Food for Thought

Food. Have you ever been hungry? Like, feel like you are going to pass out and (due to a lack of nutrition) reach the point where you lost the hunger and decide that it must be because your stomach forgot what it even felt like to consume food? I can sometimes relate. Being hungry is a bummer. I hate to invoke guilt, but yes it's coming. Take about 25 steps back and contemplate those in the third world countries who go weeks with no substance, months, and years? Yes, they exist and sadly, these people often die. Whether or not we go without eating because we cannot afford the food, the point is that there are many people who cannot eat because they do not have real food. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to cut a meal out for the sake of others.

Now because God is generous, He expects us in the same way to be generous to other people. Paul teaches us this in 2 Corinthians 9 when he says, "6The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9As it is written, his righteousness endures forever.”“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; 10He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God."

Now--

Go back to those hungry thoughts. Being generous doesn't necessarily involve giving money or food (even money for food). It can be as simple as spending time to pray with or for someone, offering services, or sharing skills. Generosity will lead us to a life of peace, joy, and love. Being generous softens our hearts, lessons our obsessions with material things, and ultimately strengthens our spiritual walk with God. If generosity is something that you struggle with, maybe it would be a good idea to ask for the Lord's help with something simple like sharing your gifts and talents with someone and then build up to more.

God's nature is generosity, kindness, love, and selflessness. Basically? He Cares.

Whether we know it or not, He is concerned with our well-being and wants to bless us.  The best part about this is that is exactly what He does. The Lord is constantly finding new and exciting ways to bless His children. In Luke 6:38 it says, "For if you give, you will get" Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give -- large or small -- will be used to measure what is given back to you."

And that's that. Thanks for studying the Corinthians letters with me! We finished my little series, next week we'll talk about something fresh. For now, blessings and love on this sunny Sunday :)

Much love, 

V

The Way you Do the Things you Do

Max Lucado has a great commentary on 2 Corinthians called Remember What Matters. He brings up valuable questions that are worth considering and reflecting. I hope you'll be blessed by what he writes:

"Motives. We all have them. We all have reasons (conscious and subconscious) for why we do what we do. What would you say are your dominant motivations in life... those compelling urges that prompt you during the average day?

An unnamed group of smooth-talking, slick-operating troublemakers had infiltrated the church at Corinth, bashing Paul and encouraging a departure from his new covenant gospel of grace. To prevent this terrible possibility, Paul contrasted his ministry and motives with theirs. In a world that is obsessed with "image," it is always tempting to pretend always tough to be authentic. Why is absolute honesty essential for those who serve God?

Paul obviously lived a life full of trouble and hardship. Why would God allow such difficulty for one of his most faithful servants? What silver lining does Paul see in his troubles?

Moses asked to see it on Sinai,

It billowed through the temple, leaving priests too stunned to minister,

When Ezekiel saw it, he had to bow,

It encircled the angels and starstruck the shepherds in the Bethlehem pasture,

Jesus radiates it,

John beheld it,

Peter witnessed it on Transfiguration Hill,

Christ will return enthroned in it,

Heaven will be illuminated by it,

It gulf streams the Atlantic of Scripture, touching every person with the potential of changing every life... including yours.

One glimpse, one taste, one sampling, and your faith will never be the same...

Glory

God's glory.

People were created to live for God's glory, but in reality this is not most people's primary concern. What are they living for? What is the treasure we have from God and what are we supposed to do with it?

In this chapter, Paul makes a big deal about speaking for and about God. How much do you do this in your life? Other passages also speak of Christians "shining" for God. What does this look like in everyday, practical terms?

Soli Deo Gloria means "to the glory of God alone." What are some indications that a believer has embraced such a mind-set and lifestyle? What are some specific acts you can commit to that will shine the glory of Christ into your world?

You can get attention by being slick and flashy and by cultivating a certain "image," but you'll never have a deep impact on others that way. The most powerful and eternally significant lives are on those, like Paul, who realize they are mere vessels who have been filled with a heaven-sent treasure. They realized God is the point, not them. According to the Bible, we exist to bring God glory, to shine for him, to point others to him. Like John the Baptist, we need to say, "He must become greater, and I must become less important," John 3:30. Focus today on the substance of your life more so than on mere style. Spiritual depth, authenticity, faithfulness--these are the qualities that honor God and cause others to stop and stare."

Let's make it a point to embrace more God-honoring motives and abandon our less worthy ones this week.

Much love,
V

I'm Sure

The Orchid of the Holy Spirit

Okay, in 2 Corinthians chapter three, Paul spends the first eleven verses telling the Corinthians that he knows that the Lord has called him, chosen him really, to be doing exactly what he is doing. He doesn't need to be assured of it from friends or family. Paul says, "our competence comes from God" in 2 Cor 3:5. The Holy Spirit is all we have to confirm and sustain ourselves as Christians.

The two terms Paul uses in relation to standing firm in what the Lord has called us to are letter and Spirit  By letter, Paul is referring to the Law, aka the words in the Bible. In the book of Romans, Paul talks about the letter's old age. When he says Spirit, it appears as though he is referring to the Gospel Spirit, aka the Holy Spirit that enters a Christian's heart after they realize and then open the need they have for Jesus in order to live eternally in heaven. The Holy Spirit is the life-giving power of God that is often confused with a conscience.

One of the beautiful things about following Christ is that we are never alone. Prayer is a powerful thing, and when we pray we open up a place where we can be taught and molded to be more like Christ. We can be absolutely sure that the Lord has a part in our lives if we are submitting ourselves in prayer and being vulnerable to obeying what the Bible says. I want nothing more than to be completely in line with His will for my life, it is what brings God glory and makes the ministry of salvation so powerful.

Much love,
V

Loveee

Listen to Your Love by Brandon Heath and then we'll chat.  Or better yet, open it in another tab then come back.

This song is off Heath's new album entitled, Leaving Eden, from January.  I think Heath's description of what love is is something in which Paul would agree.  Love is the prelude to all of what Jesus did on earth, and it is what truly matters as our body of believers should be concerned.  His love should convict us of what to do in every situation we encounter.

Down to business, how would I define love. Ultimate selflessness.  It is the opposite of selfish.  The classic "love" chapter where I have collected this definition: 1 Corinthians 13 of course. Verse 13 summarizes the chapter when it says, "13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."  His album is a witness of the world around him.  He says "a lot of these songs came with a little bit of struggle, with moments when I had no idea what God wanted me to say, but that said, my favorite songs on the album are not the ones I wrote at the last minute, and with the most effort.

Much love,
(the heavenly kind that is never-ending and only comes through Jesus, woop!)
V