2 Corinthians 13:5 (Examine)

^"Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith."

When's the last time you had to get a physical examination at the doctor's office?  The purpose of these exams is to see how you're doing physically, right?  Similarly to a physical exam, Paul urges us to give ourselves a spiritual exam to see how we're doing.  To wrap up our study of 2 Corinthians (which I'm shocked to say we've been studying since Labor Day), we are given a final command and test.  

Do you ever wonder if God is really working in you, or if perhaps you've been making this up in your head and feeling "happy thoughts" that are all of your own creation?  I have.  

These questions are not something to be ashamed of; rather, they are the very essence of what makes this our faith.  There is a large element of the unknown -- I have had some very real and life-changing encounters with Jesus, but He has yet to physically join me for a cup of coffee on my living room couch.  This is our faith.  Yet, I can tell you that when you really take time to examine it, you will see the proof and presence of Jesus.

And this is exactly what Paul says in his final words to the Corinthians.  He tells them to examine themselves, to test themselves.  If you know that Jesus is in you (the Holy Spirit), then you have Him. The only way for us to get Him is to repent of our sins, believe that Jesus is God who died for our sins, and willingly ask Him to take control of our lives so that we are no longer in the driver's seat.  He will say yes!  If you have surrendered your life to Christ, then you have Him.  Period.

Now, ask any Christian if they have ups and downs in their faith, and they will say yes.  Some days I can feel God's presence in my life so strongly, and other days I wonder why He is not more apparent to me.  So how do we know if our faith is genuine?  Genuine faith is not satisfied with remaining where we are.

Genuine faith demonstrates a growing awareness of God's presence.  We may not always feel Him in every moment, but overall, do we continue to feel and be aware of Him more and more as we interact with people and the world around us?  Also, are we seeking to grow closer to God or are we lackadaisically slipping further away from Him -- it is either one or the other.  We must be seeking Him, and then we will be feeling Him.

Do you know that Jesus knows this challenge for us, and in fact He prays for you.  It's recorded in the Bible, which I had never seen until college!  Read John 17.  It will astound you that Jesus Himself is praying for YOU!  In the last verses, verse 25 and 26, here is what He says in prayer for you:

“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they (the Christians) know that you have sent me.  I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Did you see what He said?  I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known... Jesus wants us to continue to grow closer to God, too!  He desires that when we examine ourselves that we will see we are growing closer to our Creator, and He is the one who is working to do this in our lives.  He wants us to understand God the Father through our relationship with Himself.

So this morning, I echo Paul's challenge to you: seek Him more.  Continue to move closer to Him.  If we aren't purposefully seeking a closer relationship and understanding of who He is, then we are moving away from Him.  Fill your mind with Scripture, songs, and articles that will be good for your heart, that teach you and challenge you.  Pray to Him -- nothing earth-shaking -- just a conversation.  And allow time for silence so that He may speak.  He wants to be found by you, dear one.  If you seek Him, you will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).  



Molly Monroe

2 Corinthians 12:7-8 (Re-post: Given a Thorn)

A re-post from April 2011 that comes from 2 Corinthians 12.  Such a powerful verse to remember whenever we face trials that seem unbearable.

But before we get to that, may I just say thank you to you?  Thank you for digging deeper in the Word with me over these past (almost) two years.  Thank you for allowing me to share what God is doing in my life and for even considering that what God is doing in me might be worth reading for you.  Studying His word and getting to share it with you is truly one of the greatest joys in my life.  So, thank you.  Thank you.  Okay, now on to the good stuff...

***

"To keep me from becoming conceited...there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of satan, to torment me.  Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.  But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  2 Corinthians 12:7-8

Thorns hurt. They are alien, unnatural objects that when stuck in our flesh demand our attention until they are removed.  In the above verse, Paul is not referencing a thorn that comes from a plant, but rather the paralyzing, pummeling, and painful thorns we encounter in life -- crumbling marriages, chronic illness, financial devastation, anxiety, shame over past failures, persistent doubt, or grief that just won't fade.

Jesus also pleaded with His Father three times in the Garden that His thorn, His future suffering, would be taken from Him.  Sometime during that conversation with God, Jesus became content with the thorn the Father had given Him, because in John 18:11, Jesus says to a combative Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"

How was Jesus finally able to be content with what was about to happen?  Remember that the thorn itself does not come from God.  In the above verse, satan was the messenger and his purpose was to torment Paul.  However, nothing can happen to us without God knowing it, and "in all things God works for the good of those who love Him" Romans 8:28).

Do you believe that, dear friends?  Whether your trial has come early in your life, late in your life, or will last the rest of your life, God is intending to use this trial in your life, or He would not have allowed it.  It will hurt.  But you will be changed by it, if you allow Him to walk beside you and make you more like Himself.  He wants us to rely on His grace and provision as we persevere.

He understands your thorns.  Remember His crown.

Lord, I present my thorn to You.  Thank you for walking beside me in this trial and promising that you always work for good.  Help me to trust You completely as You make me more like you.  Amen.


Molly Monroe

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (Follower)

¹³ These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. ¹⁵ So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.

Have you ever believed someone, followed their thinking for a while thinking you had really found something true here, until you realized that you couldn't have been more wrong?

I'll be the first to raise my hand.

It's an embarrassing and somewhat shameful feeling to realize that you've been punked by an imposter, because you were just so sure that it was the Truth.  But instead you find that they were just a ruse -- disguised by smooth talking, bold confidence, and a following that made you sure they were really onto something. 

