Author: Dave Dishman (Page 242 of 458)

Paul famously described the knowledge of God as an aroma spreading to those hearing the message of the gospel—to the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life.

Part of the aroma swirls around the message itself. One group hears the good news of Jesus and quickly realizes their need for a savior. They’ve found what they desired but never knew existed. Others hear the word and recoil, unwilling to confront the issues between them and the Lord.

Another wisp of the aroma involves the messenger. Paul lays this out: Unlike to many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

I stink up the gospel message if I peddle the word of God for profit. Rather damning for preachers with private jets, but also for anyone using their platform of teacher to extract from the taught. The Pharisees were guilty, and it’s striking that even at the beginning of the Christian church this issue arose.

Ever covetous, our hearts.

Paul also wrote a worker is worthy of his wages (1 Timothy 5:18). We should compensate well those who carry the gospel—and as one who carries the gospel I’m much appreciative. But hawking God’s word merely for profit cheapens the message. Those who need it most smell unsavory motives.

In other words, it stinks.

Like me, if you talk about the gospel, give yourself a good sniff test. I want those around me to smell only the aroma of Jesus, for good or for ill.

2 Corinthians 2 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Mulyadi

I’m not a very good memorizer of scripture, and I hear others are not so good as well. One successful technique for memorization I learned involves writing out a verse you want to memorize and taping it to your bathroom mirror. Then every morning when you get ready for the day you see the verse and run through it a few times. Before long, you know the verse by heart.

Of course, you have to remember where you keep the tape.

Paul wrote a mirror-worthy encouragement in the closing of his first letter to the Corinthian church:

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.

Paul’s words sound especially important today. Those who follow Jesus can feel assailed on every side. Remember to take courage and buck up under the onslaught. Refuse to give in to the pressure to abandon your faith. Then face whatever you face with love.

Balance a clear-headed commitment to truth with a generous, loving nature of grace.

Good words to tape on your mirror.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Worshae

I wish I was headed to Europe. The dollar surging against the euro means that everything across the Continent comes so much cheaper. In times of economic uncertainty, investors run to the most stable currency on the planet—the American dollar. Makes it hard on those who sell goods to Europe, but great for travelers like myself.

In difficult times investors move away from instability toward solidity.

The apostle Paul encouraged the church members at Corinth in that direction as well:

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ…Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

The Old Testament scriptures are filled with promises—they are guaranteed in Christ. To prove his commitment, the Lord anointed us, sealed us, and placed the Holy Spirit in our hearts.

Often my “yes” is more of a “maybe.” When Jesus says “Yes,” I can count on him. I live in faith, knowing the promises I read in scripture consist of more than pious language. While their timing remains elusive, the promises stay firm. As I commit more and more to the ways of Jesus, I step from instability toward solidity.

How you spend your life, the most important investment you hold, is in safe hands with Jesus—the ultimate guarantor.

2 Corinthians 2 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Ibrahim Boran

This past spring, following the horrible wildfire that destroyed 1,000 homes in our Colorado community, I started to notice flowers blooming amidst the devastation. Everything above ground was burned totally away, but underground bulbs survived to flower and grace the landscape. It was both eerie and hopeful to see daffodils blooming among burned out basements.

Isaiah wrote of flowering amidst the cinders:

For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

I read this and think, not yet. Not with nations around our world at war, not with anger dominating our civil discourse, not with sex trafficking, not with addictions, not with all the maladies we hear of daily.

Then I remember what Jesus taught about the kingdom of God, how it works like yeast, slowly yet incessantly changing the nature of the dough.

The birth of Jesus brought hope to a blackened landscape. The presence of the Holy Spirit hovers even now over this world. The Scriptures form the soil of righteousness and praise. It’s all here, ready for someday.

Quietly, someday leaks into this day. By committing to follow the ways of Jesus we make room for sprouts of praise and shoots of righteousness. Perhaps all this it not so far off?

Not yet do we see the full glory of the Sovereign Lord’s righteousness and glory, but if we pay attention, we see sprouts even in this darkened world.

Isaiah 61 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Daniel Hajdacki