Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 12:10 are a paradox. We don’t often think of difficulties in life as a sign of strength or joy. Our culture often celebrates the physically and mentally strong, and it’s easy to exalt the successful and talented.
But Paul says that God works differently among those who follow Him. Instead of looking for those who are naturally talented and strong, God likes to use those who are weak and humble.
Our natural success and talents can get in the way of God’s work in our lives, but when we are weak and helpless, we must rely only on God’s strength.
This is why Paul says that he delights in hardships, persecutions, and difficulties, because it is at such times that God can be his strength and joy. God builds character in times of trouble.
Paul was not a naturally gifted speaker or writer, and yet God worked mightily in his weakness to produce the powerful speeches and letters that are part of the Scriptures. God’s power worked through Paul’s weakness to accomplish what Paul could not do on his own.
This perspective changes our lives. It is in moments of anxiety, weakness, or difficulty that God wants to be our strength. It is in times of persecution and hardship that God does some of His deepest work in our lives. If we are in a relationship with Him and depend on His strength, then He will be with us in times of weakness. He promises to be our strength in times of trouble.
Our default setting is selfishness.
Do not believe? Try to spend the day with the baby.
Babies want what they want, and they want it now. Toddlers will fight (and sometimes bite) to maintain control over their prized possessions. Little ones are not bothered by schedules, plans or perfectly white walls.
The good news about toddlers—and people in general—is that they are capable of becoming selfless people as they grow up. But if children are not reoriented with love and do not teach them to consider others, this selfishness will remain.
So, if we are inherently selfish people, how do we train our minds not to default to selfishness?
The Bible encourages us to model our lives after the example of Jesus…
“Do nothing deceitfully or out of conceit, but in humility regard one another as greater than yourself. Let everyone take care not of himself, but of others. May you have the same thoughts as in Christ Jesus!…”
Philippians 2:3-5
Jesus did not use His authority for personal gain—power, pleasure, control, or comfort—but took on the nature of a servant.
Jesus spent His time investing in others.
Jesus focused His attention on helping others.
Jesus gave His own life for others.
If you start to feel narcissistic, self-indulgent, or even a little self-righteous, try asking God for help.
Ask Him to help you see people as He does.
Ask Him to use any knowledge you gain to love Him and serve others.
Ask Him to give you the opportunity to lead others to Him.
God’s Word, the Holy Spirit and relationships with other believers purify our hearts. And with God’s help, we can change our tendency to live a selfish life to a selfless life.
Almost every successful company or group in history had something in common: they all had a unifying mission.
A mission statement is critical not only for aligning goals, but also for uniting a large group of people for a common goal.
As Christians, we all have one mission. We are united in following Christ. We are saved by His blood (Romans 5:9), and we are all called to make disciples in His name (Matthew 28:19).
And yet, even among Christians there is so much division and disunity.
In part, this is due to a lack of clarity and commitment to the mission as defined in Scripture. And to make matters worse, we are sinful human beings, and sin naturally causes division in our lives and relationships.
But the psalmist in Psalm 133:1 reflects on how good it is when God’s people live together in unity. There is something powerful that happens among Christians when we are united.
Unity does not mean that we forget our differences, because there would be no need to unite if we were all the same. No, unity is the combination of our differences and the desire to do much together for Jesus.
Together we can do much more for God’s Kingdom than we can alone. But for this we must strive for unity. Life is better when we work together.
Think about the people in your life who may be different from you. What steps can you take today to build a greater sense of oneness with those around you? Think about how you can glorify Jesus in your life through the relationships and communities you are in.
Sent with love
What does unity mean to you? In a chaotic and divided world, sometimes the word “unity” can sound like something out of place, something that just can’t work in the broken world we live in. Division is nothing new. In fact, this was a challenge at the very beginning of church history, and the apostle Paul faced it head on.
In 1 Corinthians 1 we see that Paul received reports that the believers in Corinth were segmenting themselves based on who shared the Gospel with them. They said: “I belong to Paul”, “I belong to Apollos”, “I belong to Christ”. Instead of being united as one body of Christ, they divided into smaller groups and factions.
Pavel was very excited by this. In 1 Corinthians 1:13, he asks them simple questions: “Has Christ shared? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in Paul’s name?”
Paul did not want the believers in Corinth to get lost in comparisons and divisions. He wanted them to be united under Christ: one King, one Gospel.
Paul brought them back to the only thing that matters: salvation from Christ alone. Without Christ there is no unity. But under Christ we can be united in a way the world has never seen or understood.
In a world of struggle and division, the Body of Christ shows the power of the Gospel. We are united, focused on Christ and Christ alone.
Sent with love
Have you ever thought about what you think? Did you realize that your thoughts have power? Have you ever wondered how over time you become what you think about?
Writing from a Roman prison to believers in the Greek city of Philippi, the apostle Paul knew firsthand how important it is to fight difficult things with true thoughts. He regularly faced opposition, weakness, difficulties, and persecution.
But Paul also knew that the followers of Jesus were called to a different way of thinking…
“In conclusion, my brothers and sisters, I will tell you this: think only on what is true, noble, just, pure, pleasant, honorable, excellent, and worthy of praise!”
Philippians 4:8
Even in a broken world, God has created good, and He has empowered us to notice and praise Him for it.
The Apostle James also reminds us that every good and perfect gift comes from God, and Jesus tells us that He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, when we focus on what is good and full of truth, our thoughts are directed to God – the giver of good and the author of all that is true.
Focusing on what is good can look like thinking about Jesus’ sacrifice for you. It may mean that you remember a time when you felt God protecting, providing, or preparing you. Or it can look like thanking God for the promises He has kept and the love He has shown you.
