21 Days of Faith – Day 2

Posted on January 2, 2016 by Dr. Logan's Blog

Psalm 15

O Lord, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a reprobate is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; he swears to his own hurt and does not change; he does not put out his money at interest, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.[1]

Faith is not a concept but a lifestyle. In the realm of faith, belief and trust is that which one consistently exercises. Faith in that sense is not a noun, if you will, but an action verb. It is, in the words of one commentator, tactical and practical. It goes beyond what one says or espouses but instead goes to the heart or the core of our souls. It fundamentally defines who we are in Christ. Contrary to the opinion of some, our faith is not demonstrated through any of the outward trappings many have tried over time to use as litmus tests, but is is rather evidenced through certain traits that have the effect of building character in us.

Psalm 15 may seem an odd text to reference in commenting on what it means to live in the realm of faith, but a closer look reveals an image of who may dwell on the holy hill. Though it does not use the word faith specifically, it reveals the traits of faith that will produce results. Among these results will be:

  • Walking in integrity
  • Working in righteousness
  • Speaking the truth in one’s heart
  • Declining to slander another
  • Refusal to do evil to one’s neighbor or take up a reproach against one’s friend
  • Despising the reprobate
  • Honoring the one who fears the Lord
  • Transparent and consistent
  • Does not charge interest or take bribes

When one has these results evidenced in their life they possess the kind of faith that prevents them from ever being shaken. It is this is the kind of tactical and practical faith that characterizes what it means to dwell in the realm of faith. What kind of results are evidenced in your life?

Dear Lord, enable us to operate in the realm of faith with that which produces result; with that which is tactical and practical. Forgive us for talking the talk without walking the walk. Forgive us for going through the motions and not modeling that which would move others to long for the kind of faith they see in us. Give us a desire and zeal for a real and working faith, one that causes the principles in Psalm 15 be evidenced in is us and pleasing to You. This we ask in the name of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus. Amen.

[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ps 15:1–5.

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21 Days of Faith – Day 1

Posted on January 2, 2016 by Dr. Logan's Blog

“For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).[1]

Another new year has begun. The old is finished and gone. We cannot undo or redo it. Whatever happened last year, good or bad, does not carry over into the new unless we allow it. As much as we would like, we do not know what will happen in the future. Wars, rumors of wars, political turmoil, societal unrest, terrorist threats, social upheaval aside no one knows what will transpire. So we pray for the best. But that is not good enough for those of us who believe in the One True God. We may not know what the future holds, but we do know the One who holds the future, and He has made us some promises in His Word upon which we stand. Therefore, we do more than hope and pray for the best, we activate our faith.

Activation supposes, however, one knows what faith is and how it works. The writer of Hebrews tells us that faith is both “the substance of things hoped for and the assurance of things not seen (KJV).” Substance here is a title deed or legal document which once once it is possessed provides the assurance of possession even though it is not seen. We serve a God who cannot lie. Our faith is in Him and His Word. Accordingly, we take that faith and walk in it, or live in it instead of waiting on what we can see. To walk or live by faith means to literally live in the realm of faith. It is a completely different reality that does not rely on what can be seen. It is enough to know that the One who made the promise is faithful to His Word to perform it.

Over the next three weeks we will explore what it means to live in the realm of faith. I hope you will join me in the journey.

Dear Father, You have called us to live by faith. We confess that it is often times little more than Christian speak that like so many other things we hear about in church we do not understand. We want to believe but there is so much around us that mitigates against believing. Help us to begin the path of living in the realm of faith so that as we begin this new year we may confidently activate that faith and thereby serve You more effectively and faithfully. We ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Heb 11:1.

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21 Days with 2 Corinthians – Day 21

Posted on November 4, 2015 by Dr. Logan's Blog

Day 21 – 2 Corinthians 13

This is the third time I am coming to you. Every fact is to be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses. I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone, since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me, and who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you. Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test? But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test. Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear unapproved. For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth. For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong; this we also pray for, that you be made complete. For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down. Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.[1]

“Every fact is to be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” Eugene Peterson puts it this way in The Message, “A matter becomes clear after two or three witnesses give evidence”[2] Many, including me, have interpreted this sentence from the apostle to refer to any matter that is in any kind of dispute, and in the larger sense such an interpretation is appropriate. But when put into the context of the situation the apostle addresses in Corinth its meaning is much more narrow. Reading this final chapter in his letter we now know that the challenge the apostle here faces comes from persons who seek proof that Christ speaks through him. We also know that this is the third time that he has had to address this same crowd and that he has grown weary of going easy on them. The testing in this context then is specific to this particular challenge. If this crowd wants proof of his apostolic authority then they should test it against two or three witnesses, and a witness is one who has first hand knowledge. There is another side of this interpretation I think. Not only should they seek the testimony of two or three witnesses concerning Paul, but themselves as well.

