Nahum 1-3  This book focuses on the downfall of Nineveh, the capital of Assyria.  Even though Nineveh had repented at the time of Jonah, here over 150 years later, they are back to wicked ways.  They took Israel into captivity and were threatening Judah, but Nahum prophesies their destruction.

This book pronounces the reality of God's judgements on the wicked.  He is "slow to anger", but He "will by no means leave the guilty unpunished." ( v3)  The God who controls both the whirlwinds and the storms, who dries up the seas and makes the mountains quake.. will pour out His wrath on those who refuse Him.

On the other hand, for  those who take refuge in Him.. there is good news! God will restore, He will defend, and He will redeem. ( Nahum 1:15)    Paul takes this obscure verse,  written in the middle of this scathing rebuke on Nineveh,  and uses it to say, " And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things." (Romans 10:15)

Father in heaven, Your Word is true.  You will judge and punish those who deny, refuse, and rebel against You.  You are a God who is just and righteous.  Yet, we are amazed and humbled that You are a God who is merciful and gracious, and we give You praise and thanksgiving for the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son.  Indeed, the Word brings great joy for all who will believe.  May many more hear these glad tidings this Christmas season. May they receive the Truth and repent from their sinfulness, and put their faith in Jesus Christ and His righteousness. We ask this in His Name, Emmanuel, God with us.. amen.

Micah 1-7  Much of Micah's message is about the judgement that is coming on Israel because of their great sinfulness.  Their iniquities are many.. as are ours.

Idolatry
Rebellions
Coveting
Stealing
Oppression
Violence
Uncleanness
Falsehoods

The leaders are accused of hating good and loving evil. ( 3:2)  " You.. who tear off their skin from them and their flesh from their bones, and who eat the flesh of my people, strip off their skin form them, break their bones, and chop them up as for the pot and as meat for the kettle."  Rulers took everything from their fellow countrymen.. eating them alive.

The prophets were condemned for leading the people astray.  They worked for bribes.  They proclaimed good to those who fed them and war on those who could not.

Blood shed , injustice, bribery, hypocrisy.. God judged Israel and brought about her punishment.
Yet He was not finished with them.  He still purposes to bring a remnant back, to redeem them, and to bring His kingdom that will reign over all the earth.  Micah had the privilege of proclaiming the great truth about the coming King, born in Bethlehem.. the "One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago. From the days of eternity." ( 5:2)

Jesus:

".. He will arise and shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord, In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God."  ( 5:4)
".. He will be great to the ends of the earth. And this One will be our peace." ( 5:4-5)

He will lead us in the ways of the Lord.. to "do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with [our] God." ( 6:8) 

The judgement of God will wipe out all of those things that His people valued.. but His mercy is so great.. Micah ends his message with these words:  " Who is a God like Thee, who pardons iniquity and passes over  the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession?  He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love.  He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot.  Yes, Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." ( 7:18-19)

Father in heaven, You are the Lord, the only God.. and there is no other.  We desire to walk in Your ways and live according to Your will. Lead us in paths of righteousness for the sake of Your holy Name. Fill us with holy fear and reverence.  Anoint us with holy oil.  May we do justice and love kindness and walk humbly with You every day of our lives.. in the powerful name of Jesus, our Lord we pray. Amen.

Jonah 1-4   Even though Jonah clearly knew God and clearly knew what he was called to do... somehow he thought he could flee from His presence.

Jonah feared God and knew Him to be "the Lord God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land." v9
Jonah knew that the storm was because of his disobedience.  v10
Jonah knew that if they threw him overboard that the storm would stop. v12
Jonah knew that God would hear his prayer. 2:2
Jonah knew that Nineveh was an evil city... and that a message from God would effect them.
Jonah knew that God is " a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and one who relents concerning calamity." 4:2

Jonah was an unwilling messenger of grace.  Even after he received God's grace in the belly of the fish.. he still was angry that the people of Nineveh repented.  Do we lack that same compassion on the lost?

The gospel of salvation was grudgingly preached to the people of Nineveh and they heard it and repented.
3:5  They "believed in God". 
        They humbled themselves with "a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them."
3:8  They called "on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked ways and from the violence which is in his hands." 

3:10 " When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared. "
4:11 God had compassion on Nineveh.. especially the 120,000 children "who do not know the difference between their right and left hand." 

