DAY 1 – May 4, 2009

TITLE: “THE DEPTH OF MY LOVE”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: II Corinthians 2:1-11

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: II Corinthians 2:1-4

KEY VERSE: “For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.” II Corinthians 2:4

Many years ago a shabbily dressed boy trudged several miles through the snowy streets of Chicago, determined to attend a Bible class at the church he attended, though the weather was severe. When he arrived, he was asked, "Why did you come to a Sunday School so far away? Why didn't you go to one of the churches near your home?" He answered simply, "Because you love a fellow over here." He had experienced a love worth going out of his way for.

Real love is valuable and life transforming. Some years ago, Dr. Karl Menninger, noted doctor and psychologist, was seeking the cause of many of his patients' ills. One day he called in his clinical staff and proceeded to unfold a plan for developing, in his clinic, an atmosphere of creative love. All patients were to be given large quantities of love; no unloving attitudes were to be displayed in the presence of the patients, and all nurses and doctors were to go about their work in and out of the various rooms with a loving attitude. At the end of six months, the time spent by patients in the institution was cut in half.

Paul had a deep love for the church at Corinth. It was a love that was making a difference in their lives. His deep love was evident in his actions, as well as his words. Paul knew the importance and power of deep love for others. In his letter to the Romans, he has this to say about love. He wrote, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil: cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.”

Scripture makes it clear that a personal relationship with Christ impacts our relationships with others. In other words, our relationship with others says something about our relationship with God. Author Patrick Morley caught this principle when he said, “The height of our love for God will never exceed the depth of our love for one another.”

The Apostle Paul had a deep love for the church that flowed from the author of love. He was not putting on an act for the church at Corinth, but was reaching out with authentic love that flowed out of an authentic relationship with Christ. His actions were motivated by this deep love. This kind of deep love is not foreign to the follower of Jesus. Peter wrote, “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.” I Peter 1:22

This kind of deep love is not a formal, mechanical, or shallow love. It is a love that is genuine and true that comes from the heart. It is full steam ahead, loving one another with full intensity. This great love must be applied with passion, energy, and intensity. Will you love others deeply today?

DAY 2 – May 5, 2009

TITLE: “NOW FORGIVE”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: II Corinthians 2:1-11

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: II Corinthians 2:5-7

KEY VERSE: “Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.” II Corinthians 2:7

History records that a childhood accident caused poet Elizabeth Barrett to lead a life of semi-invalidism before she married Robert Browning in 1846. In her youth, Elizabeth had been watched over by her tyrannical father. When she and Robert were married, their wedding was held in secret because of her father's disapproval. After the wedding the Brownings sailed for Italy, where they lived for the rest of their lives. But even though her parents had disowned her, Elizabeth never gave up on the relationship. Almost weekly she wrote them letters. Not once did they reply. After 10 years, she received a large box in the mail. Inside, Elizabeth found all of her letters, not one had been opened! Today those letters are among the most beautiful in classical English literature. Had her parents only read a few of them, their relationship with Elizabeth might have been restored.

This is a tragic story of some who failed to forgive. The tragedy of failure to forgive has been played out in the drama of people’s lives throughout the years. It has been played out in the theaters of people’s homes, jobs, churches, businesses, and any place where people interact with others. The reality is that every one will have something and someone to forgive in this life. The Apostle Paul is writing to the church to forgive the one that has grieved them. If you have ever been hurt or someone has caused you grief, you have the opportunity to put authentic forgiveness into practice. Paul wrote these words of instruction, “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13. Christ is the model of forgiveness. How has Christ forgiven you? Pastor and author, Jim Cymbala, wrote, “Each of us has experienced God’s love in a way that should soften our hearts and make us sweet and long-suffering even toward the unkindest people?” In other words, we are to forgive others out of the forgiveness that we ourselves have received from Christ.

Marie de Medicis, the Italian-born wife of King Henry IV of France, became the regent for their son, Louis, after her husband's death in 1610. In later years, her relationship with Louis soured and they lived in a state of ongoing hostility. Marie also felt a deep sense of betrayal when Cardinal Richelieu, whom she had helped in his rise to political power, deserted her and went over to her son's side. While on her deathbed, Marie vowed to forgive all of her enemies, including Cardinal Richelieu. Someone said, "As a mark of reconciliation, will you send him the bracelet you wear on your arm?" "No," she replied firmly, "that would be too much." True forgiveness is hard to extend, because it demands that people let go of something they value -- not a piece of jewelry, but pride, perhaps, a sense of justice, or desire for revenge. Paul writes to the church and tells them to let go of anything that hinders them from offering forgiveness. As you spend time in prayer today ask the Lord to show you if there is anything you need to let go of today?

DAY 3 – May 6, 2009

TITLE: “REAFFIRM YOUR LOVE”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: II Corinthians 2:1-11

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: II Corinthians 2:8

KEY VERSE: “I urge you therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.” II Corinthians 2:8

Medical doctor, Richard Selzer, tells this moving story. He wrote, “I stand by the bed where a young woman lies, her face postoperative, her mouth twisted in palsy, clownish. A tiny twig of the facial nerve, the one to the muscles of her mouth, has been severed. She will be thus from now on. The surgeon had followed with religious fervor the curve of her flesh; I promise you that. Nevertheless, to remove the tumor in her cheek, I had to cut the little nerve. Her young husband is in the room. He stands on the opposite side of the bed and together they seem to dwell in the evening lamplight, isolated from me, private. Who are they, I ask myself, he and this wry mouth I have made, who gaze at and touch each other so generously, greedily? The young woman speaks, "Will my mouth always be like this?" she asks. "Yes," I say, "it will. It is because the nerve was cut." 

