Hardships and Grace (a Bible Meditation)

2 Corinthians 6:1-10
As God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For He says: “In the time of favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!

We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry.

Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities; in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in labor, sleepless nights, and hunger; in purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, slander and praise; viewed as imposters, yet genuine; as unknown, yet well-known; dying, and yet we live on; punished, yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Bible meditation, excerpt from collection, Love: Bible Meditations available on Amazon.com.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Psalm 121:1-8 (a Devotional Reflection)

Psalm 121:1-8 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. Behold, the Protector of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is the shade on your right hand. The sun will not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will guard you from all evil; He will preserve your soul. The LORD will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore. Gracious God, my Protector and Keeper, As I lift my eyes, seeking help, I acknowledge You as the Maker of heaven and earth, The One who never slumbers nor sleeps. Watch over me, Lord God, as I journey through my valleys, Guide my steps and guard me from harm. May Your hand be upon me as a shield, And Your presence ever near as my refuge. In times of trouble, be my strength and my peace, For You are the source of my strength and salvation. Help me to trust in ...
Read more

Love Does Not Cause Stumbling (a Bible Meditation)

Romans 11:13-23 It is written: “As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.” So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way. I am convinced and fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed by what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother, for whom Christ died. Do not allow what you consider good, then, to be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men. So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of ...
Read more

Ephesians 3:20-21 (a Devotional Reflection)

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Heavenly Father, infinite in power and boundless in love, I come with a heart full of awe and gratitude for Your immeasurable blessings. As I meditate on this passage, I am reminded of Your limitless ability to do immeasurably more than all that I could ask or imagine. You are the God who is able to accomplish far more than I dare to dream, according to Your mighty power at work within me. Grant me the faith to trust in Your promises, the courage to step out in obedience, and the perseverance to endure whatever trials may come my way. May all glory be unto you, O God, both now and forevermore, through Christ Jesus my Lord, who reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. See James' publications on  Amazon.com . ...
Read more