DAY 1 – July 20, 2009
TITLE: “GENTLENESS ”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you-I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” when away!” II Corinthians 10:1
What word or words might you use to describe Jesus today? Scripture uses many words to describe Jesus. He is described as the Alpha and Omega, the Amen, The Bread of Life, Author of Salvation, Chief Shepherd, Counselor, Faithful Witness, Good Shepherd, Great High Priest, King of Kings, Lamb of God, Light of the World, Lord of Glory, Man of Sorrows, Redeemer, True Vine, Truth and Word, to name just a few.
Paul uses many words to describe Jesus. In the verse for today,
Paul uses the word “gentle” to describe Jesus. It is a characteristic of Christ
Jesus used of Himself in Matthew 11:28 & 29. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you
rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Across the years many names have been used by song writers to describe Jesus. Terms like, “Jesus is all the World to Me”, “Jesus is the Sweetest Name I Know,” “Jesus, Lover of my Soul,” “Jesus Lord of all,” “Name Above all Names,” and many others have been used. One title that has been used by more than one musician is the term, “Gentle Shepherd.”
“My
soul is lost so lonely and so cold,
Just like a lamb that has strayed from the fold.
Across the barren waste of sin I roam,
Oh gentle shepherd hear my cry and lead me home.
Oh gentle shepherd hear my lonely cry,
And in Thy cool green pastures let me lie.
Beside the still clear waters lead Thou me,
Oh gentle shepherd safe forever more with Thee” George Morgan
“Gentle Shepherd, come and lead us, for we need You
to help us find our way.
Gentle Shepherd come and feed us, for we need Your
strength from day to day
There's no other we can turn to who can help us face another day.
Gentle Shepherd, come and lead us, for we need you to help us find our way.”
Bill Gaither
Paul makes it clear that we are to respond to others with the gentleness of Christ. Gentleness is a fruit of the Sprit that gives evidence of the Spirit of Christ in us. Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” Philippians 4:5. Paul instructs the Colossians, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12. Will the gentleness of Christ be seen in you today as you interact with others?
DAY 2 – July 21, 2009
TITLE: “STANDARDS OF THE WORLD”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.”
II Corinthians 10:2
The phrase, “live by the standards of this world,” is literally to walk according to the flesh. The term, “walk” is a significant term and one of Paul’s favorite expressions to describe the Christian life. It occurs some 31 times in the writings of Paul. Some were accusing Paul of living by standards of this world while in contrast they were claiming to be spiritual people. It would seem they were boasting of their visions, revelations and Spirit-empowered ministry. They misjudged Paul, saying he relied on purely ineffective methods and resources to carry out his ministry. Paul makes it very clear that their conclusions were wrong and that he was not waging war or fighting his battles as the world did.
Regardless of what others may think about the lives we live, we are accountable to God for the standards we live by. Others may form opinions about what you do, but when it comes down to it, God’s opinion is the one that matters. Paul had established in the first verse that he was living by the standards of Christ by responding in the meekness and gentleness of Christ. Paul makes it clear in his writings that Christ is the standard setter for his life. He wrote earlier to the Corinthians, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” I Corinthians 11:1
The standard we live by matters. The standard we live by will determine the life we live. As a ten year old boy, when my mom died, my dad took over the cooking. My father had been an army cook in World War II and had gone through the great depression. First of all, left-over’s were the norm for nothing was wasted. If there was a bad spot or some mold, you just cut it out and ate the rest. Secondly, dad would cook in large amounts and freeze it if necessary. So he did not have to mess with much cooking. This of course was before microwaves were normal in most homes. One meal dad made often (almost every week) was “Boiled dinner.” He would put some meat in a large pot of water and boil it with whatever vegetables he could find. We would eat it day after day at every meal until every drop of it was gone. After a few days all the meat and vegetable were gone and it would be just broth.
When I went away to college I discovered a wonderful place called the cafeteria. It was wonderful for they did not serve, “Boiled dinner.” Unlike most students that went to college, when I arrived I thought college food was the best food I had ever eaten. My standards of food were different than that of the other students. They had not been raised on, “Boiled dinners” and I had. What are the standards that you live by? The standards of the world will never satisfy and will leave you spiritually hungry. The call of scripture is to live by the standard of Christ.