Jesus reminded the scribes and Pharisees of Jonah's life and message in Matthew 12: 38-41.  They wanted a sign.  They wanted a specific miracle, and Jesus refused to please them.. knowing that nothing would satisfy them, for they refused to believe.  Jesus did point them to the 3 days and nights that Jonah was in the fish's belly and told them that He would be in the "heart of the earth" for the same amount of time... A sign that they still refused to believe.  Because of their unbelief, Jesus told them, "The men of Nineveh shall stand up with this generation at the judgement and shall condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold something greater than Jonah is here." 

What an amazing thing - an evil, violent, enemy country repented due to a message from a reluctant, depressed, angry prophet...  while, the religious leaders of God's own people refused to repent of their unbelief in the presence of God Himself!

Father in heaven, God of compassion and grace, we revere and honor Your holy Name.  How thankful we are for the Word of salvation that leads us to repent and to believe in Christ Jesus who died to save us from all our sins. May our hearts be cleansed from all unrighteousness and unbelief.  May we have compassion on the lost and love for our enemies.  Open our eyes to see You and to know You fully.  In the name of Jesus we pray. amen.

II Corinthians 10 -13 Paul returns to his concerns for the church and his relationship with them in these final chapters.  He defends his position as apostle and as the one that brought them the true Gospel.  He is concerned that they have listened to false teachers and given them the place that Paul should have, as Christ's ambassador to them.

There are a couple of key lessons that we need to think upon.

10:3-5 Here Paul teaches that "though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh". 

There is a spiritual battle going on for the church.. and the only weapons that are effective are spiritual weapons.. " divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.... speculations... lofty things raised up against the knowledge of God."   Paul says, ".. we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."   The battle for believers.. is in our thoughts - intellect, perceptions, reasoning.
When we choose to bring our thoughts into submission.. in obedience to Christ.. we can be made complete.  We cannot judge ourselves or others by the outward appearance -  we must "test [ourselves] to see if [we ] are in the faith; examine [ourselves]!  (  13:5)

Paul teaches that, as Christ's apostle, he was appointed to:

" punish all disobedience" (10:6)
Build them up.. (10:8; 12:19; 13:9.10)
Work within the "sphere which God apportioned" to him. (10:14)
Not seek man's commendation.. but the Lord's ( 10:18)
"... spend and be expended for.. " their souls. ( 12:15)

Paul didn't want to be bold, strong, overbearing, super -wise, or burdensome to the church.  He wanted them to know that he loved them and was jealous for them. He wanted to see them be complete and mature in Christ.  He wanted them to rejoice, to live in peace, and to be filled with God's love.  He wanted them to walk in Truth and to be faithful.  He hoped that they would love and respect him and his associates as Christ's servants.

Seems a great purpose statement for every pastor or leader.

Father in heaven, let Your name be praised and hallowed in Your church everywhere.  Keep us from the false speculations and enable us to bring all our thoughts under submission, to obey Christ Jesus our Lord.  Strengthen Your servants, the pastors, teachers, elders, and leaders, in the knowledge and love of Christ, that they may build up the church in the sphere that You apportion to them.  Give strength when needed in their weaknesses.  Give wisdom from above.  Bless them with patience, love, and confidence in Christ, to the glory of His Name, in which we pray.  All glory we give to You, Father God, for You are so Worthy of our praise and worship.  Fill us with Your Spirit today we pray, Amen.

II Corinthians 8- 9  Paul continues to teach and exhort the church in this matter of generous giving.  He reminded them of their promise to give to this "gracious work" - a "bountiful gift" that would be sent to those in desperate need - saints in Jerusalem.  Since Paul is sending men from other churches to Corinth to receive their portion of the gift and carry it on to Jerusalem .  Paul wants to make sure that the church is ready when these men come so that his boasting of them is not going to bring shame on them or on him.

There are some lessons on giving in chapters 8-9 that are important for us to think about and to put into action.

8:3-5  Paul testifies that the church in Macedonia gave "according to their ability and beyond their ability.. of their own accord".  They begged to be part of giving to support the saints.  They had given themselves fully to the Lord and to His will first, so that God blessed them with "abundance of joy". 

8:10-12  The Corinthian church had begun preparing their gift.. there was a readiness and a desire.. but there need to be "the completion of it by [their] ability."  Paul reminded them that the "readiness" was "acceptable according to what a man has not according to what he does not have." 