She nods and is silent. But the young man smiles. "I like it," he says, "It is kind of cute." All at once I knew who he was. I understand and I lower my gaze. One is not bold in an encounter with a god. Unmindful, he bends to kiss her crooked mouth, and I am so close I can see how he twists his own lips to accommodate to hers, to show her that their kiss still works. 

This story tells of a man that took action to reaffirm his love for his precious wife. Regardless of the loss and pain he reached out with words and a kiss that reaffirmed his love for his wife.

Paul is writing to the church to passionately encourage them to affirm their love to the one who had grieved them. Regardless of the hurt in the past, it was time to reaffirm the love of the present.

How can you reaffirm your love to the people you love today? Maybe it won’t be easy and will require some change and effort on your part, but it is worth it. How can you reaffirm your love to the people that maybe have hurt you or caused you pain today? Though the power of God’s love you can reach out to others today in such a way that will affirm your love for others. Don’t let your love for others go unnoticed. Make sure others know today that you love them. Is there someone that needs to know that they are loved today?

“I love you with the love of the Lord,
I love you with the love of the Lord.
I can see in you the glory of my King,
And I love you with the love of the Lord.” Jim Gilbert
 

DAY 4 – May 7, 2009

TITLE: “IN THE SIGHT OF CHRIST”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: II Corinthians 2:1-11

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: II Corinthians 2:9-10

KEY VERSE: “If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven-if there was anything to forgive-I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake.” II Corinthians 2:10

The Apostle Paul was aware that everything he did was in the sight of Christ. For Paul, Christ was not the distant, uninvolved Lord. Paul understood that Jesus was the living ever-present Lord of his life, who was very involved in every area of his life. Therefore, Christ could not be left out of any thought or action. Anything and everything he did was always in the presence of the Lord he loved. Paul knew that he was never out of his sight. The Psalmist expressed the same concept when he penned the words, “Where can I go from you Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” Psalm 139:7

As parents, we have the privilege of watching over our children and guiding them in the things of Christ. However, there are many times when those children are out of our sight. I remember one Good Friday, some years ago when we were pastoring in Los Osos, California. We were preparing for the Good Friday evening service when we received a troubling phone call. Our daughter, April, while on her way home from college for the Easter weekend, had been involved in an accident and totaled the car. I wanted so bad to be with her that very moment, but I could not for she was out of my sight. I wanted to see her to make sure that she was okay. However, I knew that she was not out of the Lord’s sight. The Lord had been watching over her and she was not hurt.

Paul understood that he was never out of the sight of the Christ that loved him and gave himself for him. Every time we forgive, or fail to forgive, we do it in the sight of Christ. Every time we show love, or fail to love, we do it in the sight of Christ. Every time we encourage someone, or discourage with our words, or actions we also do so in the presence of Christ. The thoughts we speak are never hidden from the Lord, for He sees every thought we think.

How do you respond to the reality that everything you do is in the sight of Christ? Paul was motivated by this reality that everything we do is in the sight of Christ. As His children, when we live in the awareness that everything we do is in His sight, we seek to please Him in everything we do. Live in the awareness today that everything you do will be done in the sight of Christ.

DAY 5 – May 8, 2009

TITLE: “IN ORDER THAT SATAN MIGHT NOT OUTWIT US”

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE READING: II Corinthians 2:1-11

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING: II Corinthians 2:11

KEY VERSE: “In order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” II Corinthians 2:11

I chuckled when I read Carl Armerding’s experience of watching a wildcat in a zoo. "As I stood there," he said, "an attendant entered the cage through a door on the opposite side. He had nothing in his hands but a broom. Carefully closing the door, he proceeded to sweep the floor of the cage." He observed that the worker had no weapon to ward off an attack by the beast. In fact, when he got to the corner of the cage where the wildcat was lying, he poked the animal with the broom. The wildcat hissed at him and then lay down in another corner of the enclosure. Armerding remarked to the attendant, "You certainly are a brave man." "No, I ain't brave," he replied as he continued to sweep. "Well, then, that cat must be tame." "No," came the reply, "he ain't tame." "If you aren't brave and the wildcat isn't tame, then I can't understand why he doesn't attack you." Armerding said the man chuckled, then replied with an air of confidence, "Mister, he's old -- and he ain't got no teeth."

Paul knew of the danger of Satan. Though he is old, his teeth are sharp, and he is dangerous. Speaking of the danger, Peter wrote, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a raring lion looking for someone to devour.” I Peter 5:8. Paul knew Satan’s goal was to outwit people. Therefore, Paul affirms that we are not unaware of his schemes. The warning of both Paul and Peter is to be aware of Satan and his ways so he does not outwit us. Satan is too dangerous of an enemy to be ignored.

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul gives some helps for dealing with Satan. Take a few moments to read and reflect on the instructions he gives us today. Ask God to help you to apply these truths to your life daily so that Satan will not outwit you.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggles is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 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 praying 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 6:10-18