DAY 3 – July 22, 2009
TITLE: “WE LIVE IN THIS WORLD”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.” II Corinthians 10:3
Christianity has to be lived out in the world in which we live. God never promises us that the Christian life will be lived out in easy circumstances and situations. In reading biographies and stories of the many Christians, even in our current day who have been persecuted and martyred for their faith, we know that living for Christ must often take place in non-Christian and very challenging settings and circumstances.
The Apostle Paul experienced this in his life. In his testimony to the Corinthians he wrote, “…I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews, the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea…” Paul goes on to say, “…I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.” II Corinthians 11:23-27
Paul knew that Christianity did not exempt him from the difficulties and challenges of life and of his faith. Real faith must be lived in the real world. However, from prison Paul wrote, “…I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13
Christ does not remove us from the world, but He does give us the strength to live for Christ in this world. Listen to this prayer Jesus prayed for his followers. He said, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” John 17:15
Paul understood that though we live in the world we are not limited to the methods of the world. This is why Paul said, “We do not wage war as the world does.” As has been said, we are not on a playground, but a battle ground. However, we don’t have to live as the world lives or battle as the world battles. The Lord is our commander and He enables us to win the victory in Christ.
DAY 4 – July 23, 2009
TITLE: “WEAPONS OF DIVINE POWER”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” II Corinthians 10:4
At the close of World War II, two pictures appeared in a magazine showing a soldier in conflict with a tank. The first showed a huge tank bearing down on a tiny soldier, about to crush him. The picture was proportioned to show the odds involved when a foot soldier with a rifle faced a tank. The next picture showed what happened to that soldier’s odds with a bazooka, or rocket launcher, in his hands. This time the tank appeared to be shrunken in size and the soldier at least equal in size, if not a little larger.
The weapons Paul fights with have divine power and as a result, can accomplish what the world’s weapons cannot. Only divine weapons can demolish strongholds. The term for strongholds is a military term for a “fortified place.” According to scholars such as Linda Belleville, in ancient times, strongholds were taken through a variety of siege machines, the most common being battering rams, mobile towers, catapults for throwing darts and the ballistae for throwing stones.
We have no weapons or power on our own to demolish strongholds in our lives. Without the power of God released in our lives, when in conflict with sin, we are like an infantry soldier in the presence of a tank. We cannot do a thing, but by trust in the power of the living God at work in us, we can say no and make it stick. We can turn and begin to live as God intended us to live. Weapons of divine power are available. Paul instructs, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Ephesians 6:10. Strongholds can be demolished and victory experienced through the weapons of divine power.
Paul does not mention the weapons here, but they would certainly include the word of God, prayer and faith. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians gives some insight into the type of weapons he is talking about. Paul tells us to, “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:14- 18. Will you use the weapons of divine power God has made available to you today?
DAY 5 – July 24, 2009
TITLE: “TAKE CAPTIVE EVERY THOUGHT”
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” II Corinthians 10:5
Lynne Gordon writes that her father-in-law pastors a
congregation in rural
Weeks later, dad was talking with the church custodian about the damage that craft projects were inflicting on the carpet in the children's classroom. "Didn't you see," the custodian asked, "the great wad of Play-Doh I put in a container on your desk a few weeks ago?"
Some things are just not meant to be eaten. Play-Doh is one of those things. Some thoughts just do not belong in the mind of Christians. They are not compatible or helpful for the mind of the Christian. This is why Paul wrote to take prisoner every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
I am reminded of an old Sunday School song I used to sing years ago. One of the verses went, “O be careful little mind what you think, O be careful little mind what you think. There’s a Father up above who is looking down in love. O be careful little mind what you think.” The mind matters and what we think matters. In fact, what we think is so important that we are to focus all of our effort on taking every thought captive and making it obey Christ. For this to happen, Christ must reign supreme in our minds. Obedience to Christ is the driving force that directs our thoughts.
Paul wrote in Colossians, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:1-2. This is an intentional act of the will. We take our thoughts captive making it obedient to Christ on purpose. Through His power and Sprit we can guide our thoughts and take them captive. These words to the Philippians from Paul, serves as helpful instruction. He wrote, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” Philippians 4:8. Will you take every thought captive today and make it obedient to Christ?