8:13-15  Their giving was necessary - to supply a great need, not to allow another to live in ease while they went into poverty.  Their abundance would be helping to supply the needs of others, who may in turn help them when necessary.

8:18-23  Paul carefully chose the men who would be carrying these gifts to Jerusalem.  They took every caution to be sure that the gift got where it was supposed to go.  He wanted the churches to be confident in this.

8:24 "Therefore openly before the churches show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting in you."  

9:1-5  Paul sent messengers before the group that was coming to collect the offering - a heads up, if you will.  He had boasted of the Corinthians which had spurred on others to give as well.. now he didn't want them to be put to shame by not doing what he said they had.

9:6-14   The bottom line is this:  ".. he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully."

We are to give as we "purpose" in our own hearts.
We are not give "grudgingly or under compulsion"
We are to give cheerfully, for this is what God loves.
As we give, God gives for He is "able to make all grace abound to you.. "
God supplies everything to us in the first place.
God will supply and multiply "your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness." 
God will receive  thanksgiving  and glory from those who give and those who receive.

To summarize:
Giving as God directs us begins when we give ourselves to Him. 
God provides for us so that we can give. 
Giving "proves" our love - for God and for others. 
We need to be ready to give... and to follow through on giving. 
We decide for ourselves what we can give according to our own ability.. 
We can trust God to help us give.. even beyond our ability.. 
God will multiply His gifts to us when we take what He gives and help others. 
God receives glory and thanksgiving when we give from our hearts. 

I can personally testify to this.. you can never out-give the Lord!

Father in heaven, we give You thanks for all that You have bountifully blessed us with.. day after day, year after year.  We thank You for opportunities to give to others in need. Lord, we desire to give generously according to Your will and for Your glory. May our hearts be fully Yours.. and may all that You have provided be used as You lead us.  We are stewards.. may we be faithful stewards, obeying our Master in every work.  We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

II Corinthians 7-8  Paul rejoiced when he was told by Titus that the church in Corinth had obeyed Paul's exhortations in the previous letter, demonstrating "godly sorrow" with great "earnestness". 

Now, Paul exhorts them to also abound in gracious giving.  "But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in the gracious work also." ( 8:7)

Earnestness - serious, intense, sincere, determined ( dictionary);   - the Greek word is spoude - from speed - to despatch, eagerness, carefulness, diligence, forwardness, haste.

Paul uses this word 5 more times in these 2 chapters - an important characteristic; but a word we do not use very much..

7:11 " For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow has produced in you; what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter." 

7:12 "So though I wrote to you it was not for the sake of the offender... but that your earnestness on our behalf might be made known to you in the sight of God." 

8:7 ( quoted above)

8:8 ".... but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also." 

8:16-17 " But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus. For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest... "

So, we can draw some thoughts about earnestness from these verses:

Godly sorrow- sorrow brought by "the will of God" and produces "repentance without regret, leading to salvation" - produces earnestness.
It is in these kinds of situations that our earnestness is manifest - made known - to ourselves!
Abounding in all earnestness is as important as abounding in "gracious work".
Earnestness proves the "sincerity" of love.
Earnestness unites believers together as God places this zeal in our hearts for each other.

Do we.. do I have an eager determination, a zeal, a sincere desire to live for Christ? Is there a godly earnestness in my relationships?  In my gracious works?  Am I sincere in my love for Christ and for others? Am I diligent to do everything for the glory of the Lord?

Or  must God bring sorrow to me according to His will - leading me to repentance?

Father in heaven,  may Your Name be hallowed and honored among the nations and in all the earth!  May Your kingdom come and Your will be done.  Refine and purify us, Lord God, that we might abound in faith and in earnestness and in love, to the glory of Your Holy Name.  We ask this in Christ Jesus, amen.

II Corinthians 7:1  "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."  

Having "these promises".. the promise that God will "dwell" in us.. that He will "walk among us" and be our God;  that as we "come out" from the world and "be separate".. that He will welcome us, and "be a father to [us]"  and we are His "sons and daughters.. " 

To be separate - to be set off by boundaries.. severed from the world's ways - we must "cleanse ourselves" - purify; purge.. " all defilement" - all immorality; all filthiness; all stains, both of the body and the spirit - inside and out.   We are entreated to perfect holiness -  To perfect - fulfill further or completely - to accomplish and finish.. holiness - sacredness; blamelessness.

