READINGS FOR DECEMBER 4-12

 DECEMBER 4

Paul writes in the beginning of 2 Corinthians about comfort in Jesus. We must also remember that Jesus told us in Matthew 10:34 and Luke 12:51 that He did not bring peace but division. So we cannot equate comfort with peace.

Paul tells the church that they have gone through many hardships.  He said they were under great pressure that was far beyond their ability to endure. “But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God…”

What would happen if we relied on God instead of ourselves? Would the hardships be less? Paul also mentions that he suffered in Asia so much so that they despaired even of life. Is this hardship because Paul went to Asia when he wasn't supposed to go? See Acts 16:6,7.

“For we are not unaware of his schemes.”
What schemes? Satan's schemes are not always blatant and "in your face". Most often they are very subtle.  Paul says we are not unaware of his schemes which means we are aware of them but perhaps choose not to do anything about them resulting our own demise.

Chapters 2 and 3 contain some vivid contrasting images.
Smell of death - fragrance of life
Tablets of stone - tablets of human hearts
The letter (of the Law) kills - the Spirit (Jesus' ultimate sacrifice) gives life

"Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts."
Paul is speaking about the Jews.  They read the law but they are still looking for the conquering Messiah. However, when Jesus returns as the conquering Messiah. many Jews will see Him and believe.

Zechariah 12:10

And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication.  They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. 

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

We are constantly being transformed into the likeness of Christ, if we allow it and work toward it.

Paul writes about the ministry of reconciliation in Chapter 5.  While reconciliation means the restoration of friendly relations among people, it means so very much more than that! In the Hebrew language, reconciliation is a synonym for atonement.  So Paul is saying that we must restore and maintain friendly relationships with others, this is the ministry of reconciliation.  But it also means to proclaim Jesus who is our atonement for sins.

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”
What an awesome responsibility and privilege!

In Chapter 6 Paul mentions "weapons of righteousness".  Would that the the sword of the Spirit - the Word of God?

“Therefore come out from them and be separate…”
When we step out of worldliness and into Godliness, we are different. This difference will attract others. We will be that "light" shining in the "darkness".

“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence to God.”
What contaminates body and spirit?  We are warned in Chapter 6 that light has no fellowship with darkness, there is no agreement between the temple of God and idols.  Pagan influences contaminate body and spirit.  Another example of food sacrificed to idols.

Concerning giving...
“Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  (A cheerful giver is a person who is delighted in giving.) And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
Notice all the "alls". The Scripture containing all the "alls" follows the Scripture containing words about giving cheerfully! Any connections???

DECEMBER 5

At the beginning of 2 Corinthians 10 Paul writes that he wants to be non confrontational toward them, but will be stern if necessary, warning them about living by the standards of the world.

“…we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
When faced with temptation, it’s nice to have a Bible verse to quote in order to take every thought captive. Because we will be judged for every careless word we've ever spoken.

Many people said that Paul's letters were weighty and forceful but in person he was unimpressive. It seems that Paul was forceful in his letters. People read them, had time to digest them so that by the time Paul visited these people, there was no need for him to be forceful or confrontational.

2 Corinthians 10:7
You are looking only on the surface of things....
When reading the Bible if we only take the surface meaning, we miss learning about the "deep things of God."

1 Corinthians 2:10

But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. 

See the book Diving into Deep Things of God by Phil and Patti Moore available on Amazon.

Paul had some strong words to say, “When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves to themselves, they are not wise.”
Would this be ego-mania to the max!?!

“…for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light”
Satan will use any means possible, including passing himself off as God, using both subtle and blatant means. He is the great deceiver. Satan is not omnipotent. He can’t make us do anything. We must be willing. Don’t give him too much credit.

Notice all the sufferings Paul lists. With all the punishment his body received, he probably never fully recovered from any of them. Can you imagine suffering without pain medication or the comfort of our homes and people to take care of us? Being a believer in Jesus does not guarantee a “cushy” life. Paul seemed to relate that the physical pain he endured was nothing compared to his concern for the spiritual.

Some may ask, 'If Paul had the spiritual gifts of healing and miracles, why did he not heal himself?"

If Paul had healed himself from the injuries that resulted from the beatings, scourging, stoning, etc and had gone to these groups of people with no outward signs of the injuries might that have destroyed his credibility with them?  Might they have thought Paul was lying about the punishments he received?  Might this have destroyed or compromised Paul's testimony?   They saw Paul in an injured and painful body still testifying in salvation through Jesus, in spite of his suffering.

