not believe Jesus was the true Messiah. Both wanted Paul dead. He also references danger from the wilderness, hunger, thirst, the cold, and not to mention false brothers here. Whew! Quite the list!

Let’s revert to Acts 14 where Paul was stoned in Lystra for a moment. They dragged him out of the city thinking he was dead (Acts 14:19). He was not though, and we are told by Luke here in Acts that not only did he get up and go to Derbe to preach the next day, but when he was done there he went back to Lystra where he was just stoned! We are told in Acts 14:22 he was “strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

I recently finished a great book which I highly recommend called What Is God Really Like? Each chapter is written by an all-star team of pastors. One pastor gives an analogy by asking the question whether you would tell a surgeon operating on a loved one to save their life to hurry up? I don’t know what you are going through right now, and it may be something very terrible and for that I am extremely empathetic and sympathetic so I hope this is not taken the wrong way. But, whatever pain and anguish Satan is causing you (because it is not God..see Romans 8:1), God is using that which Satan thinks is for his glory to positively shape your heart and soul into the person he wants you to become and to impact those around you. He is performing a delicate surgery in just the right amount of time to make it a perfect and successful one. Although God may not reveal the answer now or even in this lifetime, we must ask ourselves what God may be wanting to do in our lives and the lives of those around us through this to reveal his glory?  Let’s learn from Paul. Would you be ok with your present or future suffering if through it you could help just one person know Jesus and have eternal life in Heaven? If not one, what about ten people…or one thousand… or maybe even ten thousand people?

God is the supreme potter. He is shaping what looks like a mess of sloppy clay which is your life into his masterpiece. Have you ever looked at the backside of a beautifully crocheted piece? It looks like a huge jumbled mess with colors in the wrong places and different size strands hanging off of it everywhere. This is how we see our lives and how Satan wants us to see it. Flip over that crocheted piece, and what do you see? Again, it is a perfect picture, a masterpiece. THAT is what God sees because he sees our entire life and the lives of those around us.

Ultimately, all we can do in tough times is go back to the only truth that exists and that is the Word. Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for the good of those who are called according to his purpose.”  I don’t know what pain and suffering I, or you, may go through in this life and quite frankly I don’t want to think about it. Jesus tells us not to worry about it (Matthew 6:34). But, I know one thing, my life here on Earth of somewhere between 33 and hopefully 80 to 100 years is like one grain of sand amongst all the beaches of the Earth when compared to the length of eternity. Romans 8:18 tells us, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” A week ago we read 2 Corinthians 4:17 which says, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” I struggle with this like most, but I am growing to try to enjoy the precious present of each day, and I am extremely grateful for Jesus’ saving grace on the cross. When we see his face and spend eternity with him and others who the Holy Spirit helped be saved through our earthly lives, there will be no doubt to the answer to the question, was it worth it?

 

 

BE BOLD

2 Corinthians 10

By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! 2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.

BOLD. What connotations does this word bring to mind? First three words you think of are? I think of the color red, LeBron James (since the NBA playoffs are going on) and Rafael Nadal (I wrote part of this last weekend when the French Open was on TV). Whether or not you like the President, he is certainly bold, and, as Paul writes, he is definitely not timid when you come face to face.  How about bold characters in the Bible?  John the Baptist is the first that comes to my mind.  The transformed Peter.  How about Moses?

Today’s passage is interesting to me. How can you be timid yet bold? We all know people who’s “bark is worse than his bite”. We all have received cutting emails and then once we have a conversation face to face, things change. I wonder about our next generations and their use of social media. They are oftentimes extremely bold in statements, pictures, actions, yet face to face communication is not a skill. A bit scary to me. As you think about the world today, are you bold or meek or both?

In the case of Paul, he has written bold letters to Corinthians, writing as an apostle for Christ. He is trying to convey his strong messages to the strike fear in the people, such as in his letter of warning in 1 Corinthians. He is bold in trying to convince the people to follow God’s ways. To take the instruction he is giving to heart. To change their ways. He writes these letters in a bold manner, yet he admits he is timid and has a gentleness in him, almost holding him back from preaching the Gospel in a live setting. Many of us have that problem: public speaking is not our thing and we have to convey our thoughts in writing.  Are we as bold as we can be in telling others about our beliefs?  Or are we meek when face to face?