But just as Paul says, we are not to be surprised by this, which makes me think it must be somewhat common, that there must be many false teachers (or at least more than we think).

It says that even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.  I had to stop and think about that one for a moment...what exactly is an angel of light?  Well an angel is a messenger, and light often represents Truth.  So he disguises himself as a messenger of truth, when in fact he is the opposite: a ruler of darkness and a director of all deceit.

Satan and those who do not follow Christ can deceive us by appearing to be attractive, good, and moral.  Many unsuspecting people follow smooth-talking, Bible quoting leaders into cults that alienate them from their families and lead them into practices that go against the Bible.  Of course no one sets out to get involved in a cult, but our impressions of people alone should not be the only indicator against which to measure Truth and a true follower of Christ.

So how do we know if we are following Truth or not?  Three questions to ask:

1.  Does the teacher affirm and proclaim that Jesus Christ is God, who came into the world as a man to save people from their sins?  If the teacher is adding something new to the Gospel that you've never heard before, be suspicious.

2.  Is the teacher's life-style consistent with biblical morality, and do you see evidence of the Fruit of the Spirit in him?  Love.  Joy.  Peace, etc...these ARE the proof of the Spirit.

3.  Most importantly, as we search all of Scripture, do the teachings fall inline with the totality of the Bible?  Think about Acts 17:11, "And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message.  They searched the Scriptures days after day to check up on Paul and Silas, to see if they were really teaching the truth."  

What a gift we have in this country to have such access to God's word!  Let us not be lazy about following what sounds good or what excites our emotions; but instead, may we ourselves be readers and studiers of the Word.  Never should we allow one passionate person to be our sole interpreter of Scripture!  But instead, may we search for ourselves, listen to other leaders, read books, and even allow our thinking to be challenged by the thoughts of those who have different interpretations of Scripture than us -- because I can tell you right now that what I believe today is not 100% accurate, I just don't know it yet.  

More and more, I agree with Aristotle who said, "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."  May we not allow ourselves to get to focused on something that we're missing the big picture!

It's never too late to go a different direction, my friend.  Search the Scriptures and continue to encounter Jesus -- He is the only one worth following.  He is the only Truth.


Molly Monroe

2 Corinthians 11-13 (Paul's Heart and Passion)

Today, I'm doing something I've not done here before, and probably won't do often at all.  But as I was reading this morning, beginning in Chapter 11, Verse 1, I just couldn't stop reading.  These last three chapters MUST be read together.  It's very clear that these last three chapters are Paul's last-ditch effort to try to win over the hearts of the Corinthians to himself so that they will also be won over to Christ.

As I read, I could hear his passion over and over -- most importantly, his love for these people, his love and devotion to teaching of Christ, and his willingness to sacrifice himself for Christ and the people.  Many times he talks about sounding like a fool, as if at this part of the letter, he just sat down and let it all come out from the tip of his pen, and he knows how emotional it sounds and how some people might snicker and roll their eyes when they read it.  (Ever written something like that?)

His love and passion for them wreaks throughout this writing.  Surely, this is not from a man who is out to make it big or to be impressive.

The "super apostles" are charging tons of money to come speak to the people, they perform crazy signs and miracles, they use tootie-falootie  language since they were all educated in the highest Greek schools, and they aren't preaching a message about Jesus and the Holy Spirit but instead some other message that seems to always make the people "feel good."

But Paul comes for free because of the financial support he gets from other Christians; he's not trying to wow them with magic tricks, but he does share of some crazy things that have happened; he keeps his language very simple so that everyone can understand it -- even the uneducated; and he sticks to the plain message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Still, apparently, the people aren't accepting of him and the message of Christ because it's not "fancy" enough for them.

So, here he goes....

I encourage you to read through all of it.  It is so good for me to read more than just a few verses sometimes.  We'll be looking at a few particular parts over the next week, too.  But, today, why don't you make your own conclusions and observations?  I think by the end, he must be crying...

Paul and the False Apostles

 I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me. ² For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ. ³ But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. ⁴ You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.

⁵ But I don’t consider myself inferior in any way to these “super apostles” who teach such things. ⁶ I may be unskilled as a speaker, but I’m not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every possible way.
⁷ Was I wrong when I humbled myself and honored you by preaching God’s Good News to you without expecting anything in return? ⁸ I “robbed” other churches by accepting their contributions so I could serve you at no cost. ⁹ And when I was with you and didn’t have enough to live on, I did not become a financial burden to anyone. For the brothers who came from Macedonia brought me all that I needed. I have never been a burden to you, and I never will be. ¹⁰ As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, no one in all of Greece will ever stop me from boasting about this. ¹¹ Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows that I do.
¹² But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours. ¹³ These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. ¹⁵ So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.

Paul’s Many Trials

¹⁶ Again I say, don’t think that I am a fool to talk like this. But even if you do, listen to me, as you would to a foolish person, while I also boast a little. ¹⁷ Such boasting is not from the Lord, but I am acting like a fool. ¹⁸ And since others boast about their human achievements, I will, too. ¹⁹ After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools! ²⁰ You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face. ²¹ I’m ashamed to say that we’ve been too “weak” to do that!

But whatever they dare to boast about—I’m talking like a fool again—I dare to boast about it, too. ²² Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. ²³ Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. ²⁴ Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. ²⁶ I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. ²⁷ I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
²⁸ Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. ²⁹ Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?
³⁰ If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. ³¹ God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying. ³² When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept guards at the city gates to catch me. ³³ I had to be lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall to escape from him.

