My Daily Pause

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  • The Forgiving and the Forgiven

    The Forgiving and the Forgiven

    No sin is too big for the blood of Christ to cleanse.

    That’s what Paul was trying to tell the Corinthians. (2 Corinthians 2:5-11) They had one in their group that had committed a pretty ugly sin (see 1 Corinthians 5 for the background.) A sin that even the pagans looked down on.

    The church properly handled it according to Paul’s instruction (1 Corinthians 5:13) and he eventually repented – but then Paul had to tell them to “reaffirm their love.” (2 Corinthians 2:8) They weren’t going to forgive him as a church!

    Truth be told, his sin probably wasn’t any greater than some of the things the others had done.

    It’s good that Christ died for us so we can have forgiveness, so it’s very unbecoming to a church, or to Christians, to withhold forgiveness from a penitent Christian needing and asking for it.

    No sin is too big for the blood of Christ to cleanse!

    Daily bible reading for April 10

    God give Moses instructions for the priests and the offerings. Isaiah pronounces woe to the wicked.

    Psalm 100
    Leviticus 6:8-7:38
    Isaiah 5
    2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11

  • Improving God’s Teachers

    Improving God’s Teachers

    Those of us who read and study the Scripture have a duty to pass it on to others. (2 Timothy 2:2, 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 4:2, Philippians 4:9, etc.) Our spiritual maturity will continue to increase as we study and teach – along with our confidence.

    Apollos was a man who was very confident and willing to teach, but he was getting something wrong. A fine couple approaches him and teaches him “the way of God more accurately”. (Acts 18: 24-28) He goes on, even more capable of refuting the Jews’ false teaching.

    This lesson can be taken two ways:

    1. Always be willing to reexamine what you “know” to be true against the Scriptures when someone approaches you.
    2. Always be willing to help others that are teaching an error.

  • Two Faces

    Two Faces

    24 Those who hate you may try to fool you with their words,
    but in their minds they are planning evil.
    25 People’s words may be kind, but don’t believe them,
    because their minds are full of evil thoughts.
    26 Lies can hide hate,
    but the evil will be plain to everyone.     – Proverbs 26:24-26 NCV

     

    Instead of focusing on the obvious warning of who to avoid, let us look inward. To be godly and loving – the opposite of what this passage describes – we should…

    • …follow through on our promises
    • …tell the whole truth
    • …avoid setting others up to fail

    Allowing these basics to erode will lead us dangerously close to the two faced nature the proverb writer describes.

  • All New Things

    All New Things

    As we continue to get settled into this new year, let’s have a look at some things which the Bible says are new:

    1. Jesus’ blood is the blood of the New Testament – Matthew 26:28
    2. Jesus has given us a new commandment, that we love one another as He has loved us – John 13:34; 1 John 2:7-10; 2 John 1:5
    3. For those that are in Christ, all things are become new – 2 Corinthians 5:17
    4. As Christians, we are to live in a new way – Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10
    5. We live under the new covenant – Hebrews 8:8
    6. We have been given a new and living way to draw near unto God – Hebrews 10:19-22
    7. We are to look for a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness – 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-2

    “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful” (Revelation 21:5).

  • God’s Gospel Message

    God’s Gospel Message

    The First Gospel Message

    In Genesis 3 Satan has caused man to fall and the our Master’s plan begins to unfold. God places a curse on Satan and his instruments and promises that his evil will be overcome. If you have extra time today, study a little closer Genesis 3:14-15 and see the promise of Christ’s arrival even at this early date. While Satan might have “bruised Christ’s heal” on the cross, Christ crushed Satan’s head and won. (Hebrews 2:14)

    Each day, look for Christ in the Scriptures. We can find him and God’s promise for us in every book of the Bible!

  • Life Happens

    Life Happens

    And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” – Acts 24:25 ESV

    From the “There’s a devotional in there somewhere department”, Michael Port asks us to rethink the “Life got in the way” excuse. While very sound secular business advice, it made me think about Felix letting life become his excuse for not making the next step for his salvation. Felix had come to understand the truth but acted otherwise.

    What are you putting ahead of your spiritual priorities?