 So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it. 9 I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. 10 For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.” 1

Paul fully understands how he is perceived by others. He wants to be convincing, not scary.  He then goes on to talk about not comparing ourselves to others, noting we should not boast. I go back to one of my posts on judging others. We should not be judging others as God is truly the only one offering final judgment. It is the same with boasting and comparing ourselves to others. God made us all unique individuals. We should not boast that we are better than others, nor should we spend time comparing ourselves to others.   We should be focusing on living out God’s word, following his instructions, following Paul’s guidance to us.

I think this verse says it all:   7 But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”[b] 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

Will you be bold enough to boast in the Lord today?

Generous Giving

Today’s reading is 2 Cor 8

Today we get to look at a pretty straight forward but very rich text. I am a person who loves to give gifts. I find so much joy in seeing someone light up with excitement when I have found the perfect trinket for that person. I love purchasing gifts that make people laugh because of a mutual experience we have shared and the gift is a reminder of that event. I even enjoy gifting people with help (mostly food, flowers or some manual labor) or a gift of time listening to their worries, sadnesses or problems. Even as a natural born gifter, I am challenged by Paul’s words in this chapter of Corinthians to evaluate my willingness and generosity around giving.

I want to look at a list of the directions Paul gives us in this chapter.

1-vs 3, Give not only what you can afford, but far more.

2-vs 3, Give of your own free will.

3-vs 4, Ask over and over for the privilege of sharing with others.

4-vs 5, Do more than others hope for.

5-vs 7, Excel in the gracious act of giving.

6-vs 8,Our genuine love for others is shown by our level of generosity.

7-vs 9, Jesus is the ultimate example of generosity because He left the riches of heaven, but for our sakes became poor, so that His poverty could make us rich.

8-vs 10-11, Finish the gift that you start giving. Complete your commitments.

9-vs 11, Give in proportion to what you have.

10-vs 12, Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly.

11-vs 13, Our giving shouldn’t make life easy for others and hard for ourselves.

12-vs 16-24, If you are in the position of handling or managing other people’s gifts, make sure that you bring at least one other person along to be sure there is no chance for mismanagement. Make sure that the people whose gifts you manage have complete faith in your system of checks and balances, so the gifters have assurance that their full gift is ending up where they expect it to be.

I love this list! It challenges me to think differently when I am giving of myself. Read through the list again and see which ones affect your heart. Take a few seconds to sit with each one and check yourself for compliance. Today, the one that hit me is, “Do more than others hope for”. I like it because it is simple and with a little thought or a small gesture it would be easy for me to accomplish this one. How much sweeter would my life be if every day I looked for a way to do more for one person than they hope for? (If I choose someone who expects nothing of me, this gets really simple!) It can be as small as a smile or a greeting to anyone you come into contact with. If I choose someone in my home, how much more appreciated or loved will my family feel if they get some help they were not expecting? If I can add number 10 to number 4 and do whatever I am doing for others eagerly, what kind of an impact can it make in others lives? My ultimate goal is to be like Christ. Willing to leave the riches of heaven to come to earth so our lives could be purchased and then we get to experience the riches of heaven. If this is my standard, my goal…doesn’t giving a little more of my time, energy, and resources seem almost trivial?

I’ll end with one quick last thought. As I read a commentary on this passage in preparation for writing today one sentence kind of stabbed me in the heart. It said,” Best wishes, good intentions, desire and eager willingness are no substitute for good deeds”. So often I hear of a situation or know about a need or struggle of a friend, and can’t find time in my “busy” schedule to do the thing that God is asking me to do for that person. My desire to help someone does NOTHING for their need. I actually have to DO something!

Returned for Grace

Todays Reading: 2 Corinthians 6

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.

You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.

Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.

– Suscipe of Saint Ignatius

This prayer has been a constant on my mind for the last several weeks. During my days in pharmacy school at Creighton, I had the privilege to grow spiritually and prayerfully. I believe at one of the convocations or Masses I received a card that had this prayer on it. I kept the card in my bible and would read it every often. One day while meditating and reflecting on this prayer, I had an epiphany from the Spirit and I truly understood and realized the depth of the prayer. We face many difficult circumstances throughout the day and are granted many graces and mercies daily. But what I had fell to realize was this was all for God, given by God, for God’s glory.

