from temporary to permanent

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

bedouin-400x300 2 Corinthians 4:1-5:10.  The context of Paul’s earthly tent passage is Paul’s jars of clay passage.  He is defending his speaking ministry by saying that he speaks by faith, “knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence” (4:14). His faith is not in a conscious intermediate state, but in the resurrection from the dead.  He does not want to be found naked (the intermediate state) but to be clothed with immortal life at the resurrection (5:4).  Since he has this hope, he is able to face tribulation and death confidently, knowing that anything he faces in this life is but a “light momentary affliction” (4:17).  His hope is in a permanent “building from God” (5:1).

LORD, we put our faith in you, and confidently expect you to bring us out of this temporary state and into a permanent one.

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trophies in tow

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12577 2 Corinthians 2:12-3:18.  The idea of being led by Christ in triumphal procession sounds great — except for the small detail that in victory parades in Paul’s day it was captured enemies that were led in triumphal procession.  They were paraded around like trophies, and their presence at the parade meant two things: the victor was the champion, and the trophy was about to die.  Paul used this expression because it tied together two facts: the fact of his suffering (which some Corinthians had criticized him about) and the fact that everywhere he went Christ was glorified.  Paul’s entire post-conversion life was proof of Christ’s victory at the cross.

LORD, use us to magnify yourself — by whatever means you wish.

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stumped

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC11877 Isaiah 6.  King Uzziah had lived his final ten years as a leper, with his son Jotham taking his throne instead. In contrast to the earthly king’s shame, Isaiah sees the glory of the heavenly king, who is always on the throne, and he is holy, holy, holy.  Isaiah considered himself unfit for service as a prophet. His lips were unclean.  In a vision, he sees God purify his lips with a coal from the altar.  Now he is ready to speak to God’s people. But God warns him that his words will be ignored.  Isaiah’s question: How long?  God’s answer: until the whole tree (Israel) is cut down, with only the stump remaining. That stump is the holy seed –a remnant that will survive by God’s grace.

LORD, thank you for being faithful even when we are not.

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commitment to integrity

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12567 Psalm 101.  David’s ten “I will’s” here reflect a commitment to integrity and foreshadow the ministry of Christ.

  1. He will sing to the LORD (1)
  2. He will ponder the blameless way (2)
  3. He will walk with integrity of heart (2)
  4. He will not set worthless things before his eyes (3)
  5. He will know nothing of evil (4)
  6. He will destroy slanderers (5)
  7. He will not endure the proud (5)
  8. He will favor the faithful (6)
  9. He will be master of the blameless (6)
  10. He will destroy the wicked (8).

LORD, may my friends and I walk in the integrity of heart that befits the Master we serve.

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mercy in ministry

Posted on April 10, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12565 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11.  Paul had decided to delay his plans to visit Corinth out of mercy. He felt that a visit soon after his painful letter would only accentuate the condemnation the church members were experiencing.  He wanted to give them time to repent of their pride, and discipline the member who was guilty of sexual sin.  Time has passed, and now Paul urges the church to restore the (apparently repentant) member. He wants them to show the same mercy that he had showed them. He cared about all of them. He made ministry decisions based on how it would affect those being ministered unto.

LORD, help us to care deeply about those whom we minister to and among.

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results of rebellion

Posted on April 10, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

 wild grapes Isaiah 5.  Israel is portrayed as a vineyard, and the prophet decries the fact that the vineyard produced the wrong crop: wild grapes. They rebelled against the master’s intentions. He “looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry!” (7).  The results of this rebellion are identified by the word “therefore” which appears four times:

  1. Therefore the people will go into exile (13)
  2. Therefore Sheol (the place where the dead go) will enlarge its appetite and swallow both the nobility and the masses (14).
  3. Therefore the vineyard will be devoured by fire, rot, and dryness (24).
  4. Therefore sudden disaster will leave corpses in the streets,with no relenting or the LORD’s anger (25).

Rebellion is a serious thing. It has serious consequences.

LORD, may we produce the fruit that you expect of your vineyard. May your people be fair to others,and always committed to you.

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the time LORD

Posted on April 10, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12562 Psalm 100.  LORD, you were there at the creation of Adam, lovingly creating humanity and calling us to a relationship with yourself. You are GOD.You will be there to the end because your steadfast love endures forever, your faithfulness will outlast our lives to the generations after us. You are GOOD.  It is for those reasons that you deserve joyful, noisy worship, and glad service. You are the time LORD.

Forgive me Lord for even thinking about putting myself first.

Thank you for the joy of entering your heavenly courts within myself this day.

LORD, help my friends who are struggling to stay committed to you — some will have to disappoint family or defy authorities to do so. Give them strength LORD.

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trouble: preparation for ministry

Posted on April 9, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12561 2 Corinthians1:1-11.  Paul is going to respond to some of his bitterest critics in this letter.  One of the reasons they condemn him is that they are convinced that he is not worthy to be an apostle since he has so many troubles.  So, Paul begins his letter praising God for the severe troubles he has faced.  He and his companions “were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself” (8).  But Paul tells how God brought them through that time of testing and prepared him to minister to others who would face similar troubles. 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction” (3-4a).

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one source of pride

Posted on April 9, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12560 Isaiah 3:1-4:6.  In Isaiah’s day, the city of Jerusalem prided itself over its leaders: “the mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skillful magician and the expert in charms” (3:2-3).  God would humble them by taking away those great leaders.  Their women  prided themselves because of their beauty and luxurious living.  The Lord will take away “the finery of the anklets, the headbands, and the crescents; the pendants, the bracelets, and the scarves; the headdresses, the armlets, the sashes, the perfume boxes, and the amulets;  the signet rings and nose rings;  the festal robes, the mantles, the cloaks, and the handbags; the mirrors, the linen garments, the turbans, and the veils” (3:18-23).  He is making room for only one source of pride: the Branch of the LORD (Jesus Christ) and the fruit that the land will produce under him (4:2). That is the fruit of true righteousness.

LORD, may we pride ourselves only in Jesus Christ, and the fruit of his kingdom.

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all the GOD we need

Posted on April 9, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12558 Psalm 99.  Three great men in Israel’s past are mentioned in this psalm: Moses, Aaron and Samuel.  These three are reminders that the LORD is holy and just, forgiving, but also holding his own accountable for their wrongdoings.

LORD, we praise you for being all the GOD we will ever need.

Forgive us for even looking for more.

Thank you for answering the prayers of great leaders in the past.

Answer our prayers today. We put our trust in you.

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