Day 13

Today, for the kabillionth time in six months, I heard a message on Moses, his calling, and the wilderness. I am so tired of the wilderness and hearing about it. I want out.

Ps. 124; 2 Cor. 11-13

2 Corinthians 12:9 - "And He said, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me."

When I am at my weakest, broken and trembling and without a thing, that is when He can use me powerfully. When I am emptied of all that holds me back from Him, I can be that vessel He longs to use. I long to be used.

2 Corinthians 12:21 - "I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced."

A faith without repentance is dead. Even Satan believes in God, as do his demons. Jesus tells us to repent and believe. And, not either/or. These are the things I have struggled with greatly in the past, so it rings so true in my life. My repentance just needs to keep on truckin'.

2 Corinthians 13:5 - "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you - unless indeed you fail the test."

Paul is writing to believers! The sinner's prayer is not enough. Sanctification is a process, just as salvation is not a one time moment. We are called to constantly examine if we are still walking with God according to His terms.

Catch-up:

Job 19; Mark 1, 2

Job 19:25 - "And as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth."

Job calls God his redeemer long before God comes to redeem. In fact, Job is looking to redemption in the next life because he does not see it happening in the present. What amazing faith to look at the shambles of his life and believe that God will win in the end and vindicate Job in justice.

Mark 1:18 - "And [Simon and Andrew] immediately left their nets and followed Him."

There was no second thought, no worry over leaving their lives behind, no hesitation. They heard the call and immediately took it to heart.

Day 12

Excuse: my blogger was TOTALLY messed up last night. I tried to post and it was not happening.

2 Cor. 7-10

2 Corinthians 7:6a – “But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us....”

He doesn’t not see me. He sees me. He comforts me. I am not alone.

2 Corinthians 7:10 – “For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

Sorrow is not always bad! The kind that God gives us in regards to our own sin, in particular. My repentance as a result of the sorrow is the good fruit that proves it was the right kind of sorrow. Hoooorah.

2 Corinthians 10:5 – “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”

This is what I was just reading about! It is the personal responsibility of every believer to know their faith for themselves and to stand upon the truth of the Bible. This includes all knowledge we have of God. Oh, and take those thoughts captive! Each one is a danger if it is allowed to multiply to two, three, eight thoughts. One is enough, thanks.

Catch-up:

Acts 28

Day 11

I just spent about 6 hours breathing in another religion which, unfortunately, tries to tie in Christianity. As a result, I am super excited to just drench myself in real Truth.

2 Cor. 3-6

2 Corinthians 3:5, 6 - "Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."

I love the word "adequate" because it perfectly fits: that is exactly what we are, adequate. But sometimes we even fall short of such a small word as adequate, in this case by choosing to still live under the old covenant of living by the letter of the law. When I am not careful, I fall within that category. It is not at all that I believe in the old covenant as a way to salvation; rather, I place unnecessary burden where it is not needed. I am so sorry for this, for all I bring is death.

2 Corinthians 3:18 - "But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit."

We no longer have to be in fear as Moses was that the glory would fade from his face; he veiled himself so that the people would not see it disappear. But! Because we are transformed from glory to glory, it will not fade. There is no fear. And best yet, the image we are being transformed into continually is that of our Saviour.

2 Corinthians 4:9 - "[We are] persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed...."

I feel like highlighting this entire chapter because it's so good, but here's one of the big ones. He does not forsake us in our persecutions! I am so thankful that I have never had to endure real persecution, but it is such a comfort to know that if I ever do, it is not because He has abandoned me. And though I am struck down (which, if you read my other blog, feels like a common occurrence), it is NOT the end of me! Remember Jeremiah 5:18!

2 Corinthians 4:16 - "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day."

If I had all the time in the world, I would go into the next three verses as well! So wonderful. But this one...it has always touched my heart. I may see the world around me falling apart, my very body literally falling to pieces, but I can take heart that the part that matters is only growing stronger amidst the affliction.

2 Corinthians 5:15 - "He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf."

When we become alive in Him, we must die to the flesh. It is only when we die with Him that we live with Him also. He died for me, therefore I must live only for Him.

Catch-up:

Job 18, Acts 27

Day 10

Celebration! There is no "percentage complete" to be reckoned, but it's been 10 days and I have stayed faithful to my promise. A few days I did not stay completely true to the half hour mark, but from now on it's non-negotiable, no matter how uncomfortable it makes others. God is revealing Himself...and maybe, slowly, it's beginning to change me.

And I'm really sad to be finishing Job...it's one of my all-time faves and it's sad to think that unless I'm doing extra reading it'll be a whole year.

Job 41, 42; 2 Cor. 1, 2

Job 41:11 - "Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine."

I have nothing to offer Him. How foolish to think that anything in my possession is not His, to be used and given and kept as I see fit. Everything is His, on lend to me as long as He chooses. I have nothing. There is nothing to give and He owes me nothing.

Catch-up:

Acts 26; Ps. 114

Acts 26:8 - "Why is it considered incredible among you people if God does raise the dead?"

This has always been a thought of mine when the Sadducees would argue against resurrection from the dead in the gospels. Is it too great a thing for God to do? Is it outside His character? Is it sin or an evil act? Then I do not understand why it is seen as incredible.