Paul’s Vision and His Thorn in the Flesh

12 This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord. ² I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows. ³ Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know ⁴ that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.

⁵ That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. ⁶ If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, ⁷ even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
⁸ Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. ⁹ Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. ¹⁰ That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians

¹¹ You have made me act like a fool—boasting like this. You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these “super apostles,” even though I am nothing at all. ¹² When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you. ¹³ The only thing I failed to do, which I do in the other churches, was to become a financial burden to you. Please forgive me for this wrong!

¹⁴ Now I am coming to you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don’t want what you have—I want you. After all, children don’t provide for their parents. Rather, parents provide for their children. ¹⁵ I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.
¹⁶ Some of you admit I was not a burden to you. But others still think I was sneaky and took advantage of you by trickery. ¹⁷ But how? Did any of the men I sent to you take advantage of you? ¹⁸ When I urged Titus to visit you and sent our other brother with him, did Titus take advantage of you? No! For we have the same spirit and walk in each other’s steps, doing things the same way.
¹⁹ Perhaps you think we’re saying these things just to defend ourselves. No, we tell you this as Christ’s servants, and with God as our witness. Everything we do, dear friends, is to strengthen you. ²⁰ For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior. ²¹ Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.

Paul’s Final Advice

13 This is the third time I am coming to visit you (and as the Scriptures say, “The facts of every case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses”). ² I have already warned those who had been sinning when I was there on my second visit. Now I again warn them and all others, just as I did before, that next time I will not spare them.

³ I will give you all the proof you want that Christ speaks through me. Christ is not weak when he deals with you; he is powerful among you. ⁴ Although he was crucified in weakness, he now lives by the power of God. We, too, are weak, just as Christ was, but when we deal with you we will be alive with him and will have God’s power.
⁵ Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. ⁶ As you test yourselves, I hope you will recognize that we have not failed the test of apostolic authority.
⁷ We pray to God that you will not do what is wrong by refusing our correction. I hope we won’t need to demonstrate our authority when we arrive. Do the right thing before we come—even if that makes it look like we have failed to demonstrate our authority. ⁸ For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth. ⁹ We are glad to seem weak if it helps show that you are actually strong. We pray that you will become mature.
¹⁰ I am writing this to you before I come, hoping that I won’t need to deal severely with you when I do come. For I want to use the authority the Lord has given me to strengthen you, not to tear you down.

Paul’s Final Greetings

¹¹ Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

¹² Greet each other with Christian love. ¹³ All of God’s people here send you their greetings.
¹⁴ May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

(...and if you made it all the way down here, I applaud you.  Wasn't it good to read all of that as ONE chunk?  I just couldn't break it apart yet...)

We'll dig in next week, but until then, have a great weekend!


 Molly Monroe 

2 Corinthians 10:17-18 (Credit)

“If you want to claim credit, claim it for God.” What you say about yourself means nothing in God’s work. It’s what God says about you that makes the difference. (The Message)

My sisters and I have this horrible, um, we'll say habit, of hearing one another say something funny, and then turning to the people in the crowd who didn't hear the funny thing and re-stating it as if its our own creation.  They roll with laughter, and the sister who originally said it gives The Stealer a look like I heard you just steal my funny, and I won't throw you under the bus right now, but you and I both know that I said it first, missy.

Oh, sisterly competition.

Well, when your nickname in middle school is Foul-Ball Molly, you have to get positive laughs from somewhere.  And so it all began....

We all like to get credit though, don't we?  What is it about receiving credit that we work so hard, work so long, create and create, or steal the creations of others so that we can be the eyebrow-raiser? And if we don't get the credit for our creating, then something has gone horribly wrong in the world.

But here, Paul reminds us that WE should never worry about getting credit.  The credit belongs to God.

This made me think -- how good am I at giving God the credit for the things I think I do?  Wasn't it He who gave me the abilities, gifts, and talents to do anything I do in the first place?  (Except for games that have fouls, maybe.)  And couldn't He also take away what He has given?

Fun fact you never knew about me: In high school, I studied opera. I always thought I was an alto until I took a year of voice lessons and the teacher was amazed by how high I could sing.  So, I started singing up there more often.  I loved it!  The Italian arias (an expressive, self-contained piece for one singer) were just beautiful, and I felt such pleasure that God had given me the ability to sing that way and that I'd actually discovered this hidden gem.  

Until I got sick.  Right before a state competition in which I was to compete.  My voice was not what it "could be."  After taming the tears, I did fine, but not as well as I thought I could've.  Then, the next year at the same competition, I got sick right before it again!  What a cruel joke! 

I don't know all the reasons why that happened two years in a row, but God used those times to remind me that He was the one who had given me those gifts, and He could also take them away.  There was no reason to think my voice was anything I'd done -- even my ability to get better was a gift He'd given me -- and any day I could get sick and lose that gift.

It's the same with any gift He's given us -- athletic ability, academic ability, a great family, a positive marriage, a creative mind -- we could lose it any second.

The same is true with gifts we haven't been given.  He did not bless me with the natural ability to play sports that require hand-eye or hand-foot coordination; He did not bless me with the natural ability to figure numbers and math problems; He did not bless me with the natural ability to cook, garden, sew, or be crafty.  I could learn those things, sure, but they are not my "gifts".  And I'm perfectly okay with that now.  He's given me other things.