“…caught up to the third heaven…”
This may have happened when Paul was stoned and disciples gathered around him.  The first heaven contains clouds and air. The second heaven contains stars and sky. The third heaven is where God lives, where His glory shines. See the firmament in Genesis.

The natural response to this experience would be pride. No one else experienced this so Paul was given a thorn in the flesh. Any handicap we might live with can be our "thorn in the flesh". Satan wanted this to turn Paul. God wanted to humble Paul. Pride doesn’t usually exist in people of pain. It is not always God's will to keep us from pain and pressure. Remember that suffering is not new. Pride comes with achievement. Contentment does not require comfort.

“…a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.”
Many scholars have done extensive research in an attempt to discover what this “thorn” in the flesh was and no one can say for sure. But whatever it is, the most important thing is that Paul accepts this and even boasts about this weakness. Rejoice and be glad to be found worthy to suffer for the cause of Christ.

DECEMBER 6

Paul wrote the book of Romans as a well thought-out statement of his faith. It does not appear as one of his typical letters. The church at Rome was mostly Jewish but also had a number of Gentiles. It had probably been started by believers who were present at Pentecost. Paul had never met most of the believers there so he sent this as a letter of introduction. He really presents the foundations of the gospel as salvation for all, saved by grace through faith. He gives clear practical guidelines for the Roman believers.

Paul reminds the people about the prophecies in Holy Scripture. This would be our Old Testament.

“First I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you…”
Notice Paul thanks God for the people. He doesn’t thank the people.

In Romans 1:26-27 Paul makes it perfectly clear that homosexuality was never intended by God to be a lifestyle.  He also warns that there are consequences for that behavior when he states that they will receive the due penalty for their perversion. 

“I am not ashamed of the gospel.” 
Indeed he wasn't ashamed of the good news. And for that he was rewarded.  Paul’s rewards are still coming in.  Think about the millions of people through the ages who have turned to Jesus because of the letters of Paul.

"...first for the Jew, then for the Gentile..."
See Matthew 10:5-6, Matthew 15:24, John 4 - the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. and others.

“…men who suppress the truth…”
“…so that men are without excuse…”
God’s power has manifested itself from the beginning. Those who suppress the truth are called wicked.  They know the truth and yet suppress the truth, which means, in effect, they present a lie.

“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather that the Creator – who is forever praised. Amen.”
An example of exchanging the truth of God for a lie would be evolution. It is non belief in a Creator. It takes more faith to believe in evolution than to believe in God.  We have said many times that if only scientists and Christians would get together with open minds, things would make sense for both.

“…received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.”
Sin has consequences. Sin also hurts more than just the sinner.

Romans 1:28-32 seems to describe a slice of life today. And notice it all started with..."since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God..."
All of the other things listed in this passage take place because people do not retain the knowledge of God.

“…but also approve of those who practice them.”
People are watching what we do as Believers in Jesus. We must be careful that by our silence we are, in effect, condoning sinful behavior. Silence can speak volumes!

Circumcision was a symbol of God’s covenant with His people. Circumcision of the heart by the Spirit happens at acceptance of Jesus and receiving the Holy Spirit. However, we must be on guard or our hearts may become hardened.   But if we are not ashamed of the gospel, and proclaim it on a daily basis, we will have no worry that our hearts will become hardened.

DECEMBER 7

In the reading for today, one thing comes through loud and clear!  Righteousness is through Jesus and not the Law.  However, it was through the law that Jesus made us conscious of sin.  The law highlights the sin so that we can avoid it.

Romans 3:22-24
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement through faith in his blood.

No question here that ALL have sinned. Also, no question that we are justified freely by His grace! Blood is an important component of these verses.  Before the cross the Old Testament people had to believe that the blood of the sacrificial animal covered the sins.  After the cross people must believe that the blood of Jesus, His sacrificial death on the cross atones for our sins.  If there is no belief in the blood sacrifice (either before or after the cross), there is no atonement for sin.  For the Old Testament people before the cross, their belief in the blood sacrifices was credited to them as righteousness.

Romans 4:3
What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

Romans 4:10
Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before!

Interesting that the “son of promise”, Isaac, was conceived after Abraham’s circumcision. Ishmael was conceived before the circumcision.

Abraham’s faith didn’t waver concerning the promise of an offspring. Sarah, on the other hand, felt that she should offer her handmaiden, Hagar to Abraham in order to fulfill the promise, since she was too old to bear children (or so she thought).

