November 30th~A Harvest of Generosity

2 Corinthians 6:14-10:18

It was evident today that Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians was an effort to mend his relationship with church members after an earlier, more pointed letter (which may be 1 Corinthians). “I am no longer sorry that I sent that letter to you,” he wrote, “though I was sorry for a time, for I know that it was painful to you for a little while. Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to have remorse and change your ways” (7:8, 9).

Another purpose of Paul’s second letter became apparent today as well, that of completing a collection to help the suffering members in the church of Jerusalem (8:1-6). A year earlier, the Lord had put it on their hearts to assist them in their financial troubles (v.10, 11). Thus, Paul wrote to encourage the Corinthians “to excel in the gracious ministry of giving” (v.7).

Paul continued to give some principles in regards to giving, principles that still inform our giving today. “Give whatever you can according to what you have. If you are eager to give, it isn’t important how much you are able to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you don’t have. Of course, I don’t mean you should give so much that you suffer from having too little... Right now you have plenty and can help them. At some other time, they can share with you when you need it. In this way, everyone’s needs will be met” (v.11-14).

A little later, Paul wrote, “A farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop; but the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure, for God loves the person who gives cheerfully; and God will generously provide all you need... and plenty left over to share with others. As the Scriptures say, ’Godly people give generously to the poor’ (Psalm 112:9). For God is the one who gives seed to the farmer and bread to eat. In the same way, He will give you many opportunities to do good, and He will produce a great harvest of generosity in you” (9:6-10).

Daily Reflection

Giving is an important aspect of a Christian’s ministry to others, but it also produces many positive effects in your own life. Name a few.

Giving is also a test of faith in the life of a believer. How so?

How does the principle of “you reap what you sow” relate to giving?

Have you been faithful to give to the Lord’s ministries and to those people in need?

BiAY.org | Day 334 — 31 Days to Go

November 29th~Unveiled

2 Corinthians 2:5-6:13

We covered several chapters of Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. In them he explained the superiority of the New Covenant in Christ over the Old Covenant and the law of Moses. “This is a covenant, not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old way ends in death; in the new way, the Holy Spirit gives life” (3:6). Because of this new life, this new hope in Christ, Paul explained that he found motivation to carry on, despite his many hardships. He viewed himself as Christ’s ambassador, reconciling others to God (5:20). In many ways, we too are His ambassadors, charged with the very same mission.

Numerous times, while describing the advantage of the New Covenant over the Old, Paul referred to the veil of Moses. “The old system,” he wrote, “began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face... He put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory fading away...” (3:7, 13). Paul used that veil as a symbol of the hardness of the people’s hearts and the darkness of their minds. “Even today... their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand” (3:15).

Next, Paul contrasts what happens at the point of salvation. “But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away” (3:16). The Spirit of the Lord releases us from the curse of the law, the penalty of the Old Covenant, and opens our eyes to its fulfillment in Christ. Now, “where the Spirit of the Lord is, He gives freedom” (3:17). The veil is gone!

Paul continued, “All of us (Christians) have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him and reflect His glory even more” (3:18). The New American Standard translation casts this verse in a better light. “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.”

Simply put, because the Spirit of God has “lifted the veil” from our faces and opened our eyes to see that all of Scripture points to Christ, we can behold His glory; and, as we behold His glory or preoccupy ourselves with Him, His teaching, His work, His ministry, His nature, then we are transformed, with the help of the Spirit, into His image, a little more each day.

Daily Reflection

Describe what it looks like to preoccupy yourself with Christ. What would that require of you?

As Moses spent time in the presence of God, his face reflected God’s glory. In a way, you do the same today. You are a mirror that reflects the glory of God to others? Explain how.

Can you see the progressive work of God in changing you into the image of Christ? How so?

BiAY.org | Day 333 — 32 Days to Go

November 28th~Tough Love

Romans 15:1-16:27 

2 Corinthians 1:1-2:4

We closed Paul’s letter to the Romans and opened his second letter to the Corinthians. Although both the closing and the opening are mostly formalities, a common thread became evident to me, that of tough love. When we think of love, we usually conjure up images of romance, family, friendships, and other human delights; but, genuine love is not always an expression of benevolence or affection. These things are relatively easy for most of us. Sometimes love requires us to do hard things.