So, claiming credit?  I try so hard not to, because I see that any talents I have are exactly that -- gifts -- that were given to me by Someone because He loves me.  All credit belongs to the Lord, the Lord who gives and takes away.

And I don't need to be known as a good singer, a good writer, or a good teacher by people.

As I sit here and think about it, the only One I want to roll with laughter at my jokes, to give a nod to anything I do, to smile at me with His fatherly approval, or to hug me and tell me how proud He is of what I've done, is the One who sees my heart, not just my talents.

And more than anything, when I see Him face to face someday, and He bends toward me with His hands on my shoulders, our noses almost touching, and the gentlest of eyes seeing right into my soul,  the only words of acclaim that will matter are the words, "Well done, Molly, my good and faithful servant."

So if someone were to say to me, "That song was beautiful, Molly," I'd smile and say "thank you" to be polite.  But then, Lord, help me to remember in that moment to also whisper up to the heavens a grateful "thank you" to the One who gives good gifts to His children.

He is the source of all credit.



Molly Monroe

2 Corinthians 10:12 (Compare)

¹² We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.

Let me ask you, how do you compare?  When you think of yourself in any area, how do you rank?  If you're like me, you are probably tempted to compare yourself with the people around you...anything from weight, to hair, to athletic ability, to wealth, to debt, to possessions, to power, to righteousness.  Individually, we compare ourselves, do we not? 

Then, there's the group comparison.  A whole team can compare itself to another team, a political party compares itself to another political party, and a school compares itself to another school.

That's fine if God is not your standard.

But what about when a church compares itself to another church -- in giving, in attendance, in programs, or in the size of their buildings.  Or when a ministry compares itself to another ministry -- in volunteers or in production.

In this verse, written about 2,000 years ago, the comparisons are rampant.  Paul is still defending himself as an apostle because the "super apostles" are making sure that they always come out on top...but compared to what?  Compared to themselves.

That's like taking two ants living underground in an ant colony, and the largest one (by 0.11222 ounces) claims he is now officially the largest animal in the land!

As the verse above states, if we compare ourselves against ourselves, we are not wise.  

But we are like the ant when we compare ourselves to the people around us.  We don't even know what we are saying!   To us with such a greater perspective, the ant sounds absolutely foolish to make that claim!  And to God, with the greatest perspective, He says, "Oh, but dear one, you are completely missing the mark."

And so we are when we compare ourselves to anyone other than God who tells us to "be holy as I am holy."  HE is the standard.  No one else.

So then, that begs the question: How holy do you really want to be?

Because according to my unsaved friends, I might look pretty holy.  And I can feel really good and comfortable with that, all while I continue living in less-than-holy ways at times...because, I'm still better than so-and-so.

Holiness is not a check-list.  Holiness is an attitude of our hearts that says I am set apart for Your use, Lord, and I choose to stand apart from sin and evil so that I may be more like You.

If we're being different than or set apart from the world, we certainly can't compare ourselves with the world.  That would be unwise.

Wisdom comes from comparing ourselves to Jesus Christ.  He is our standard.  Period.

So, when I compare myself to Jesus Christ and to how He lived, well, then I suddenly don't feel like the largest animal in the land anymore.  Compared to Jesus, my pride falls away, I see how far I am from His standard, and I am overcome with my need for a Savior. 

And that's a good place to be.

2 Corinthians 10:7 (Appearance)

The trouble with you is that you make your decisions on the basis of appearance.  You must recognize that we belong to Christ just as much as those who proudly declare that they belong to the Christ.

I had the incredible pleasure to attend a Christian writing conference here in town at the beginning of November.  It was wonderful to meet some very talented writers, who also happened to love Jesus.  I learned so, so much from them.

When I arrived, I was very much out of my comfort zone -- I attended by myself and I had never done anything "official" for my writing before.  I had no idea how these things worked.  So, I sat back quietly and tried to take it all in as an observer so I wouldn't somehow unknowingly make a fool of myself.

A woman walked in and sat in front of me.  She had come down the aisle with a limp and looked a little disheveled, her outfit a bit eccentric.  Oh, writers, I thought to myself.  She proceeded to make conversation with the young people down the row from her, and at first, I thought they all knew each other but soon found out that they didn't...but she was talking to them a mile a minute and she didn't even know them.  How awkward.  She was so chatty.  Lady, just sit quietly so you don't embarrass yourself.

I continued to sit there in my puddle of arrogance and judgment.

Then the lady down the row from me starts chatting it up, too.  Normally, I am all about chatting with strangers, but since I felt so out of my comfort zone, I was annoyed that she wouldn't just let me sit in peace.  Again, the arrogance.

This blonde lady, with stringy hair and lip stick that was way too dark in my opinion, starts telling me all about her life and her job as a writer.  She kept referring to me as "Beth" and was telling me way more detail than was socially acceptable for strangers, so now I sat there swimming in my arrogance and judgement.  My name is Molly.  How do you get Beth from Molly?

They asked us to find someone near us to get to know.  There was a really cute, stylish, pretty, young woman in the row behind me, so I tried to make eye contact with her.  She paired up with the old guy next to her.  I was left with Blondie.

We introduced ourselves officially now, and then she asked me something that caused me to reveal that my mom had died in the past few years.

I could see her pause.  She asked me a few more questions about it and about Mom.  And then she started tearing up.  She was in her second year of grief since she'd lost her mom, her best friend.  If you ask me anything, I'll tell you that the second year of grief was a lot harder than the first, so my heart sank when I heard the words "two years ago."