It is easy to throw stones at others. It is easy to question another’s faith. It is easy to make assumptions based upon limited information. But before we arrive at conclusions about matters that are in dispute we would do well to enlist the counsel and advice of those who have the necessary information we seek; particularly when the dispute involves people. But more than that, we should examine ourselves to insure we are solid in the faith taking nothing for granted. Do you remember Jesus asked the question, “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye” (Matthew 7:5)? Test yourself!

Dear heavenly Father, we grieve over our sisters and brothers caught in the repeated cycle of sin. We grieve having to admit that we have too often been in that place ourselves. We are quick to condemn the faith of others but when testing our own faith we must admit to too often failing the test. Lord, restore our focus. Help us to take our eyes off of others and look to our own lives, our own walk with You. This we ask in the powerful name of Jesus our Christ. Amen.

[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 2 Co 13:1–14.

[2] Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005), 2 Co 13.

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21 Days with 2 Corinthians – Day 19

Posted on November 1, 2015 by Dr. Logan's Blog

Day 18 – 2 Corinthians 11:16-33

Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little. What I am saying, I am not saying as the Lord would, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. Since many boast according to the flesh, I will boast also. For you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly. For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, anyone devours you, anyone takes advantage of you, anyone exalts himself, anyone hits you in the face. To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison. But in whatever respect anyone else is bold—I speak in foolishness—I am just as bold myself. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern? If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. In Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands.[1]

To boast about oneself is foolish. The Apostle Paul makes this assertion in these verses and yet he is willing to be a fool in order to respond to the comparisons the people are making between him and other leaders. To answer the challenge to his apostleship the apostle sets forth his resume. There is nothing more powerful than a historical account of what one has done. The apostle’s resume lists his pedigree, the atrocities and indignities he has suffered, as well as the compassion he had demonstrated. Though we cannot read, see or hear who or what he is being contrasted against and compared to we can surmise that there are others who are competing with him for the hearts of the people by bragging about their exploits. In the apostle’s estimation, there is none who can come close to having the testimony he has either in what he has suffered or in what he has sacrificed. Though his resume is impressive, he acknowledges that if he has to brag he would rather it be about the humiliations that make him more like Jesus.

Dear Lord, we confess our lack of humility. We brag and boast of exploits and accomplishments as though we did them in our own strength and power. Forgive us our sin and empower us to rise above the foolishness of pride. Let our boasting be of You alone. Amen.

[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 2 Co 11:16–33.

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21 Days with 2 Corinthians – Day 17

Posted on October 31, 2015 by Dr. Logan's Blog

Day 17 – 2 Corinthians 11:1-15

I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me. For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully. For I consider myself not in the least inferior to the most eminent apostles. But even if I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not so in knowledge; in fact, in every way we have made this evident to you in all things. Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you without charge? I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you; and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so. As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia. Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.[1]

It is a shame when one must defend themselves against vicious attacks. The Apostle Paul had to do just that. He had to defend his apostleship and his ministry as a whole because there were those in the community who, through their comparisons, were calling his service into question. The critiqued his preaching style and mocked his manner of speaking. They called into question the handling of his finances and accused him of living off of them. In the face of such attacks it became necessary for the apostle to defend himself.

Defending against false accusations is tiring. One would far prefer to let the accusations go unanswered in the hopes that people will soon tire of making them, but there are times when the accusations are so virulent that one has no choice but to answer them even knowing that the Lord will fight those battle. There is a verse from Isaiah believers love to quote, “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that rises against you in judgment you shall condemn” (54:17). Get that last part? “You shall condemn.” God does His part, we do ours’.

Dear gracious Lord, thank You for fighting our battles. Thank You for covering us when assailed and assaulted. Now give us courage to stand up in righteousness when falsely attacked. Help us to stand on Your Word and Your promises demonstrating meekness, but not weakness. Amen.

[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 2 Co 11:1–15.

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21 Days with 2 Corinthians – Day 16

Posted on October 30, 2015 by Dr. Logan's Blog

Day 16 – 2 Corinthians 10:10-18

For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.” Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present. For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you. For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for we were the first to come even as far as you in the gospel of Christ; not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you, so as to preach the gospel even to the regions beyond you, and not to boast in what has been accomplished in the sphere of another. But he who boasts is to boast in the Lord. For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.[1]

A popular phrase often heard in the Church is, “stay in your lane.” The Apostle Paul writes twice of a sphere God has apportioned to him. It is his lane, if you will, and if he is to boast at all it will be according to the measure God has apportioned to him. While Paul is loathe to boast about himself (“he who boasts is to boast in the Lord”), he recognizes the temptation and the tendency of some to do so. The problem is that the boasting arises out the need to compare ourselves to others and it is not according to the measure of the sphere which has been apportioned to us. In other words, the ones who are doing the boasting are overextending or overstating who they are and what they have done.

