Devotionary

Latest Episodes:

Ep 302 – 2 Corinthians 4:8-18 Oct 17, 2017

Show notes

Suffering. Not exactly a topic most of us want to dwell on. But for Paul, suffering was an ever-present reality of his life. He had grown accustomed to it and had learned that it was part and parcel of his life as an apostle of Jesus Christ and a messenger of the good news. You see, Paul had an eternal perspective that allowed him to see present suffering with a future outlook. And in 2 Corinthians 4:8-18, Paul is going to provide the Corinthian believers with a glimpse into how he viewed the trials and tribulations of life. His perspective may sound a bit odd to us, but it is actually the same attitude that Christ had while He was on earth. He knew that His suffering was all a part of God's divine plan. He was fully aware that His rejection by men was inevitable and His death at the hands of man, unavoidable. It had to happen. His death was God's will and the only way in which the sins of man could be atoned for – once and for all. So, Paul had no problem accepting the struggles in his own life. Who was he to think he could escape trials when His sinless Savior had been willing to die a sinner's death on behalf of sinful mankind? Paul didn't like pain. He didn't pursue suffering. But he was willing to accept it when it showed up because he knew how the story ends.

Ep 301 – 2 Corinthians 4:1-7 Oct 16, 2017

Show notes

In today's episode, based on 2 Corinthians 4:1-7, we will hear Paul describing himself as a jar of clay, a seemingly value-less vessel, made of the basest of materials, but containing the very glory of God in the form of the Holy Spirit. For Paul, the unbelievable reality of his position as a son of God and a spokesman for the gospel of Jesus Christ was never something he took for granted. He was not impressed with himself, and so, he really saw no reason to waste his time trying to impress others. It was enough to him that he was used by God. So, all the hub-bub about his credentials or qualifications to be an apostle meant nothing to him. He knew he was being used by God because he had seen the life change among the believers in Corinth. And he was content in knowing that the power of God dwelt within him, and shown out of him to all those around him. His resume was of no significance. His accomplishments were pointless and meaningless. It was all God. He was the one who was doing the work. Paul was simply an unworthy vessel, an instrument in the Redeemer's hands, accomplishing His divine will, not because of Paul, but in spite of him. The power was all God's. And the glory was His as well.

Ep 300 – 2 Corinthians 3:7-19 Oct 15, 2017

Show notes

Ever since the fall, mankind has been attempt to restore their broken fellowship with God by trying to do things to please Him. Even as man eventually created false gods to replace the one true God, they still felt obligated to keep that god pleased by offering sacrifices and paying homage. Measuring up has been and continues to be a full-time job for men and women. It shows up in all kinds of way. We try to find success through everything from sports and work to relationships. We feel the constant pressure to do more and work harder to impress others, so that we might be accepted and achieve some measure of success in our lives. For Paul, the arrival of Jesus onto the stage of human history was a game-changer. Gone were the days of striving and attempting to earn favor with God through self-effort. For Paul, as a good Jew and former Pharisee, the old covenant of the Mosaic law had been the primary way in which men attempted to get back into and remain in God's good graces. But it had failed miserably. All the law did was expose man's sin. It couldn't get rid of it. But the new covenant, based on Jesus' death and the shedding of His blood, makes it possible for men to be set free from slavery to sin and provides them with the power to live in obedience to His will. Today's episode is based on 2 Corinthians 3:7-18.

Ep 299 – 2 Corinthians 3:1-6 Oct 14, 2017

Show notes

In today's episode, based on 2 Corinthians 3:1-6, Paul is going to deal with the ongoing debate regarding his qualifications as an apostle. But rather than continue to defend himself and wax eloquent about his obvious gift sets and credentials, Paul is going to defer and give all credit to God. He knew that he was being used by God, and that anything he had accomplished had been as a result of God's power, not his own. He knew full well that many lives had been changed in Corinth as a result of his ministry there, but he also knew that he had been nothing more than a messenger, spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. Any transformation that had taken place had been the work of the Spirit, and he deserved none of the credit. But Paul was firmly convinced that his calling was real and his position as an apostle of Jesus Christ had been proven. The changed lives of the Corinthians were more than enough proof. And he felt no need to continue to defend himself against those who wanted to disparage his motives and methods. He would simply keep doing what he had been called to do, against all odds and whether anyone fully recognized or appreciated the part he had played. God was working. And for Paul, it was enough to be used by God and have His good pleasure.

Ep 298 – 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 Oct 13, 2017

Show notes

Fortunately for us, we don't live in a culture that condones slavery. It is an embarrassing and indefensible part of our past that we would prefer to forget. But as we look at 2 Corinthians 2:14-17, we will hear Paul using slavery as a way to describe his relationship with Christ. This will probably be somewhat of an assault on our modern sensibilities. But for the average Corinthian, slavery was a normal and ubiquitous part of their daily lives. Slaves were everywhere. There were slaves of war. There were indentured servants. There were those who had been forced into slavery because they couldn't pay their bills or settle their debts. While slavery in that day certainly had an ethnic and racial component to it, it was really more about economics and power. Those nations that were conquered by more powerful foes, often found their subjects turned into slaves and having to do the bidding of a foreign king. Their freedoms were lost and their rights to live as they pleased, taken from them. And that is the picture Paul describes concerning His relationship with God and His Son, Jesus Christ. But for Paul, this was positive, not negative. He was pleased to be the slave of Christ. He considered it an honor to do the will of God the Father as He submitted to the Lordship of Jesus in His life. He belonged to Christ and was more than willing to be His captive, and to live a captivating life that drew men to the saving work of Jesus and His gift of eternal life.