Slowly, God started melting my cold heart toward this stranger.  My Stephen Ministry brain kicked in so that I could give comfort, and I realized that God had sat us (out of the 500 people in the room) next to each other on purpose.  I should have known -- everything He does is on purpose.

So, I was getting a little more comfortable with my surroundings.  But I still wasn't sure what sessions to attend -- the options were endless, and I didn't even know where to start.

It was then that the lady with the limp and the need to talk constantly turned around and said, "Is this your first conference?"  And when I answered that it was, she asked me what I write and helped guide me to the sessions that would be best for me.  She also told me that the woman who would be editing some of my work was one of the most-coveted editors.  "You are blessed," she said with a big smile as she turned back around.  I was so grateful that she'd given me some confidence that I was where I needed to be.

Tears came to my eyes.

I'm so sorry, Lord.  I can't believe how self-centered, judgmental, and higher-than-thou I have been.  I feel so ashamed.  I feel so low.  I feel unworthy and anything but beautiful in your sight right now.

The weekend continued on, and my heart was open to all people and anything they wanted to say or any way I could care for them.  It was an incredible weekend.  A life-changing weekend.

Then, on the last day, during the last session, we worshiped together -- Presbyterians, Catholics, Methodists, Assembly-folks, Weslyans, and me.  With our many different styles of worship (including the woman behind me who was ad-libbing her own part during every song), we worshiped the God who created us all.  The appearances and differences did not matter.  Not at all.  THAT was The Church right there.  Some lifted hands, some did not.  Some danced to the beat, others did not.  And it was all perfectly lovely.

And wouldn't you know, there I was placed between my two new friends, Blondie and Chatty, with our hands in the air, standing together as sisters in Christ.  And I was so thankful in that moment that God is never done with me...

Why had I let appearances get in the way?  Appearances meant nothing.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.   And, wow, their hearts were absolutely beautiful.

So, today, let us look at the hearts of the people we come across.  If we only look at the outside, we are going to miss some the greatest beauty God has ever created.



Molly Monroe

2 Corinthians 10:1-6 (Weapons)

Now I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ—though I realize you think I am timid in person and bold only when I write from far away. ² Well, I am begging you now so that when I come I won’t have to be bold with those who think we act from human motives.
³ We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. ⁴ We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. ⁵ We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. ⁶ And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.

In case you forgot, I want you to be ready.  You are going into battle today.  A big one.  Not a battle with guns and swords, but a battle "against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12).  You are battling against an enemy you can't even see, and he likes it that way.

In this passage, Paul is talking about the battle he is doing for the sake of Christ.  He is trying to spread the Word, while his opponents are trying to spread rumors about him being a weak man so people won't follow him.  Their attacks have really taken a toll on Paul's important ministry, and he's had just about enough of it.  So, he's writing to the Corinthians to let them know the truth.  As I read straight through chapters 10-12 today, I felt as if I was listening to a passionate preacher.  It was incredible!  Paul gets really fired up about this, and the Truth of what he says is refreshing.  I'd encourage you to take five minutes and read through the rest of the book!

Our battle is against satan.  He's not just some mystical creature.  Just look around our world!  If God is love, then someone else definitely has a hand on this earth.  He is a destroyer, a liar, a lover of all things self.  And he prowls around looking for people who are ready to be deceived into thinking his way is the better way.  I wonder, have we been believing any of his lies lately?

Who is that person in the mirror?  She's so ugly, and she really doesn't matter. 

If I could just get that raise, then all my problems would go away and I'd really be content.

My marriage is not what I thought it would be.  Where did the romance go?  I don't deserve this.  I know I said until death do us part, but I just don't think I can or should have to stay in this.

Or the one that always gets me:  If I could just have _________, then I'd feel settled.

And there are so many more lies we believe every day!  How do you battle something so subtle?? Paul reminds us:

We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do.  We are going to have problems, and we are going to automatically believe these lies because that's our human nature.  Unless we wage war.  Waging war is more than just a verbal reprimand.  Do we get the picture from this text that battling this enemy takes more than just a few minutes of thought and the few minutes we spend reading devotionals?  To wage war means to carry on, to keep doing it.  Constantly.  The moment we ease up is the moment we are defeated.  We can't forget this enemy and this battle.

We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.   God's weapon's are available to us as we fight against the Devil's strongholds in our lives and the lives of others.  They seem foolish to the world, and the world will tell us they are useless, but they are the weapons that will work.  We must choose whether we want to use God's weapons or the world's, but in defeating an invisible enemy, I'm not sure a gun or tank is going to work.  God's weapons--prayer, faith, hope, love, God's Word and the Holy Spirit--are the only weapons that can break down the arguments our culture makes in favor of satan's ways and that can destroy the walls he builds to keep people from knowing God.

Let me give you a recent example: Just yesterday, I was remembering a time when I was stuck in the midst of an emotionally exhausting situation (one that is too personal and raw yet to tell), but I did not know how to share something with a person I dearly love.  I thought the news would shatter them, and I feared that this news would literally be life-changing in a negative way.  For a couple days, I prayed and trusted that God would take care of this situation on my behalf.  Three days later when I talked to this person, they shared with me how God had used two strangers to talk to this person and prepare them for what I needed to say.  Strangers!  Two different ones at two different times over the course of those three days!  I wish I could tell you more than that right now, but I'm telling you, the Holy Spirit, our faith, and our love for people are a powerful and effective combination.  "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14).