Following Paul’s advice does not mean practicing positive thinking, it means focusing our thoughts on God to develop the mind of Christ in our daily lives.
So think about what you’re thinking about today. Look for a rhythm of gratitude and worship. Thank God for the opportunity to shed light on a dark world. And seek that which is good and pure and true wherever you go.
Have you ever walked in the dark? Maybe your home lost power during a thunderstorm, or you’re stuck on the road with car trouble. Walking in the dark can be scary and dangerous.
Having light is a little better, isn’t it?
The same is true of our spiritual journeys.
How we find this light in the midst of darkness is actually quite simple: Psalm 119 says that God’s Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, in other words, the Bible itself is light! This is our guide. It helps us make decisions to follow Christ and not walk in darkness. Just as He is the light of the world, we are called to be His reflection in the world. When we intentionally choose to walk in His light, we embrace truth, righteousness, and love.
Walking in the light means giving up our old ways, seeking God’s guidance, and allowing His Spirit to shape our thoughts, actions, and attitudes.
When we walk in the light, a beautiful transformation takes place: we find communion with one another. This light of Christ not only illuminates our individual paths, but also creates a bond of unity among believers. This is how we discover the joy of shared faith, encouragement and responsibility. It is through this connection that we are reminded that we are not alone on our journey.
Think about your walk with Christ today. Are you consciously choosing to walk in His light? Are you growing up in a community? And do you fully embrace the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus, allowing His grace to cleanse your life?
As you meditate, consider how you can grow closer to God by experiencing the rich life He has promised and become a beacon of His light in a world that so desperately needs it.
“Therefore, take care to be careful…using time.” — Ephesians 5:15-16
On March 14, 2019, a NASA rocket launched astronaut Christina Koch into orbit on her way to the International Space Station. Koch did not return to Earth for 328 days, which became a record for the longest continuous space flight by a woman. Each day, approximately 254 miles above Earth, the screen tracked the astronaut’s time at five-minute intervals. She had a myriad of daily tasks, and hour after hour a red line on the screen constantly showed whether Koch was ahead or behind schedule. It was not possible to spare even a minute.
Of course, the apostle Paul was not recommending anything so intrusive as a red line to rule our lives, but he was encouraging us to use our precious and yet limited time resource wisely. “Therefore, take care to behave carefully, not as unwise, but as wise, using the time – for the days are wicked” (Eph. 5:15-16). God’s wisdom teaches us to fill our days with good intentions and care, using them to practice obedience to God, to show love to our neighbor and to participate in Jesus’ redemptive work in the world. Unfortunately, people can ignore the instructions of wisdom and instead use their time unwisely.
It is not a matter of scrupulously monitoring the use of one’s time, but simply following God in obedience and trust. It will help us get the most out of our days.
What does time mean to you? How can you best use it today?
Dear God, please help me to make the best use of my time.
Author: Wynn Collier
“On that day, the Lord’s congregation will be beautiful and glorious.” — Isaiah 4:2
The plowed land contained a secret, something hidden. In preparation for their fiftieth wedding anniversary, Lee Wilson set aside eighty acres of land to make perhaps the grandest floral gift his wife had ever seen. He secretly planted countless sunflower seeds, which later grew into 1.2 million golden plants – his wife’s favorite flowers. As the sunflowers raised their yellow crowns, Renee was shocked and overwhelmed by Lee’s incredible display of love.
Speaking to the Jewish people through the prophet Isaiah, God revealed a secret. Although the Jews could not see it now, after God’s promised judgment on them for their unfaithfulness to Him (Isa. 3:1–4:1), a new, golden day will come: “On that day the growth of the Lord will be beauty and glory, and the fruit of the earth – majesty and splendor for the saved of Israel” (Isa. 4:2). Yes, the people will experience devastation and exile to Babylon, but then a beautiful “sprout” will appear, a new shoot from the earth – a remnant of God’s people, set apart (“holy”, v. 3) and purified (v. 4), which God will lovingly lead and take care of (vv. 5-6).
Our days may seem dark and the fulfillment of God’s promises hidden. But when we hold on to God by faith, one day all His “precious and great promises” will be fulfilled (2 Pet. 1:4). A beautiful new day awaits us!
Why do God’s promises sometimes seem hidden? How can you receive them by faith today?
Loving God, thank you for the beauty of your faithful promises.
Author: Tom Felten
brokenness We see it around us. We feel it on ourselves: in our relationships, in our dreams, in our bodies. But something happened over two thousand years ago that still has the power to heal that brokenness.
1 Peter 2:24 says, “He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live to righteousness; By his wounds you were healed.”
Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, took upon Himself the burden of our sins. He carried them to the cross, giving His life not for His sins, but for ours. This is the essence of the Gospel. With His sacrifice, He offered us a path from darkness to His light – a life transformed by His grace.
Thanks to Christ’s sacrifice, we have received a deep healing of our spirit; new life has come in place of the sins and darkness that separate us from God. Through His wounds we are offered forgiveness and a new relationship with God, healed and whole.
Understanding His sacrifice transforms us. We can no longer live in darkness. Brokenness may surround us, but it is no longer within us. His righteousness washes over us. His healing flows through us. Our whole lives are transformed in response to the deep love and sacrifice that Jesus showed us, and to the healing that He alone can provide.
We invite you next Sunday, October 20, to the Thanksgiving Day, which we will celebrate with the church in Pustovarivka.
We gather as usual at 10:00 a.m. and after glorification and prayer, we go to the service in Pustovarivka.
We will be glad to see you and share the joy of the Kushchev holiday with you!