It is the nature of boasting to overstate, to make claims that are exaggerations. Perhaps the issue in Corinth, which Paul here addresses, was one where those vying for leadership attempted to advance their resume by presenting themselves as more than Paul and certainly more than they were. Paul would tell the Romans to not think of themselves more highly than they should (Romans 12), and this is a practical example of where individuals have gotten out of their lane, out of their sphere, taking credit for what others have done and representing themselves as something they are not. Paul defends himself in these verses but also recognizes the end these braggadocios individuals sought, the approval of the people. We can never advance doing and saying things that we believe will elevate us in the esteem of people. Promotion does not come from the east or the west but from the Lord (Psalm 75:6). So, stay in your lane.

Dear Lord, thank You for gifting us, anointing us, and appointing us. Enable us to move and minister with confidence in the measure of the sphere you have apportioned to us. Keep us from vain comparisons to others, but help us to finely hone the gifts we have received for the glory of Your name and the edification of Your people. Forgive us for the times we envy what others have and can do and measure ourselves against them. Help us to stay and have joy in the lane You have apportioned to us, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 2 Co 10:10–18.

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21 Days with 2 Corinthians – Day 15

Posted on October 29, 2015 by Dr. Logan's Blog

Day 15 – 2 Corinthians 10:1-9

Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent! I ask that when I am present I need not be bold with the confidence with which I propose to be courageous against some, who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we. For even if I boast somewhat further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame, for I do not wish to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters.[1]

How do we handle personal criticism and attacks? Anyone who has ever experienced them understands just how debilitating they are. The harsher the criticism and the closer the attacks the more adversely they affect us. Attacks and criticism from people you barely know and who know hardly anything about you do not have the same impact as those that come from people closer to you. It is one thing to be misunderstood by strangers, but another entirely to be misunderstood by friends, colleagues and acquaintances. So when the attacks and criticisms come from those quarters we hold closer than others our reaction to them tends to be anger, frustration, disappointment, and dismay because we thought the critics knew us better and understood us more. The Apostle Paul had to face such attacks and criticism from the people among whom he had labored, whom he thought regarded him better and esteemed him more. How do we handle personal attacks and criticism?

Paul seemingly understood the futility of retaliation. It is fairly certain from the tone of his writing that he possessed the capacity for bold retaliation and yet he resisted the temptation to respond according to his flesh. By doing so we have been left with one of the greatest object lessons for handling criticism and personal attacks, “We walk in the flesh, but we do not war after the flesh.” Instead, we let the Lord fight our battles through the employment of divinely powerful weaponry; weapons like prayer, testimony, worship and praise. These are radically different from our human weaponry. They can do what natural weapons cannot. So how do WE handle personal attacks and criticism?

Dear Heavenly Father, we worship you in the beauty of holiness. We marvel at just how high are Your ways when contrasted with our own. Left to our own devices we would choose paths that ultimately lead to conflict because we are so driven by our flesh. We confess how difficult and uncomfortable it is to feel out of control. We want to relinquish the controls over our life but we do not know how. So teach us to walk according to the Spirit and not after the flesh. Amen.

[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 2 Co 10:1–9.

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21 Days with 2 Corinthians – Day 14

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Dr. Logan's Blog

Day 14 – 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints; for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them. But I have sent the brethren, in order that our boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you may be prepared; otherwise if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to speak of you—will be put to shame by this confidence. So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a bountiful gift and not affected by covetousness. Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; as it is written, “He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, His righteousness endures forever.” Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift![1]

Do Christians have a moral and ethical obligation to one another? It would seem from what the Apostle Paul writes here that they do. We are Kingdom people who echo the words of the prayer Jesus used to teach His disciples how to pray saying, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” However, it is often more correct to say that we are more interested in developing our own personal fiefdoms (small kingdoms within a larger kingdom), than we are building the Kingdom of God. On the one hand we pointedly declare that we are living in the post-denomination era, but on the other we are in the process of building thicker walls to protect what we have built or in the process of creating new organizations. We feel a calling to ministry and immediately interpret that inward persuasion to mean that we are supposed to start a church instead of walking along someone else assisting them in the call on their life while at the same time prosecuting our individual call.