And to battle the lies we believe (like the ones listed above), we give 'em the one-two punch.  We must be in the Word so that we can know the Truth, and then we can pray that the Truth would saturate our hearts and minds.  We must choose to do this.  For years, I told myself that I believed the Bible, but yet I was somehow still believing all the lies that came my way.  That's not belief!  My Sunday church attendance was not enough to fight the enemy.  I needed to commit to spending time in the Word myself, and though I am far, far, FAR from perfect in my belief, I can see that I have come some distance.

Are you ready for battle today?  It's gonna be rough at times, but you have the weapons!  They will work.  God promises that.


Molly Monroe

2 Corinthians 9:8-15 (Cheer)

God loves it when the giver delights in the giving. (God loves a cheerful giver, NIV.)
^8-11 God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,

He throws caution to the winds,
    giving to the needy in reckless abandon.
His right-living, right-giving ways
    never run out, never wear out.

This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.

^12-15 Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of poor Christians. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God. This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. Meanwhile, moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they’ll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need. Thank God for this gift, his gift. No language can praise it enough!
 The Message

Do you ever have a week where it seems that God is really trying to tell you something because many of the things you read, the songs you hear, and even the commercials you watch seem to all have the same message?  Well, that's me this week.  And the word?  Cheer.

After reading about being a "cheerful giver" yesterday, I was flipping through the December issue of Real Simple and came across this fact: "[There are five] elements that add up to "Christmas spirit," reports the Journal of Consumer Marketing.  Researcher Peter Clarke asked 450 adults which words they associate with the concept, then grouped their answer into categories: bonhomie, gay abandon, ritual, shopping, and dejection."  

Okay, first of all, one of the largest categories was dejection?!  That means that many, many people are feeling low and depressed around this time of year. What a great reminder for me as I engage with people this holiday season -- not everyone is happy and gay this time of year, and there were a couple years recently where I wasn't either.  That's something I need to remember. And secondly, bonhomie?!  Who is this guy?  What the heck does that word even mean?  

So Josh and I spent a few minutes trying to figure out how you'd even pronounce it, let alone what it meant, and finally resorted to a dictionary. 

bonhomie-- bon·ho·mie [bon-uh-mee', bon'-uh-mee; Fr. baw-naw-mee] :: noun ::

frank and simple good-heartedness; a good-natured manner; friendliness; having cheer.

Did you see that last one? Having cheer!  We do associate cheer with this time of year.  Much of the cheer comes from knowing we will be receiving presents; we get to decorate our house; we get to eat more than we should and not feel guilty.  But don't worry, I'm not all Scrooge.  I do think that many people are just in a good mood, a mood of cheer!  I know I tend to give a little more grace to people in the parking lot "because it's Christmas time," and I tend to reach out to others more than I normally do "because it's Christmas time," and I look for ways to give "because it's Christmas time."  

And even though the secular world doesn't realize it, they are finding 'good cheer' doing exactly what the Bible promised would bring them cheer!

Just as the verses above tell us, "be generous in every way," "meet the bare needs of the poor," "live at your very best," "show gratitude," and give cheerfully!  

That is the true spirit of the season, and it is centered on Christ Himself, for He has done all of these things for us and more.

The paradox is that if we want to receive, we must give away.  If we want to feel joy and cheer this holiday season, we must give and sacrifice for others. 

As we are with our families this Thanksgiving weekend, we need to be looking for ways to serve them, to be generous, to show gratitude, and to meet their needs in whatever ways we can....even Uncle Whats-his-name who drives us crazy and Cousin Whats-her-face who is so selfish.  Even them.

Vs. 12: Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of (people). It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God.  

Well, lookie there.  Thanksgiving.  Our meeting the needs of others, will produce true Thanksgiving.

My sister Haley is a testament to what our actions can do.  While she was in Africa a few years back, God changed her heart.  My three sisters and I were majorly selfish sisters, I'd say, looking to please ourselves and serve ourselves in our little family...until Haley came back from Africa.  She returned with a tattoo on her arm written in Hebrew.  I can't remember what the actual word is, but upside-down it looks like soynog.  But it means servant. 

But I didn't need the tattoo to tell me that -- she was different.  If someone wanted her comfy seat on the couch, she gave it up.  If someone wanted a drink, she would go get it.  If someone was cleaning up dinner, she was there helping dry the dishes.  And...she was always cheerful.

I remember watching her example that summer when she returned, seeing that something big was happening.  And I wanted to be like her.  She didn't have to tell us what God did in her heart over there on the other side of the world...it was evident in her actions and her joy.

If we want true holiday cheer this season, we have to be a soynog.  We have to be servants.  If we really want to receive this holiday season 2012, we have to give away -- our time, our money, our seat on the couch.  Whatever we can offer, do.  And see if this holiday season isn't your most cheerful one yet!

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

Molly Monroe

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (Give, Part 3)

⁶ Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. ⁷ You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” ⁸ And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
  
Josh and I have been talking about our finances lately: where we need to cut back, where we need to budget more, those kinds of talks.  Always a highlight....

We both want to feel comfortable financially, as most people would, I imagine.  But like most people, we have had some unexpected experiences and expenses come up: many medical bills this year, emergency house repairs, and then just yesterday, in our rush to get to church, Josh backed into someone's car that was parked in our driveway (we will be calling our insurance guys still yet this morning...).  With all these expenses piling up, it often feels that there is just not room to give.  And for goodness sake, definitely not "cheerfully" as the verses above say!