Our passage today began with Paul’s last words on a lengthy subject, that of “loving our neighbor as ourselves” (13:9). “Love does no wrong to anyone,” Paul wrote (13:10). Therefore, we must be careful when criticizing or condemning other believers for their convictions, words, or actions. Likewise, we must be careful not to offend others by our words and actions, being mindful to their sensitivities. “We may know that these things make no difference,” Paul said, “but we cannot just go ahead and do them to please ourselves. We must be considerate of the doubts and fears of those who think [certain] things are wrong. We should please others. If we do what helps them, we will build them up in the Lord” (15:1, 2). If we genuinely love and care for others, we will practice self-control and curb our words and actions so as not to offend them unintentionally. That is tough.

Next, at the opening of his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul shared a little of the trouble he endured in Asia. “We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it... But, as a result, we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on God” (1:8, 9). However, Paul did not share these things to illicit pity from his readers; rather he explained to them that “God comforts us in our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. So then, when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your benefit...” (1:4-6). In other words, God loves us so much that He allows us to go through difficult times so that we can help others through difficult times. That is certainly tough love.

Finally, Paul expressed how stressful it was for him to write his first letter to the church at Corinth, which was a scathing rebuke of their disharmony and worldliness. “How painful it was to write that letter,” he said. “Heartbroken, I cried over it. I didn’t want to hurt you, but I wanted you to know how very much I love you” (2:4). Sometimes love requires us to confront sin in the lives of others and that is tough.

Daily Reflection

Is there a mixed message here? You are sup- posed to curb your words and actions so as not to offend others, yet there are times when you must confront their sins. Yes. Both of these are demonstrations of love. Where is the line? How do you know when to cross the line and speak to someone about their sinful words or deeds?

Parents love their children, but should they confront, correct, or discipline their children when they are in error? Of course. That is also love, tough love. So then, should you remain silent when other believers are living in sin? Not if you love them. Confronting and correcting them is also love, tough love. More damage will be done if you say or do nothing.

BiAY.org | Day 332 — 33 Days to Go

November 27th~A Living Sacrifice

Romans 11:1-14:23

We transitioned into the second half of Paul’s letter to the Romans. He spent the first half (Romans 1-11) focused on the truths of the Gospel, of salvation. Now, in the second half of his letter (12-16), he will focus on the transformation of the Gospel, the effects that salvation should have in one’s life.

The turning point of the letter hinges on two verses. “And so, dear brothers and sisters, [after all that I have written already], I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice, the kind that He will accept. When you think of what He has done for you, is this too much to ask? Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” (12:1, 2).

Noah Webster defined a sacrifice as “an offering to God in worship, to destroy, surrender, or suffer to be lost for the sake of obtaining something” (1828 Dictionary). People in the Old Testament sacrificed animals in honor of God. They surrendered their possession of the animal and suffered loss (something they needed or desired to keep) in order to gain glory for His name. “For everything comes from Him; everything exists by His power and is intended for His glory. To Him be glory forevermore” (11:36).

Likewise, Paul calls upon Christians to be “a living sacrifice” (a continuous sacrifice) in honor of God’s name. Practically speaking, he is challenging us to destroy, surrender, or suffer for the sake of obtaining glory for God. What does that look like exactly?

First, in Christ, we are new creatures; the old life is to pass away or be destroyed with its sinful lusts. Likewise, we are to destroy the worldly influence that the enemy attempts to wield in our lives. We are not to copy the behavior and customs of this world. Second, we are to surrender our will and succumb to the direction of the Holy Spirit. He has a plan and purpose for our lives, but we so often get in the way; we must, therefore, sacrifice ourselves for His good. Third, we are to suffer the loss of our sinful passions and selfish desires for the good of others.

Daily Reflection

Self-sacrifice is not easy. Why not?

Self-sacrifice is a life-long process. It does not happen overnight. Paul wrote, “Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” This change is not immediate but continuous. Over a stretch of time, you should notice a change in how you think, how you live, and what is important to you. Can you see that your view of things today is different than your view of them years ago? Explain.

By what means does God change the way you think? How does this process take place?

BiAY.org | Day 331 — 34 Days to Go

November 26th~Forever His

Romans 8:18-10:21

Paul’s letter to the Romans is the most precise and profound explanation of the Gospel in the New Testament. He made clear the 
truths that surround the incredible work of God in our salvation. Today’s passage may just be the highlight of this wonderful book, an encouraging stretch of verses that should warm the heart of every believer.