".. in the fear of God."  -  We will one day stand before the "judgement seat of Christ" to be "recompensed for [our] deeds in the body, according to what [we] have done, whether good or bad."  (5:10)  

James wrote of this also.. "So speak and act, as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.  For judgement will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment."    (James 2:12,13)  

Jesus also spoke of the time of judgement.. " And I say to you, that many shall come from the east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, and Isaac and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."  Those who put their faith in Jesus are those who will be welcomed into His Kingdom.  Those who are unbelievers.. even though they considered themselves good enough.. would be left outside in the dark.. far from the true Light.

Paul is imploring his readers.. those who are believers.. to not stop running the race set before us, but to run so that we win!  We need to do that because there is a day when we will stand before our God and Savior and be judged by Him.

Have we kept ourselves clean from all defilement in body and spirit?
Have we desired and pursued holiness in all of our actions?
Have we shown mercy to others?

Father in heaven, You see me as I am... nothing hidden.I pray for Your mercy and Your grace, for  I am once again so aware of how far I fall short of Your mark.  Oh, Lord God Almighty - perfect and complete Your work of sanctification in me.. perfecting holiness, so that I may stand before You unashamed.  In all my weaknesses and failures I come in the name of my Lord Jesus, asking for Your will to be done completely in me.  Amen.

II Corinthians 6  As "ambassadors for Christ" doing the "ministry of reconciliation" - we must have the mindset that Paul had:
Keeping our eyes on the unseen, eternal life He is preparing for us.
Walking by faith and not by sight.
Focusing all our ambitions on pleasing Him.
Desiring to persuade others to be reconciled to God.
Being controlled only by the love of Christ.

And "working together with Him.."  ( 6:1)  God has given us grace.  The free gift of salvation.. and we have received it.. but it is worthless if we do not LIVE in it.  Paul's life serves as an example of grace - full living, and we must aim to live in the same manner.  In partnership with Christ.. controlled by His Spirit.. and being in the Presence of our God and Father, our lives will reflect Him in every circumstance..

v3  We will act in ways that do not offend or discredit the ministry of the Gospel

v4-5 We will exhibit ourselves as God's servants with endurance - despite afflictions, hardships, distresses, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labors, sleeplessness, or hunger.

v6-7  We will exhibit the divine character of our Master  "in purity,  in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left..." 

v8-9   Whether we receive glory or dishonor; whether we have a good report or an evil report; whether we are considered to be deceivers, yet are speaking truth; whether we are well known or not; whether we are dying or living; whether we are under punishment.. or put to death;  In every circumstance.. let Christ be seen.

v10 - There is sorrow in our circumstances, Paul says,  but we can rejoice.  We may be poor, but we can share the riches of Christ.  We may have nothing by earthly standards.. but we have "all things" in Christ.

Paul proclaims his great love for the people in the church at Corinth, but he senses a lack of affection from them and entreats them to open their hearts to him.  He has their best interests in mind as he reminds them to not be "bound together with unbelievers".  They have been called to be separate from the world.. from the unclean.. to be holy:

The righteous should not have partnerships with the lawless.
The light should not fellowship with darkness.
One who is in harmony with Christ cannot have harmony with the evil one.
A believer has nothing in common with an unbeliever.
The temple of the living God - us - cannot agree with idols.

God dwells with us and in us. He is our Father and we His children.  Our lives need to be united with Him.. always, in every way... for this is who He has made us to be.

Father in heaven,  give us ears to hear this word and to live according to Your grace.. not in vain.. but wholly devoted and in complete submission to Your will.  May You be made known in our lives.. in our sufferings and in our successes.  May You strengthen us in our inner beings that Christ be manifested to all those we meet. Fill us Holy Spirit.. and sanctify us through and through so that it is Christ who is seen in us.  May we be known as servants of God and children of the Almighty Lord.
In Jesus' name
amen

II Corinthians 5  Paul finishes chapter 4, reminding us to look at the unseen, eternal things, and not the seen, temporal things.  It is eternity that is more important.. more vital..and we need to keep focused there as we live here.

