The Simple Life

On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:5-10 (ESV)   There is no excuse for not serving God. He does n...

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 (ESV)   How do I display that God's power is superior to mine? Paul indicates that the beatings he had taken have proven God's superior power. The more his enemies threw at him, the better God's power was displayed, so God and Paul won!   We were created to glorify or display who God is in a Godless world, and life's circumstances give us ample opportunity to accomplish this mission.   Paul understood thi...

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (ESV)   What would it mean to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified? This could be referring to the sin of "busybodies," which is listed as a sin along with murder and others throughout the New Testament.   Paul was not a busybody; he was a busy-body. He worked during the day as a missionary Paul, and at night as a tentmaker Paul. He looked for every opportunity to bring Christ to those with whom he was in contact, and he saw all circumstances as opportunities rather than burdens. ...

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (ESV)   Christ gives things without status, status. He surpasses all the world brags about, hopes for, and portrays. He is all a person needs to find significance and security in this world.   "Luther says this: "Next unto my just cause the small repute and mean aspect of my person gave the blow to the Pope; for when I began to preach and write the Pope scorned and contemned me. He thought, 'Tis but one poor friar; what can he do against me?' I have maintained and defended this doctrine in Popedom, against emperors,...

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26 (ESV)   Trying to position ourselves for praise is futile. In our own strength, we can accomplish nothing. We do not have the thoughts, words, or actions needed to defeat the enemy, and we often aid evil efforts by pretending we are competent.   Every human has perspective leaving us vulnerable to false ideas, hopes, and dreams. God is love and does not have perspective and should be trusted.   I am thankful God has not left the final call to me but has placed me in a position to watch Him work.   This truth is not demeaning but empowering in that God working through us is our hope of glory. https://www.podbean.com/relate365

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. Habakkuk 3:17-19 (ESV   Circumstances in life should not dictate our attitudes or purposes. If our circumstances change our purposes, then we have the wrong purpose to start with. God can make any circumstance part of the victory.   For example, the stoning of Stephen was a victory for Stephen. The crucifixion brought salvation to all people. Daniel and his friends brought kings into the presence of God through the fiery furnace and the lions' den. Noah saved the human race by building a boat on a mountain. God deals with the difficult, whereas you and I need to...

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (ESV   What does it mean for God to be your God? It means that fear and being dismayed are not a part of your life. It means that you are dependent and, therefore, strong when weak.   The love of God is constant and beyond our comprehension. His love gives us our position in Christ and allows us to rest in whatever circumstance we find ourselves.   There are no illnesses, bullets, or bombs that can destroy God's plan for us. So in that, we can and should rest.   Those who continue to live in fear of life's circumstances do not know God or fear Him. There is an answer for that. https://www.podbean.com/relate365