For example, Paul wrote, “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose for them. For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son... Having chosen them, He called them to come to Him; and He gave them right standing with Himself, and He promised them His glory” (8:28-30).

He continued, “What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? ...Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? No... overwhelming victory is ours through Christ... I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love...” (8:31, 37, 38).

A common fear among Christians today is that their salvation in Christ may be lost, that by some sin or neglect God’s gracious gift may be forfeited. This fear would be justified if salvation could be achieved through human efforts; but we know that “no one is good, not even one” (3:10). Any “salvation” gained by human effort is no salvation at all. It could be lost because it was never gained in the first place.

Genuine salvation is by grace alone (a gift, not earned), through faith alone (faith given by God), in Christ alone (nothing else). Salvation is a work of God not man. We do not attain right standing before Him by our works; He has given us right standing with Him because of Christ’s work on the cross. What God has given to us, He has promised never to take back. Our salvation, then, rests in the trustworthy word of God, who has vowed to seal us for all eternity.

Consider this confirmation from Romans 8. Those whom God has chosen, He calls; those whom He calls, He justifies, and those whom He justifies, He will someday glorify. Paul also wrote, “I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Philippians 1:6). Jesus said, “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from Me, for the Father has given them to Me... No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand” (John 10:27-30).

Daily Reflection

Have you ever struggled with the thought of losing your salvation? Why or why not?

To fear losing salvation is to doubt God at His word, and it is to diminish the work of Christ on your behalf. It is to say that what He did was not enough to secure you a place in heaven with Him. God does not want you to live like that. He wants you to rest in Him. As John wrote, “These things have I written to you, who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13, NASB).

BiAY.org |Day 330 — 35 Days to Go

November 25th~Gospel 101

Romans 5:1-8:17

Wow! What an incredible passage of Scripture! I highlighted nearly everything in this section, because it seemed that every line was teeming with truth. As a Christian, these are some of the most encouraging words in all of the Bible, the simplest explanation of the Gospel’s power in our lives, so simple that I call it “Gospel 101.” Reconsider the wonder of the Gospel message.

“God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (5:8).

“When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sins” (5:12).

“Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but we have the free gift of being accepted by God, even though we are guilty of man sins” (5:16).

“Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power... We are no longer slaves to sin. When Christ died, we were set free from the power of sin” (6:6, 7).

“Sin is no longer our master... Instead, we are free by God’s grace” (6:14).

“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” (8:1, 2).

“We have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ has done for us...” (5:1).

“Now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God, all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God” (5:11).

“You are no longer controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you” (8:9).

“Since we are now God’s children, we will share His treasures, for everything God gives to His Son is ours too...” (8:17).

Daily Reflection

Do you understand all that God has done for you? If you do, then these passages will fill you with joy. You should rehearse these truths regularly, to remind yourself of the wonderful gift of salvation. These truths should be so engrained in your mind and treasured in your heart that you could share them with anyone at any time.

BiAY.org | Day 329 — 36 Days to Go

November 24th~Saved by Faith

Romans 2:1-4:25

As Paul continued his letter to the Romans, he unraveled the idea that salvation comes by obedience to the Law rather than through faith in Christ (similar to his letter to the Galatians). In doing so, he targeted a sacred stronghold of Judaism – Father Abraham (4:1-25). No doubt, Paul’s words were painful for Jews to hear. Abraham was their most cherished forefather; for anyone to meddle with his legacy was like walking into a mine field. Thus, one begins to under- stand why Paul was perfect for this role; his training in the Law and his background with the Pharisees qualified him, more than anyone else, to be able to speak into this area.

Furthermore, Paul was a brilliant debater; he used one of the Jews’ primary weapons against them. No doubt Abraham’s circumcision was employed by the Jews as strong support for their requiring Christians to be circumcised, but Paul rendered this weapon useless, and, instead, enlisted Abraham as support for the Gospel. How did he accomplish this task?

First, Paul pointed out that Abraham was “reckoned by God as righteous,” not for obeying the Law, but by believing God through faith (v.3 -5, 13, 14). Abraham did nothing to achieve righteousness. He simply believed God; that’s all, no works. Second, Paul made it clear that Abraham preceded the Law and, yet, was still justified by God (Galatians 3:8a). The Mosaic Law came much later; and, yet, Abraham was reckoned as righteous. Paul understood that Abraham’s receiving righteousness by faith, apart from the Law, was an Old Testament picture of the Gospel. Thus, Abraham should not be used as support for the Law but as sup- port for the Gospel.