We now live in a temporary "tent".. a human body.. a "house".   In this house.. we "groan".  We are burdened, Paul says, "because we do not want to be unclothed".  These bodies are perishable and mortal.. they are dying.. decaying.. and are "absent from the Lord."  The Greek word translated
"absent" here is apekdechomai - which means to expect fully.. look(wait) for.   We.. are in temporary housing.. groaning in our decaying residence.. looking forward to- with expectation.. to real life in our heaven made "dwelling" - immortal, imperishable, eternal, made by God..  To be finally "at home with the Lord"!

Paul uses the word "therefore" 6 times in response to these truths:

v6-8  "Therefore, being of good courage.. we walk by faith, not by sight.. "

v9-10 "Therefore.. we have as our ambition.. to be pleasing to Him.." 

v11-15  "Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord,  we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God;"  In every way, Paul says, he is controlled by the love of Christ.. to "no longer live for " himself, "but for Him who died and rose again on [his] behalf." 

v16 "Therefore from now on we recognize no man according to the flesh.. "  Recognize - know, consider, look, perceive... Looking at the outside of a person, Paul says, is useless. We need to look at the unseen.. the more important part of a person.

v17-19 "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold new things have come."  God "reconciled us to Himself through Christ".  Reconcile - katallasso - to change.. to compound a difference.. an adjustment, a restoration...an exchange.
 "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself". God reconciled us to Himself by "not counting [our] trespasses against [us]"  
The dictionary defines the word reconcile like this:
1. to make friendly again or win over to a friendly attitude
2. to settle ( a quarrel, etc.) or compose ( a difference, etc.)
3. to make (arguments , ideas, tests, etc.) consistent, compatible, etc; bring into harmony
4. to make content, submissive, or acquiescent to..

v20  "Therefore.. we are ambassadors for Christ.. "  God has given us "the ministry of reconciliation";  He has "committed to us the word of reconciliation".. He entreats others, through us, "on behalf of Christ",  to "be reconciled to God". 

"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 

As reconciled, changed.. new creatures in Christ, we walk by faith, we walk to please God, we look at the eternal need of others.. and we beg them, try to persuade them, minister to them.. that they might also come to be reconciled with God, through Jesus Christ, who came for that exact purpose!

Father in heaven, You are so gracious and kind.  You made Jesus, the Beloved and sinless Son of God, to become sin on our behalf.. the sacrifice that reconciles the world to Yourself.  Oh how amazing and wonderful You are!  Gracious God, help us now to walk in faith, to be ambassadors for Christ, to please You, by bringing others to You.  May Your Kingdom come and Your will be done. Thank You Father , for You have given us such marvelous hope in Jesus. Be glorified today we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.

II Corinthians 4 -  Paul asserts that his ministry is legitimate.. given to him by God's mercy and because of that "we do not lose heart".   Unlike others, who are preaching a false gospel, Paul has:
"renounced the things hidden because of shame"
"not walked in craftiness.." 
not  adulterated "the word of God"..
but has manifested "truth"

In other words, Paul is sticking to his plan to know nothing but Christ and Him crucified. 
Others may complain that this gospel is "veiled"... covered up.. unclear or unseen.  But, Paul says, it is only veiled to those "who are perishing", those who still live in darkness.. blinded by Satan.. unbelieving.

There is a light.. "the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. " It is Jesus Christ, the Lord.. Who had come from the Father .. " the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."  God.. the same God who was in the beginning and said "Let there be light"... speaks light into our hearts.. through Christ Jesus. 

He puts this wondrous gift of light into these "earthen vessels".. a great "treasure".. this "surpassing greatness of power" manifested in our temporal, mortal, humble souls... that He may be seen.  

Paul, when he stood before King Agrippa, spoke of the moment when this light shone into his own heart.. when Jesus stopped him on the road to Damascus with a "light from heaven, brighter than the sun.."  ( Acts 26:13)  Jesus appointed  Paul to minister to the Gentiles.. to "open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, in order that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me." ( v18)

Because of the Light.. Paul did not lose heart.. even when "afflicted.. perplexed... persecuted...struck down."  He carried  "in the body the dying of Jesus".. but it was so that "the life of Jesus.. may be manifested " in him too!   Paul faced death over and over again.. but he knew life.. the life of Jesus, "manifested in our mortal flesh."  Paul was absolutely confident in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ.  He was realistic about his present condition.. his "outer man" was decaying.. but he put much more weight on the truth that "our inner man is being renewed day by day".  He could therefore consider all the "momentary, light affliction" of this life.. as a tool that produced "a glory far beyond all comparison". 