Then, yesterday, as we continued this financial conversation after church, we decided to stop by one of our favorite pizza places for lunch, and we saw a waitress we hadn't seen since the spring.  She was skinnier and more gaunt then when we'd last seen her.  Josh smiled and said, "Well, hi!  We haven't seen you for a while!  Have you been busy with school?"  To which she replied frankly, "No, I've been having treatment since March.  I have stage 4 cancer."  

Speechless.  And here she was working to pay her medical bills.

Suddenly, the sum of mine paled in comparisson.

And then the crunched car in the driveway and the house-repair expenses didn't seem so bad either.

I'm sorry, Lord.



Sometimes we just need a little perspective.

These verses do remind us that God will generously provide all we need, and He has.  All of us in this country have far more than we need -- and plenty leftover to share with others.  Because let's be honest, I need food to eat, but it doesn't have to be from a certain place that I like.  I need shelter, but it doesn't have to have cleaned carpets and seasonally-themed decor.  

In our corner of the world, it's so easy for me to mix up the needs with the wants.

I have so much more than I need, plenty to share with others, and sometimes I just need a reminder about that.

And it's when I remember my abundance that I am overwhelmed with gratitude and want to give.  I do have much, and I love to give much.  And wouldn't you know, I even feel cheerful about it?  Very, very cheerful.

Take some time to remember your abundance this morning.  Thank God for what He has generously given you in all areas of you life, and see if you aren't more inclined to give it away today. 



Molly Monroe

2 Corinthians 8:10-15 (Give, Part 2)

For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. (9:2)

¹⁰ And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. ¹¹ Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. ¹² For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
¹³ Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. ¹⁴ At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, ¹⁵ as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”

So the Christians in the Corinthian church had money, and according to 9:2 (verse listed first), they had made plans to send some of that money to the poorer churches who needed it a year previously...but then they got busy and forgot.  So, Paul is writing to them, reminding them that the need is still great.

There are four principles to giving found in this piece of text.  Let's see if we can draw them out...

And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so...for if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
#1 -- Your willingness to give enthusiastically is more important than the amount.

It's great that they gave, but Paul seems to be most pleased that they jumped on board with the idea of giving first, and that they had a strong desire to do so!  If there's anything the Bible continually repeats, it's that the amount isn't what matters.  God loves a cheerful giver (9:7), not the one who gives most.  God nor I want to receive anything that is given out of guilt or with reluctance, so why should I give to others that way as well?  Instead, we give cheerfully and sacrificially according to what we do have.

Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.
#2 -- Strive to fulfill your financial commitments. 

Finish it.  If we take on a financial commitment, or borrow money from someone, or say that we are going to give a certain amount to a certain recipient, we need to strive to finish it!  I remember attending a concert in college, and the singer gave us the opportunity to sponsor a child through a particular organization.  Well, I jumped on board; my heart strings were pulled---a month later, I quit. That is exactly what we don't want to do.  Being (for lack of a better term) a missionary kid as a child, I can remember what it was like when people did not fulfill their commitments.  It left our family unable to pay bills!  Our financial commitments are a big deal to the people on the other end, no matter what the commitment. 

 I like this word 'strive' here, because it reminds us to 'exert oneself vigorously; to try hard'.  Fulfilling our financial commitments takes work and effort.  We need to put some elbow grease into the fulfillment of our financial commitments.  That's being a good steward of our money and being Christ-like.  It's not fun, but it's right.

To whom do you owe money, either on paper or by mouth?  Let's strive to be finishers of those commitments.  A weight will be lifted when we do!

Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need.
#3 -- If you give to others when they are in need, they will, in turn, help you when you are in need.

I learned this as a kid, when people would help send me on missions trips...and now I truly enjoy getting to do the same for other people.  Then I saw this again when my mom was sick and people brought us food (really, really good food and lots of it)...and now I like to take meals to people when it's helpful.  And I'm sure you can think of a time when something was given to you, and because it meant so much, you vowed to do the same thing someday for someone else.  We already know this principle, but sometimes we forget it.  Perhaps the specific people in India that you support won't be able to pay you back literally someday, but you will be taken care of in one way or another.  God makes sure of it!  He cares for the people in India (that's why He sent you), and He cares for you (that's why He'll send someone when you need it).

The goal is equality, ¹⁵ as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”
#4 -- In the body of Christ, we take care of one another.

Our hearts, which love and serve Christ, should regulate our hands.  As we walk shoulder to shoulder with the other believers, our surplus matching their deficit and their deficit matching their surplus, everyone has what they need.  This doesn't mean the rich work hard and give away everything while the poor take it easy as the others are sweating it out.  This is a partnership -- with everyone doing their part so that all have what they need.  If someone is carrying a burden and you can help lift it, do it.  

Who can you help today?  A single mom?  A grieving family?  A recovering addict?  A widowed shut-in?  An orphan?  They are part of this body.  You don't have to do everything, but you can do something.  Let's be do-ers and givers, and cheerful ones at that!  We are part of God's great design when we do!


Molly Monroe

2 Corinthians 8:1-9 (Give)

And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. ² In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. ³ For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, ⁴ they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. ⁵ And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. ⁶ So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. ⁷ But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
⁸ I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. ⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Think of a time that you gave away money.  Perhaps your bought some groceries for someone, helped pay for someone's mission trip, or donated financially to an organization close to your heart.  How did you feel?  Or even more, have you given away money more than once in one day?