Third, Abraham was reckoned as righteous be- fore being circumcised (Genesis 15:6; 17:10, 11; Romans 4:9-12). Circumcision, which later became part of the Law, only marked Abraham as a “believer.” Circumcision did not make him a believer. Therefore, although he is technically the “father” of the Jews, Abraham could not be used as support for the idea that only those who are circumcised can be saved or “reckoned as righteous.” Clearly, Abraham’s example is one of salvation before circumcision. His works (circumcision) followed his faith; they were not prerequisites for his faith.

Fourth, when Abraham believed God, he was a Gentile (pagan), not a Jew. Ouch! This fact would have hurt his Jewish readers. God foreshadowed the salvation of the Gentiles through Abraham. Technically, Abraham is our spiritual forefather, just as much as he is the Jews’ national forefather. Therefore, it was prophesied of Abraham that through him “all the nations would be blessed” (Galatians 3:8b). When we sing the song about “Father Abraham, who had many sons; I am one of them and so are you,” it is true. All men, Jews (nationally) and Gentiles (spiritually) are included in his family tree.

Daily Reflection

Paul answered a vital question – how were people in the Old Testament saved, before Christ? Simple, just like you and me – by faith. Those before Jesus believed God by faith in the Messiah who was to come, while we who live after Jesus put our faith in what He has already done. Both groups, Old and New Testament, are saved in the same way.

What, then, was the purpose of the Law? “To keep people from having excuses and to bring the world into judgment before God” (Romans 3:19). No one can boast that he has done anything to be accepted of God... There is only one way to be accepted by Him. He makes people right with Himself by faith” (v.27, 30).

BiAY.org |Day 328 — 37 Days to Go

November 23rd~Unhinged

1 Corinthians 16:1-24

Acts 19:21-20:3

Romans 1:1-32

After spending quite a bit of time in Ephesus, Paul’s “open door” of ministry there was closing. The Gospel message had challenged the worship of Artemis in the city, and the idol business was suffering. Local craftsmen banded together and started a riot, engulfing the city in chaos and confusion. Paul recognized that it was time for him to leave; he returned to Macedonia, then spent three months in Corinth (Greece). While in Corinth, he wrote a letter to the church in Rome.

Paul’s opening in the letter to Rome has a close connection to the events that he witnessed in Ephesus. He had seen first-hand the influence that idolatry had on the minds of men. He wrote, “From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and the sky and all that God made. They can clearly see His invisible qualities, His eternal power, and divine nature, so they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship Him as God or even give Him thanks. They began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools. Instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like people, birds, animals, and snakes” (Romans 1:20-23).

Paul also witnessed the negative impact that idolatry had on society. He continued, “So then, God let them go ahead and do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things... Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies. So they worshiped the things God made but not the Creator Himself... That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires... He abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done... Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness... They are forever inventing new ways of sinning... They are fully aware of God’s penalty for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway” (1:24-32).

Daily Reflection

Just as one’s view of God affects his view of everything else, so does the view that society has of God affect that society positively or negatively. Morality in a society hinges on the general respect for God’s moral laws, but that respect for His law hinges on the people’s fear of God Himself. If a society refuses to fear God and unhinges itself from obedience to His laws, then that society is, in effect, removing the lynchpin to an objective moral standard. The result will be a society that deifies human reason, glorifies human wisdom, and justifies human depravity.

In many ways, this truth describes the current conditions in our country. How so?

The biggest problem in our country is not social, political, moral, or racial divide. These are all symptoms of a bigger battle, that of the prevailing worldview that we choose to follow as a society. Will it be the biblical worldview that has grounded our nation and Western Civilization for four centuries, or will it be the worldview of secular humanism that puts man on a pedestal and legalizes his baser instincts? If we abandon God, our society will be unhinged, and we will continue to be bombarded with every vile and degrading practice that men can invent.

BiAY.org | Day 327 — 38 Days to Go

November 22nd~Naught for Not

1 Corinthians 14:1-15:58

Our passage equally covered two topics — the imperative to have order in worship and the importance of the resurrection of the dead. First, Paul confronted what seemed to be chaos in the Corinthian church; services were not regulated, so naturally they were informal and free. When they got together, everyone practiced or paraded his spiritual gift (particularly that of tongues or prophecy), which promoted disorder and confusion. Therefore, Paul laid down some basic guidelines so that “everything would be done properly and in order” (14:40).