We must look beyond the temporary things that we see with our earthly eyes, Paul reminds us,  and look towards the eternal, unseen things that lay ahead.

Father in heaven, holy and gracious, full of mercy and lovingkindness,  we praise Your name.  You have sent light into our hearts through the gospel of Jesus Christ, who brings forgiveness of sins and an eternal inheritance.. more glorious than we can even imagine.  Jesus, light of the world, shine on us and in us.. that the world that still lies in darkness can turn to You and be delivered from the blindness of unbelief.  I am but an earthen vessel.. You are the great treasure, the Light of the World.  Shine brightly in me, I pray, in Your Wonderful name, Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.

II Corinthians 3-  Paul asserts here that he does not need a letter of recommendation from another human being, because, he has a divine letter of recommendation  - a "letter of Christ" - the believers themselves.  Their changed lives - redeemed, restored, and transformed by the Holy Spirit as He wrote the New Covenant on their hearts - is a letter that is "known and read by all men".  

The Old Covenant, written on stone, was received by Moses with great glory.. so glorious was God's presence that Moses had to wear a veil on his face lest he frighten the people.

But the New Covenant, written on hearts, is so much more glorious!  
It never fades.
It gives life.
It brings true righteousness.
It surpasses any glory the Old covenant could bring.
It brings freedom... freedom from the penalty of the Law.. no longer slaves, but children of God.
It removes the veil.. so  that we can behold the glory of the Lord and be transformed into His likeness.  It removes the veil of unbelief.
It is eternal!  Everlasting and unfading!


We who have put our trust in Jesus Christ have been filled with His Spirit.. His Breath.  He has written His letter on our hearts, transforming us with ever-increasing glory.  Glory that is a reflection of His glory.. as He makes us more and more like Jesus.

Charles Sprugeon's sermon describes Jesus as the Beloved who is "all-together lovely".
Likewise, this is the Spirit's purpose for each of us in Jesus... that we "be all-together lovely.". as He is.

Father, You are great and glorious and gracious - loving us with everlasting love and giving us Your Spirit through the work of Christ Jesus, the Beloved Son.  I offer all praise and thanksgiving to You!
Oh, draw us closer.. that we might know the glory of Your beloved Son.. in deeper, truer, and more intimate/ personal ways. Have Your way in me, O Lord, that the glory of Jesus be ever-increasing in  me, in us.  In Jesus' name I pray. amen.

II Corinthians 1-2   Paul expresses confidence in his relationship with the church in Corinth, proclaiming that God "establishes us with you in Christ.. "  Paul came to them, led by God.  He acted in  "holiness and godly sincerity" while among them. His delay in returning to see them again was for their sake, not his own.  His sincere desire was to see them in joy.. standing firm in faith.

Paul instructs the church to restore the repentant believer back into the fold and to "reaffirm" their love for him.  Forgiveness, Paul instructs, is important.. for without it, Satan will take advantage.

Finally, Paul describes the open door for ministry that he found in Macedonia.  "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place."   As believers we "are a fragrance of Christ to God".  To those who believe it is the aroma of life.  To those who will not believe, it is the fragrance of death.

The Holy Spirit is made manifest.. made known to the senses.. by believers who make Jesus known.
When we speak of Jesus.. when we tell of the good news.. and bring the Word to those who have not yet heard.. we make Him known with a "sweet aroma".  

Charles Spurgeon wrote of Christ, using the words of Solomon's song, " Yea, He is altogether lovely."
He speaks of the loveliness of Christ's character and of His sacrifice.. of how lovely He is in His office and in every condition.  This statement comes from this sermon.. " You never find His kindness lessening His holiness, nor His holiness eclipsing His wisdom, nor His wisdom abating His courage, or His courage injuring His meekness. Everything is in our Lord that should be there, and everything in due measure.  Like rare spices, mixed after the manner of the apothecary, our Lord' s whole person, and character, and sacrifice, are as incense sweet unto the Lord."   It is because of His loveliness and perfection.. that we are made lovely... a sweet aroma.. the fragrance of life.

Father in heaven, Thank you for making us Your own, through our Lord, Jesus Christ.  You establish us in Your Kingdom, by Your will, through the grace poured out upon the cross of Jesus.  How can we thank You enough?  Fill us with Your Spirit and manifest the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Christ in every place.  We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord. amen.