Ep 297 – 2 Corinthians 2:1-13 Oct 12, 2017

Show notes

Welcome to Devotionary, where we make the Bible accessible and applicable.

In this episode, titled, "Tough Love", we'll learn about another letter Paul had sent to the church in Corinth that has long since been lost. But that letter evidently contained some harsh words from the apostle. He had stepped on some toes and offended some of the members of the local congregation. But his intent had been to bring healing, not hurt. He had been out to call the church to accountability and obedience. As a result, he had been forced to say some things that were, at face value, offensive and hard to receive, but which, in the long-run, had their intended impact on the Corinthians. As Christians, we can sometimes find it hard to say what truly needs to be said. We don't want to offend anyone. We don't want to be accused of being judgmental or holier-than-thou. So, even when we see fellow believers acting in ways that are not honoring to Christ, we tend to keep our mouths shut. Afraid of turning a friend into a potential enemy, we fail to speak up and say what needs to be said. And, as a result, the body of Christ suffers. 2 Corinthians 2:1-13 is all about tough love, a difficult thing to pull off, but a non-negotiable necessity if the church is going to be effective.

Ep 296 – 2 Corinthians 1:12-24 Oct 11, 2017

Show notes

Are you a man or woman of your word? Can people trust what you say? As we look at verses 12-24 of 2 Corinthians 1, we're going to see Paul defending his integrity against attacks from an undisclosed group of individuals within the church at Corinth. He was going to have to give them proof that he was trustworthy and as good as his word. They had no reason to doubt what he said or question what he taught. There were those who were basically accusing him of lying because he had promised to make another visit to Corinth, but had failed to do so. But rather than asking Paul what reason he might have had for the delay, they simply spread rumors about his veracity and reliability. But this kind of accusation wasn't going to sit well with Paul, not because he cared that much about his personal reputation, but because he was an ambassador and representative of Jesus Christ. As an apostle, he couldn't afford to have his word questioned, because he spoke on behalf of Jesus. Truth was paramount to Paul. False gospels and messages that twisted the facts about Jesus and His redemptive work on the cross were not to be tolerated. So, to be accused of being untrustworthy was unacceptable to Paul. The message he carried was too important to let anyone question his integrity or doubt the reliability of the words that came out of his mouth

Ep 294 – 2 Corinthians Introduction Oct 10, 2017

Show notes

Today, we begin a new series on the book of 2 Corinthians. As we make our way through this letter, be sure to read each day's passage in order to better follow what is going on.

Ep 295 – 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 Oct 10, 2017

Show notes

As Paul opens his second letter to the church in Corinth, he does so with his normal salutation, offering them grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. But in verses 1-11 of 2 Corinthians, he gets right to the point of his letter. Much of what he is going to attempt to do with this letter is defend himself against those who have questioned his motives and raised doubts about his apostleship. After all, Paul wasn't one of the original twelve. He had received his calling on the road to Damascus and had, since that time, claimed to be an apostle on an equal standing with Peter, James, John or any of the other disciples of Christ. He claimed to have been called and commissioned by Jesus Himself. So, his words carried divine weight. His admonitions and teachings were not his personal opinion, but the words of God. And Paul will begin his letter by conveying the suffering he has endured as an apostle of Jesus Christ. His life had been anything but easy. He had endured a great deal for the cause of Christ. And now, he wanted to pass on to the Corinthians believers all that he had learned in suffering for and being comforted by Christ. He wanted them to learn to lean on God.

Ep 293 – 1 Corinthians 16:10-24 Oct 09, 2017

Show notes

ThIs it is. The final part of Paul's letter. And he ends it with a bang, not a whimper. He has not run out of steam or things to say, but like all good things, they must come to an end. So, he wraps it all up with one last admonition to be wary, watchful, faithful, courageous and strong. Oh, and to love. That one was especially important to Paul. This final charge, found 1 Corinthians 16: 10-24 is simple, yet powerful. In it, Paul provides the Corinthians, and us, with a strong message to which anyone would be wise to listen. The overall theme of Paul's letter has been one of community in the face of the constant temptations to live in disunity and isolation. The body of Christ is meant to be an organism, not an organization. The members of the body are gifted by the Spirit of God in order that they might encourage and serve one another. There is no place for competition or conflict. Pride, arrogance and self-centeredness are to be avoided at all costs, recognizing them as cancers that can destroy the body from within. The ongoing well-being of the body of Christ requires an attitude of unity, cooperation, selfless service and sacrificial love. The time is short and the need great. So, we are to stay focused and faithful.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected