The Apostle Paul is a bonafied hero of our faith.  Upon reading the hardships he experienced for the sake of the gospel in 2 Cor. 11, all the struggles we face seem insignificant.  Yet, through his suffering we learn a lesson … that Christ gives us the strength we need to cope.

As Paul stated, the grace that Christ dispenses is adequate.  He knows.  He testifies from experience.  Therefore, we have two great examples of suffering … Christ Jesus Himself, and the Apostle Paul.  I want to hear his stories when I get to heaven.

DAILY PRAYER;  Lord, thank You for the grace You give so we can be strong even when weakened by the issues of daily life.  We trust You.

DAILY READING:  2 Cor. 10-13

As Paul addressed the issue of giving to the church at Corinth, he gave us many fruitful insights we can use to cultivate within our own hearts the giving nature of God.

God is the ultimate giver. It’s the Father’s good pleasure to give us the Kingdom.  A father has great joy when he can give to his children.  Just ask me!  The same joy I get when I give to my own children is the feeling God wants us to have when we give to those in need, cheerfully.

DAILY PRAYER:  Father, I want to be a giver just like You are.  Thank You for putting so much in my hands that I can thereby give to others.  You are so good to us.

DAILY READING:  2 Cor. 6-9

As Paul described the sufferings he endured to preach the gospel, he was always faithful to refer to the heavenly rewards he labored for.  Whatever pain experienced would be forgotten once given his heavenly body.  Whatever disrespect he endured would pale in comparison to the reward he anticipated on the day he would stand before Christ at His judgement seat.  His overarching goal was to simply please his master, Christ Jesus.

We also are wise to keep our focus on the prize awaiting us in God’s presence after we have lived a life dedicated to pleasing Him.

DAILY PRAYER:  I keep my eyes on You, the Author of my faith.  You sustain me so I can live for You and inherit abundant, everlasting life.

2 Cor. 1-5

We think of mountains as being immovable. Yet, the Lord said if we had faith the size of a mustard seed, we could move mountains. [Matt, 17:20]  Hence, mountains should be more easily moved than we should.

Paul encourages us to stand firm {like a mountain) and be immovable.  [1 Cor. 15:58]

We need to stand firm on God’s principles even when the culture seems to be straying.  Governmental resistance is nothing new to God’s people.  The Bible is a record of resistance from society and government from cover to cover.  The day we live in is nothing new

Yet, we stand firm.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, You are the Rock of our salvation.  We trust in You alone.  Your Kingdom shall prevail.

DAILY READING:  1 Cor. 13-6

Paul’s flavor in today’s reading encourages Christians to seek the well being of others rather than themselves.  In that we are all members of Christ’s body, we exercise our spiritual giftings for the good of the whole … we honor the members who are less attractive … we deny ourselves the gratification of our own appetites to preserve the faith of those less mature.

Jesus came not to be served, but to serve.

DAILY PRAYER;  Lord, forgive my selfishness.  I give myself to help others.

DAILY READING:  1 Cor. 10-2

As Paul addressed the Corinthian church on the subject of marriage, he stated that the time was short, and that the world as they knew it was passing away.

Here we are nearly 2000 years later, and we read the same expression.  Clearly, the time is shorter now than it was then.

What’s the message?  Live this life with a focus on the hereafter so that we don’t get unduly invested in the temporal.  Our future is in heaven with the Lord.  Again, an expression from Paul, set your affection on things above.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, my future is with You in heaven.  My present is to work faithfully to see Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

DAILY READING:  1 Cor. 7-9

The Apostle Paul is VERY CLEAR that Christians are to flee sexual immorality.  Sexual sin involves the body, and the body is to be the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Since the Lord purchased those who have received His salvation, our bodies are not our own, but we belong to God.  Therefore, he says, honor God with your bodies.

Sin brings destruction, but righteousness through faith brings abundant life, here and forever.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, I belong to You.  I want to honor You with every thought and deed.  Fill me with Your Holy Spirit.

DAILY READING:  1 Cor. 4-6

Paul always began his letters with this salutation … “Grace and Peace.”

In light of the recent Supreme Court ruling on the definition of marriage, these are timely Kingdom provisions to help Christians posture themselves for whatever outcome the ruling generates.  Incidentally, this ruling did not take God by surprise.

God gives grace to do what’s righteous, and the presence of His peace makes us know He’s in control.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, we trust You to unfold Your plan for the end of the age.  We rest in the peace You give.

DAILY READING:  1 Cor. 1-3

Ambition can be productive.  It can also be achieved at the cost of others.

Paul revealed a healthy avenue for personal ambition when he declared, “ It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.”

The Body of Christ is in full display when we all work together to accomplish the Lord’s purposes without destroying each other through self-serving personal ambition.

DAILY PRAYER:  Father, stir up within me the goals You have for me.

DAILY READING:  Romans 12-6

We are all like clay in the hand of the Master Potter, our Heavenly Father.  Paul therefore asks the question, “Hath not the potter power over the clay?”

Which lump of clay are you concerned about?  God has power over them, and can mold them into what He envisions.  Pray with this in mind about any lump of clay for whom you have a burden..

It works.  Just ask me.

DAILY PRAYER;  Heavenly Father, You are the potter and we are the clay.  I am praying today for __________, and ask, in Jesus’ name, that You bring them all the way into Your perfect will for their life.  Thank You.

DAILY READING:  Romans 9-11