Obadiah wrote of one vision - the destruction of Edom.  Edom, the descendants of Esau, fought continually with Israel and Judah.  When Judah was taken into captivity, Edom quickly moved in to possess their land.  They gloated over the failure of Israel, their "brother".   Because of this, the Lord would bring them down.

"For the day of the Lord draws near on all the nations.  As you have done, it will be done to you.  Your dealings will return on your own head."   This is the Lord's standard for nations as well as for individuals.  We will reap what we sow.  This is why Jesus instructed us, " Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."  ( Matthew 7:12)


II Corinthians 1:1-11 - Paul writes " Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all Comfort."

Comfort - Parakaleo - to call near, invite, implore - to call by name.  He comforts us when we are afflicted.  He enables us to comfort others.  This comfort is "abundant through Christ" - it superabounds!   Paul had seen his share of affliction.  He had suffered and was suffering.. but his testimony, from personal experience.. was that he was comforted.  

His afflictions resulted in salvation and comfort for his brothers and sisters in Christ.
His comfort - which enabled him to endure - would also result in helping them patiently endure any suffering.

The church will share in the sufferings of Christ. But, we will also share in His comfort.  He will come near and call us by name.

Paul writes that he was indeed afflicted.. "we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope." 

Excessive burdens..
Beyond our  own strength..
Despairing of life..
Under a death sentence..
Unable to trust in ourselves..

 We each may...  and probably will... face some kind of affliction and suffering in our own lives - whether due to illness, conflicts, physical disasters,  or criminal activity .. so we can relate to Paul's testimony.
But, we need to follow the rest of his example to:

Put our trust in God, who can raise the dead!
Know the God who delivers us from peril!
Set our hope on the One who calls us by name and draws us near to Himself!

We need to also join "- in helping.. through [our] prayers, that thanks may be given by many persons.. "  

Father in heaven, we know many who have suffered from illness or difficulties of one kind or another. We have also heard of those around the world who are severely persecuted and even killed because of Your Name.  God of Comfort.. draw near to those who are suffering right now. You see the one who has an excessive burden that they can't carry on their own.. draw near, Jesus, and yoke them to Your side.  You hear the prayer of one who is under a death sentence.. the woman in Pakistan who needs to get out of the country safely.. intercede for her even now, please Lord.  Deliver the one who is despairing of life.. perhaps someone who just can't face tomorrow, and give them hope.
We trust in You, Lord. We know You are our Deliverer, our Refuge, and our Comfort.  Thank you !
All praise and glory and blessings to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Amos 7-9  The Lord gives Amos three visions.. each of the destruction of Israel.  The first two - destruction by locusts and destruction by fire - terrify Amos and he asks God to pardon Israel and not allow this destruction. And, God relents.  But the third vision - the Lord using a plumb line - is not retracted.  Israel has failed to repent.. has missed the mark.. and will be torn down.

The sins of Israel are again spelled out in chapter 8.. they trampled the needy by their greed and fraudulent business practices.  They couldn't wait for the sabbath or the sacred times to be over, so they could get back to the work of earning more money.  They cheated with "dishonest scales".
They oppressed the poor and took advantage of the needy.  Judgement for these sins would be completed.  There would be great mourning.  There would be a famine.. "not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, but rather for hearing the words of the Lord."  Israel would "fall and not rise again". 

The nation of Israel consisted of the 10 northern tribes, begun by the rebel Jeroboam.  It went into exile and never returned.  Judah, the remaining two tribes, also went into exile, but returned from Babylon.  There was a remnant that remained.. which became, eventually, what we now call Israel.

God is not through with His people.  He saw their sins.  He punished them for those sins.  But He has not forsaken His people.  Chapter 9 is a word of hope, a coming restoration of Israel that has not happened yet.  A time when it will be "rebuilt.. as in the days of old."  A time when great prosperity will overflow.. "And they will not again be rooted out from their land which I have given them, says the Lord your God. "

Father in heaven, Your Word is certain and the day is coming when Israel, Your people, will once again live for You in the land You have given them.  All of us, who are Yours,  will rejoice to see that day.  We pray for the peace of Jerusalem, as You have asked us to do.  We pray that they will seek You and find You.  We pray for repentance and for restoration.  And we pray that they will know their Messiah, Jesus Christ.  Be exalted in all the nations.. You who created heaven and earth and Who reigns eternal.  Amen.