In the reading we are reminded that we were given God’s grace and salvation at a most precious price, Christ’s blood. With this precious and delicate gift we cannot allow it to be in vain and not cherished and celebrated. Then Paul shows us that in the things that we have been through we have to change the looking glass and see it in the Glory of God:

2 Corinthians 6:4-10

4Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

 

Many times the beatings and imprisonment and riots would be viewed as something to be shamed or depressed, but Paul shows that even in the lowest places and most inhumane situations God’s grace allows us to be able to see the bigger picture. It is not for that moment, but for something bigger than we cannot yet image.

So with this new understanding, I have found it essential to not allow His grace to be in vain and acknowledge Him in all the afflictions and hardships and praises and joys. I know that I when I return everything that have been given to me back to Him; he will use me and the events that I experience for His glory.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for your amazing and unending grace. Allow us to take peace in your presence as we live for you daily. Allow us to daily return all that we have, the good and the bad, the highs and low, the painful and joyous to you from whom all blessing and honor flows. Allow us to see you in all things. Amen

Temporary Shelter

According to Wikipedia, a tent is a shelter consisting of sheets of fabric or other material draped over, attached to a frame of poles or attached to a supporting rope. While smaller tents may be free-standing or attached to the ground, large tents are usually anchored using ropes tied to stakes or tent pegs. First used as portable homes by nomadic peoples, tents are now more often used for recreational camping and temporary shelters.

I boldned  the words, temporary shelter, because in our study of 2 Corinthians 5 today, Paul tells us that the body we live in is a temporary shelter.

2 Corinthians 5:1 says,                                                                           “For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down- when we die and leave these bodies-we will have a home in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.”

Wow, I long for this day when the temporary tent that I live in is transformed by God.  I have faced medical issues, sickness, tiredness, and daily battles with how I look compared to others and worldly standards.  It is so refreshing to read these words and know that this is temporary. I will never be satisfied with the body I have here on earth.

In verse 2, we read,
“We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long for the day when we will put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing.”

Different translations use the word “groan” instead of “long”. Do you ever find yourself groaning? As I get older, I hear certain sounds or groans come from my mouth and usually question where that came from. Groan is a word expressing the emotion of pain. (yes, sometimes I feel pain as I get up when I have sat too long:)  But, Paul is talking about something here beyond the ordinary groaning we do. This is a groaning of wanting to occupy that other body, the eternal body God has prepared for those who walk by faith!

But what does life look like while we are dwelling in these “tents”?? It means hearing, believing and doing as God directs. It means not living according to what you see in the temporary world. We have to make it our priority to please God.

Verse 9 states,
“So our aim is to please him always, whether we are here in this body or away from this body.”

Here is a poem that pretty much sums up what Paul is saying about living in our tent:

This Old Tent
by Steve Coyle

When I looked upon the days gone past,
I’d thought this tent was built to last.
For I’d stood it on some rocky ground
where stormy winds couldn’t beat it down.
And with my pride and my own hand,
I put my tent on shifting sand
where pegs pulled loose and my tent did shake,
but I was young and I could take
the unstable world that I was in
I’d just up and move again.

So for many years I went this route,
shifting this old tent about.
Till one cold day when my mind grew clear,
this tent had an end and it might draw near.

So with much fear (such a heavy load)
I looked for the One who made this abode.
Yes, the Tentmaker, He’d surely know
where one such rotting tent should go
to have this canvas revitalized,
to have these poles and pegs re‐sized.

I went to Him on bended knees
begging Him, ‘Oh tentmaker please!
Restore this tent I thought would last,
this canvas house that went so fast.’

He looked at me through loving eyes
and merely pointed to the skies.
‘Please don’t grieve over some old tent,
old canvas walls that have been spent.
For this mansion that’s been built by Me
will last you for eternity.’”

Compliments of Joni and Friends PO Box 3333 Agoura Hills, CA 91376 www.joniandfriends.org

Because of Christ we have a Hope! Verses 17-21 assure us that regardless of what you have done you can receive these blessings and have this hope because of who Jesus Christ is, and what He did on the cross for you and me.