Romans 4:20-21
Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

Do we as Believers in Jesus waver through unbelief regarding the promises of God or are we strengthened in our faith and give glory to God? Are we fully persuaded that God has power to do what he has promised or are we like Sarah and try to “help God out”?

Paul wrote about the value of circumcision. Circumcision can be likened to signing a document you've already agreed to.  Substitute the words water baptism for circumcision. Water baptism is an outward sign of an inward change. A person has already agreed to believing in Jesus as Savior and baptized by the Holy Spirit. Water baptism is like signing the document in front of witnesses for all to see.
"And hope does not disappoint us."
Worldly hope often disappoints. We "hope" that something will happen. It may or may not happen. But God's hope on the other hand is GUARANTEED!

"The law was added so that the trespass might increase."
This can be a bit confusing at first. But look at it this way, the law was added so that we might know our trespasses.

We had another "rhema" moment from the Lord today. (Rhema is a quickened word from the Lord in which a particular passage of Scripture takes on additional meaning).

Here is our "rhema" moment. Imagine that you died from a heart attack. Medical personnel pronounced you dead. The time of death was noted on your chart. The sheet was pulled over your head. You were wheeled to the morgue. Then suddenly  you came back to life. How would you feel? You have been given a new lease on life. Would you change anything about your life?

We, as Believers have been brought back to life. We were dead in our sins before Jesus. We are a new creation.
"...rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life..."

Paul writes in Romans 6 about grace which requires submission to Him and not submission to sin. Before we become Believers in Jesus we are slaves to sin.  After we believe, we choose to be slaves to Jesus.  Paul says we should offer our bodies "in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness."  We can be a Believer in Jesus and only be a "part-time worker" and not a slave to Him.  This attitude and behavior of being only a "part-time worker" leads to a lukewarm spiritual life.  However, if we become "slaves" to Him and do whatever our Master says, this attitude and behavior leads to a life of holiness.

Romans 8:15
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."
Just before Jesus was arrested, He prayed this prayer in the Garden.

Mark 14:36
"Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
Abba is a term of endearment, something like our English word, Daddy. As we have read we see that Jesus repeatedly speaks more of the Father the closer He gets to the crucifixion, it seems as if He hungers for the presence of Abba, Daddy. Do we as Believers hunger to be in the presence of God, the Father - Abba, Daddy?

Romans 8:37-39
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul makes it perfectly clear that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus! Praise God for that!

DECEMBER 8

Romans 9:3
For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race,

What an offer! Paul was willing to give up his salvation (if that were possible, which it isn't) if only his brothers, the Jews would believe. That's pure love!  Moses did a similar thing.

Romans 9:13
Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

God allows a person's heart to be hardened and/or He hardens the heart for His purposes. For example God hardened Pharaoh's heart so that His power and purpose would be made known.
(Exodus 7:3, 9:14)

Romans 10:2
For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.

They were zealous based on the law (legalism) and didn’t have the knowledge of Jesus. This puts us in mind of the Orthodox Jews today.  They were (and many are today) zealous but for all the wrong reasons.

Romans 10:10
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Once we believe and are made right, then we want to live right.

Romans 10:13-15
for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Believers are sent to preach (that word means proclaim) – others hear – others believe – they call on Him – they are saved. The bottom line is... believers are sent and others are saved! Again, we're thinking of Moshe in Israel. He has been sent to Israel, he preaches, others hear, believe, call on Jesus and are saved.

Romans 10:17
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

We (Phil and Patti) had similar upbringings.  When we were children, we heard the message. We accepted what Christian adults told us. It brought about a measure of faith in what they were telling us. So that when we accepted Jesus for ourselves we already had a measure of faith. Phil likes to say that we knew Jesus first as a friend before we even knew we needed a Savior.

Romans 10:19
...Moses says, I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding.

Paul is referring to the Gentiles as "those who are not a nation;"  I wrote this question in the margin of the Bible, "Will Israel be angry and envious because the offer of salvation will be given to the Gentiles?"  That question was answered a few verses down the page in Romans 11 - "salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious..." 

Romans 10:20
And Isaiah boldly says, "I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me."

We have often used the analogy of a horizontal line. Our life is as a horizontal line. We stay on the line and to eventual destruction until at some point (or many points) God reaches down to us and we reach back to Him. Then we are on the vertical line and on our way to life eternal. (John 3:16-18)

Paul warns the Gentiles of boasting. It seems as if there are some folks today who believe that Israel has been  replaced by the church and all the promises to Israel are now promised to only the church. Not so! Paul warned about boasting that,"Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." Later Paul says, "And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in."