Last week, I mentioned how fear is a lie that we believe because we have nothing to fear according to the Bible.  Well, here's another lie: it doesn't feel good to give away what I have.  Satan wants nothing more than for us to think that it will be completely painful to part with our possessions and money.  And we usually believe Him.  I know I do.  One look around my house, and we could probably deduce that I only need about 1% of what I own...and I'm "just a teacher," not some bank president or company owner with a large mansion on a hillside.  Yet, how often I believe this lie, and I constantly fight the battle to loosen my tight grip on my money.

Because I can also say from experience that giving away brings unexplainable joy.  Have you gotten to experience that yet?

Here, Paul is talking to the Corinthians who, according to verse 7, "excel in everything -- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in love."  These people were doing a lot of things really well, and they also had a lot of money comparatively.  They lived in the upper-middle class of society and could afford some of the "extras" of life (sound like anyone you know? Cough, cough...).  But Paul wanted still more for them, that they might "also excel in this grace of giving."

So Paul shares a story with them about some people he was just with in Macedonia. How incredible to read about what the Macedonian churches did in verse 3-4: 

"In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity."  They refused to believe the lie.  Even in the midst of a very severe trial (one that we're not sure of, but it was very severe), they gave.  How easy is it for me in the midst of a recession, or a job loss, or in something even more perilous, to say that "now is not the time for me to give, but when this gets better, I might give then."

Not so for these people! Despite their very severe trial, their overflowing joy in the midst of extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity!  Quick note: look at the adjectives here. Paul must have really meant these things -- very severe trial, extreme poverty, and rich generosity.

Even in hardship, we are not meant to hoard things for ourselves.  Hoarding never produces joy.

"For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability."  As much as they were able...and beyond."  And that is what God desires from us.  He's not like a Discover Card that tells us how much we need to give back -- 1% on groceries, 2% on gas, 3% on entertainment.  No!  Rather, we are to give as much as we are able.  

The tithe of 10% comes from the Old Testament law, but in the New Testament, no amount is given.  My thought is not that that means, oh we don't have to give 10% anymore, but rather that, if anything, the bar was raised -- give whatever you are able.  And see, there's no checklist, so for people like me who like to follow the rule so I can check it off, there is no hard and fast rule anymore.  Give what you can....and beyond, it says.  Be generous.

"Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people."  Despite their extreme poverty and severe trials, they pleaded for the privilege of sharing.  I bet I know why why -- they had been given much, and now they wanted to give back.  Haven't you felt that before?  Someone does something big and unexpected for you, and don't you want to find a way to repay them or pay it forward?  The Macedonians had been given Salvation.  And despite their poverty, they were extremely grateful and wanted to give.  

Perhaps like me, it's easy for you to lose sight of the feeling of gratitude for what Christ did for us.  This is why we have to take time to remember it -- at the Lord's Table during communion, or even now in front of this screen.  When we think of how much we've been given for eternity, money pales in comparison.

Verse 9 reminds us: For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.  Christ had all He ever wanted or needed in Heaven, but He chose to become human and set aside His rights and glory, limiting His power and knowledge for a time, so that we might receive salvation.

So now, you may be reeling, wishing you'd never read this post and thinking, "As soon as I saw it was going to be about money, I should have stopped."  I know.  Money is a touchy subject.  But as we continue to study this over the next couple days, perhaps our grip on our stuff will become a little less tight.  Jesus doesn't just want to take from us, though He completely has the right to do so.  Instead, He allows us the choice to give.  And our giving does not return null and void, but rather, when we give to others, we receive a renewed sense of perspective and some extreme joy.

I dare you.  Give it a try today. 


Molly Monroe 

One of the many reasons...

 I came across this today, and this is good.  The last paragraph is something I have never thought of before.  I just have to share it with you.

Why NO to sex outside marriage….and though I have personally found there are many, many reasons to say wait until marriage, this last paragraph was one I hadn't considered:

Ephesians 5:24-32 pointedly describes the sexual relationship within marriage as an image of the spiritual relationship between Christ and the church. As you read the passage, note carefully the significance of the last sentence (verse 32) within its context:

Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

From Paul's comments in Ephesians we can see that when a man and a woman come together sexually, in some mysterious way they become one in their flesh (see also 1 Corinthians 6:16). Something profound occurs through sexual intercourse. The marriage union is not simply a legal union or a social union, a financial union or a familial union, but rather a union of bodies, a sharing of physical life. Through sex, two people are joined together in the deepest and most wonderful way—so much so that they are said to become one. This is why sexual intercourse is rightly said to "consummate" a marriage.

Marriage is more than sex, but it's not less than sex. In fact, in the ancient biblical world, sexual union was the primary means by which a man and woman married each other (see, for example, the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah in Genesis 24:67). Unlike today, religious clergy of the ancient world did not create a marriage through a formal pronouncement; rather the act of sex itself created the marriage. Thus, a healthy marriage relationship is the living out of the union that is established through sexual intercourse. (This is why a sexual relationship that occurs outside the context of a marriage relationship is so emotionally destructive. The act of sex, which is meant to initiate and sustain a permanent union of marriage, is broken apart and divorced from its very purpose.)

Adapted from Sex, Dating, and Relationships by Gerald Hiestand and Jay Thomas, © 2012, pp. 17-26.