The Apostle Paul calls out the church at Corinth for her failure to minister to the needs of her fellow believers, even though they had pledged to do so. Paul wants them to faithfully fulfill their pledge and even sends leaders ahead of him to the city to insure that the pledge is paid even before he arrives. The importance that he places on their pledge is not so much on the lack of integrity they will display if they are not faithful, neither is it on the spiritual principle of sowing and reaping, although both are extremely important elements that he does address. The emphasis here is on the moral imperative sisters and brothers have to minister one to the other, and it so happens that the ministry required here is financial. So, I ask again, do Christians have a moral and ethical obligation one to the other?

Lord, forgive us for our personal desires to be significant to the extreme that the need of others does not move us. Forgive us for being more concerned about our little part of Your Kingdom than we are about the entirety of Your Kingdom. Show us how to minister one to another and to whom You would have us minister, even this very day. Amen.

[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 2 Co 9:1–2 Co 10.

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21 Days with 2 Corinthians – Day 13

Posted on October 27, 2015 by Dr. Logan's Blog

Day 13 – 2 Corinthians 8:9-24

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. I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability. For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality; as it is written, “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack.” But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus. For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord. We have sent along with him the brother whose fame in the things of the gospel has spread through all the churches; and not only this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our readiness, taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift; for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you. As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ. Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you.[1]

The specific issue about which Paul writes to the Corinthians is a relief offering for churches that are suffering. It is an effort the Corinthian church had begun a year before but had not completed. Paul builds his argument for why the work should be continued and completed by pointing to the generosity of the churches in the province of Macedonia, who in comparison were greatly impoverished. The tone of these verses seems to indicate that the Corinthian church was wealthy, and yet they failed in their giving in comparison to the impoverished Macedonians. There was, therefore, inequality in giving, not in specified amounts but in commitment.

Eugene Peterson, in The Message, writes, “Once the commitment is clear, you can do what you can, not what you can’t.” That commitment grows out of the habit of the heart, and it is the heart that governs the hand. So, therefore, if the heart is not right there will be no true desire to give. It would appear that motivating people to give, either out of their abundance or lack was an issue in Paul’s day, just as it is a continuing issue today. It also appears that good church people in Paul’s day had the same issues with giving that many in the church still have to this day; issues of trust and accountability, even issues of manipulation and coercion. Paul cuts through all of these issues and establishes the true motivation behind one’s giving, the heart. If there is no commitment to Christ, and no firm decision in one’s heart one will not be inclined to give. Search your heart for your commitment to Christ and your readiness to give.

Dear Father, You know my desire to love and serve You. You alone know the habits of my heart. There is nothing hidden from You concerning any aspect of my life. You know my ability, my abundance, and my lack. You alone know my readiness to give myself away. Enable me this day to walk in greater commitment with You. Let my motives be pure, my character evident to all, and my integrity on display, so that I will be ready, and even privileged, to give whether out of abundance or lack. Amen.

[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 2 Co 8:9–24.

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21 Days with 2 Corinthians – Day 12

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Dr. Logan's Blog

Day 12 – 2 Corinthians 8:1-8

Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well. But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also. I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.[1]

There is so much argumentation in the church about giving. People often feel coerced to give, or manipulated to give. The Spirit of God can be flowing freely in the service and as soon as the appeal is given the flow cease. What is it about money that causes us to want to hoard it as much as we possibly can? Perhaps a better question would be what is it about the grace of giving that would move someone to give out of their poverty? This is precisely what happened in the province of Macedonia. Under intense pressure, struggling greatly so as to be pushed to their limit, these people, these churches gave far more than they could afford. In fact, according to Paul, they pleaded with him for the privilege of giving. Wow! Would that such a scenario evidence itself in our day. How could they do this?

Paul answers the question simply and directly. They could give in this fashion because they first gave themselves to God and to the Apostle. Could it be that in giving themselves to God they came to understand that everything they had was a gift from Him? Could it be that they understood the principle of sowing and reaping, or could it simply be that they were so in love with the Lord that there was nothing they would not do for Him and for the man of God who introduced them? Jesus taught, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Could it be it was such a privilege to give and easy to give because they found their treasure?

Gracious God, You are awesome in Your ways. We cannot even begin to extol You for all the marvelous things You do and have done for us. Our love for You overflows in great joy. Yet we confess we are not like these saints in Macedonia. We want to be like them but find it difficult to release our attachment to the material possessions we have accumulated. We are filled with shame to admit that when it comes to giving we become suspicious, stingy, and even paranoid that someone is trying to manipulate us. Forgive us for our lack of trust. Forgive us for our lack of faith in Your Word. Develop in us today a zeal like that of the Macedonians so that the work of Your Kingdom might be advanced and that You might be glorified. Amen.

[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 2 Co 8:1–8.

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