Our prayer as Believers should be that Israel will not persist in unbelief. That when God reaches down to them (perhaps through people like Moshe in Israel) that they will reach back.

DECEMBER 9

Romans 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-- this is your spiritual act of worship.
What does it mean to offer our bodies as living sacrifices?

When God asks for sacrifices, He asks for only our best. He wants the first, not what’s left over.

Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will.
It’s very clear that we as Believers in Jesus are not to conform to the standards of acceptance of a morally decadent world. How do we conform to the standards of this world?

To be transformed is to be “born again” with a new mindset, a new attitude. We learn and understand what God’s will is for us by not conforming to the world's standards and by reading, studying, and meditating on His word and in prayer to Him, being submissive to the Holy Spirit.

Romans 13:10
Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
If we obey the first two commandments, then all the others simply fall into place.

Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
If we use the scriptures, both Old and New Testaments to get the full picture we will be encouraged and strengthened. The more we read, the more we understand and the more we understand the more we will trust in Him. It is only with the full context of scripture that we can understand.

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Imagine a clear glass. As we trust in Him, he begins to fill us (the glass) with joy and peace. He fills us more and more as we trust in Him more and more until finally our glass overflows. What might prevent us from allowing Him to fill us?  When we refuse to turn loose of sinful things in our lives, it takes up room that could be filled with joy and peace.

Romans 15:29
I know that when I come to you, I will come in the full measure of the blessing of Christ.
Paul has the Lord’s blessing for coming to them, the established church. This will be a time of spiritual nourishment and encouragement for Paul. God knows that Paul, like many true servants, needs refreshment from time to time.

When Paul lists all the people for special greetings, he mentions several women.

Notice Paul did not do his own writing of this letter. Tertius wrote it. Is his eyesight failing so badly that he can no longer write?

DECEMBER 10

In Paul's travels, notice that he tries to make time for the feast days. These Holy Days were important to the early followers of Jesus.  Shouldn't they be just as important to us today?  Paul sailed from Philippi after the Feast of Unleavened Bread and wanted to make it to Jerusalem in time for Pentecost, having only about 45 days to do so once he started the journey. Interestingly, there were many Jews in Jerusalem for that feast who would cause Paul quite a bit of trouble.  And yet, Paul was obedient to the observance of those feast days.  If we honor the Holy Days today we may cause a bit of trouble from those who do not understand the reason.

Kind of an amusing story concerning the young man Eutychus, who fell asleep during one of Paul’s long sermons, fell out of a third story window, died, and was revived by Paul. I'm sure each of us could think of a time when we took a little nap during a sermon.

Acts 20:26
Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
This is a great testimony of Paul’s faith in knowing that he is forgiven for persecuting and killing Christians.

He also warned the elders from Ephesus that after he left them. "savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock."
At first this seems as if these "wolves" will do them harm, but that is not necessarily the case. "Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them."

Paul had been telling them of the hardships that followers of Jesus would have to endure. How easy it would be for "wolves" to come into the groups and entice them away from the teachings of Paul. After all what had Paul been telling them about the hardships? These "wolves" could have presented a much softer life. Paul agonized "with tears" over this possibility. Many times we as Believers think that this kind of dedication was only for the people we read about in the Bible. But was it?

Acts 21:8
Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven.
When we read one of the Seven  we thought that perhaps there were only seven remaining apostles living at this time, Philip being one of the Seven. After doing some research, it seems that this Philip was not one of the apostles, but one of the seven deacons. (Acts 6:5)

It is very difficult to read the story of the sad farewell (Acts 20:36-38) and not be moved to tears.

There was some confusion (by us) concerning the Spirit warning Paul about what was to happen to him in Jerusalem. Paul was warned by the Holy Spirit and other people were also warned about what Paul would have to suffer there. After studying further,  the Holy Spirit was telling the people that Paul would face much suffering in Jerusalem. The people loved Paul and wanted to save him. But the Holy Spirit didn’t tell them to try to stop Paul. That was their decision. Paul was ready to go, face persecution, and death because he knew that was his destiny.

Acts 22:14-15
"Ananias told me, 'The God of our fathers chose you long ago to know his plan. He chose you to see the Righteous One and to hear words from him. You will be his witness (martyr) to all people. You will tell them what you have seen and heard. 

Something for us to ponder.
We may be warned of the danger of taking a certain stand, either by our friends or by the Word of God, or by the Holy Spirit and still it may be our duty to take the stand. Our duty consists in following the will of God and encountering whatever trials may come our way.