The motivation behind this free-for-all was selfishness, to draw attention for personal praise or to focus on personal growth. However, Paul reminded the Corinthians to “let love be their highest goal” (14:1). If their motivation was love, then they would not focus on themselves or their gifts but on others; and, everything they did in their worship services would “be useful to all and help build them up in the Lord” (14:26).

The second issue that Paul addressed was the importance of the resurrection. Without the reality of the resurrection of both Jesus and His followers, the hope that we have unravels. Paul wrote, “If Christ is not raised, then all our preaching is useless and your trust in God is useless. We apostles would all be lying about God... If Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless, and you are still under condemnation for your sins; all those who have died believing in Christ have perished. If we have hope in Christ only for this life, then we are the most miserable people in the world” (15:14-19).

As you can see, the resurrection is the lynchpin holding together the entirety of the Christian faith. If Christ is dead, then He was not God; and, if He was not God, then He was a phony, the Bible is not true, our hope is unfounded.

Daily Reflection

However, Christ is not dead! His resurrection is a reality, which means that our resurrection will be a reality. Otherwise, Paul wrote, “Why should we be continually risking our lives, facing death hour by hour?” (15:30). How could Christ promise us eternal life if He were still in the grave? He defeated death Himself, so then He is able to offer His followers the same opportunity.

Your body, which is a disappointment to you now will one day be raised full of glory. Though your body is weak today, it will then be full of power. What excites you most about the afterlife, your resurrection from the dead, or your second body?

Paul’s purpose in writing about the truth of the resurrection was to encourage the Corinthians (and possibly himself) in their work on God’s behalf. “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless” (15:58).

Have you ever grown weary in God’s work? Have you ever questioned the reality of the resurrection and whether or not your sacrifices, your persecution, and your efforts are worth it? How do Paul’s words encourage you?

BiAY.org | Day 326 — 39 Days to Go

November 21st~The Indispensable Element

1 Corinthians 11:2-13:13

Paul dove into three issues with the church of Corinth — public worship, the Lord’s Supper, and spiritual gifts. In regards to public worship, he addressed the topics of authority and submission (head covering discussion). “A man is responsible to Christ, a woman is responsible to her husband, and Christ is responsible to

God” (11:3). Paul is not insinuating inequality or inferiority. Christ, the Son, is equal to God the Father, but He submitted His will to that of His Father; Jesus placed Himself under His Father’s authority. Likewise, though men and women are equals, men have been delegated headship or authority over their wife in marriage, as well as over the church. These directives have nothing to do with personal worth or value, but everything to do with obedience to God.

In regards to the Lord’s Supper, Paul confronted the “unworthy manner” in which the Corinthians were handling this ordinance (11:17-34). This symbolic meal has tied to it some weighty reminders that cause us to reflect upon the sacrifice that Christ made on our behalf. To disrespect the meal in any way, whether it be with its parts or practice, would be to disrespect the body and blood of our Lord. Therefore, God’s people must “examine themselves” to avoid ritualism, apathy, unrepented sin, contentions with other believers, or any other ungodly attitude.

Finally, Paul described the meaning and use of the spiritual gifts. The illustration that he used is that of the human body; while it is one unit, it has many parts, each part supplying an important function for the health of the body. Likewise, “a spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church” (12:7). Each of us, then, should be a member of a local church, using our spiritual gift. While God will use us to minister to others, He will likewise use others to minister to us.

Daily Reflection

What is your spiritual gift? How are you using it in your local church?

How have you been blessed by someone else using his or her spiritual gift?

Though each one of us is different in personality, spiritual gifts, and other strengths, there is one thing that all of us can do — love (12:31 -13:13). Love is the indispensable element in Christian service. Without love, your strengths and abilities will add up to nothing. Why?

To love is easier said than done. While you may genuinely love people, your love must be expressed. Those people whom who love must know that you care about them, and you do that by expressing gratitude, showing signs of affection, demonstrating hospitality, praying with them, and meeting their practical needs. It does no good to say that you love people if you do not back it up with deeds (1 John 3:18). While others need you to use your spiritual gift, it will be ineffective without the motivation and expression of love.

BiAY.org | Day 325 — 40 Days to Go