Daily Walk Through the New Testament
December 10
Read 2 Corinthians 4:16-6:2

The only way to live the Christian life is the same way we began it — by faith. It has been said that our faith reaches into the eternal but often denies the daily. At the end of 2 Corinthians 4, Paul admonishes us to remember that our eternal home is in heaven and our security is in Christ. The Holy Spirit lives within us as the divine guarantee. As we look to a greater day with God in eternity, we can endure the temporary hardships of life on earth and not lose heart.
God does not take us to heaven the very moment we receive Christ because He has work for us to do during our earthly journey. The greatest work for which He has saved us is to point others to Christ. Live by faith today — give yourself to god’s work, and look forward to heaven!

Daily Walk Through the New Testament
December 9
Read 2 Corinthians 3:4-4:15

In spite of tremendous obstacles & difficulties, Paul did not lose heart. He kept believing and speaking the truth of God. His example of courage and perseverance motivates us to give our all for Christ. Another person God has used to inspire many is Andy Andrews. Andy experienced some very challenging times as a young man. When he was 19 years old, both his parents died. His life spiraled downward, and he ended up being homeless. But through the encouragement of others, Andy pressed forward in life. God has richly blessed him and given him a platform to speak to millions of people as a comedian. The New York Times called him one of the most influential people in America, 4 U.S. presidents have invited him to speak, and every minute, one of his many books is purchased!
Remember who you are in Christ and persist. If you do, one day many will render thanksgiving to God because of your faithful service.

Daily Walk Through the New Testament
December 8

Answer the following questions regarding your readings from this past week:

1.) How have you identified and specifically used your spiritual gifts to build up             the body of Christ?
2.) As a believer whose comfort is God, have you ever sought another source of             comfort? What was the long-term result of that decision?

Daily Walk Through the New Testament
December 7
Read 2 Corinthians 1:18-3:3

Anyone who has been a part of a church knows that problems can occur, even in the Lord’s family. The church at Corinth had its share of troubles. They argued among themselves, criticized leadership, got drunk during church fellowships, and engaged in scandalous sexual immorality. As a church of new Christians living in a pagan city, maintaining a pure Christian witness was always a challenge. It always is.
One of their church conflicts involved the church rebuking or punishing one of the members (2:5-6). It might have been the immoral man of 1 Corinthians 5, but Paul did not say for certain. What he did say is that even when someone is clearly guilty, if they repent and demonstrate godly sorrow, it is time to forgive (2:6-7). The word forgive in vs. 7 & 10 is a verb form of the word usually translated “grace” in the New Testament. In other words, forgiveness is grace in action! When we forgive, we are “doing” grace.
In what area of your life do you need to “act out” grace? Whom do you need to forgive? Pour out the grace you have received from the Lord to everyone in your life.

Daily Walk Through the New Testament
December 6
Read 2 Corinthians 1:1-17

Joseph Parker, a famous British pastor, once offered good advice to other preachers: “Preach to the suffering, and you will never lack a congregation. There is a broken heart in every pew.” That statement was true when he said it, and it is true today. People hurt. Paul described God as the “God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation” (1:3-4). We have a compassionate, loving, Heavenly Father. The word comfort occurs 5 times in vs. 3-4 & comes from the same word Jesus used to describe the Holy Spirit! The word literally means “one who is called along beside.” The God of the universe Himself helps us shoulder life’s hurts. He stands near as one called along beside us. Isn’t that incredible?
We will all need comfort at times in our lives — “tribulation” and “trouble” are expected in life (1:4). Those 2 words, while translated differently in the English text, are merely a repetition of the same Greek word, meaning, “external pressures.” Paul experienced those external pressures when he was “burdened beyond measure, above strength” and “despaired even of life” (vs.8). It was in the midst of his troubles that he was reminded to “trust” in God, “who raises the dead” (vs. 9)!
What external pressures are you experiencing right now? Perhaps you’re dealing with difficulties that seem beyond your capacity to endure another moment. You are not alone in your pain. God is near — right along-side you, in fact. He is comforting you. Trust Him to deliver you (1:10). He will do it!

Daily Walk Through the New Testament

December 5

Read 1 Corinthians 15:50-16:24

The old song says, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen. Nobody knows my sorrow.” While it may be true that each of us feels our own personal suffering in a way others cannot, we each face trouble. Paul knew his share. He said, “There are many adversaries” (16:9).
The word adversaries comes from a root word that means “to be put up against” — in opposition. We can expect difficulties, but we can also expect God’s grace! With the Spirit’s help, we can respond to the troubles of life with faith, courage, strength, and love (16:13-14).

Daily Walk Through the New Testament

December 4

Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-49

In one sense, every day is Easter for Christians, because Jesus is alive! His resurrection is the assurance of our own resurrection. In fact, it could be said that the resurrection of Jesus is the death of death.
America has been engaged in a battle against terrorism for many years, and the struggle continues. It feels at times as if we will never see the end of our enemy’s hatred toward our nation. Each of us, however, has a far worse enemy than a terrorist. Death is the “last enemy” of every human being, but the resurrection of Jesus has forever destroyed the power of that foe (15:25-26). In Christ we will rise!

Daily Walk Through the New Testament
December 3
Read 1 Corinthians 14:26-15:11

After encouraging an orderly manner of teaching God’s Word and utilizing spiritual gifts (14:26-40), Paul moved on to discuss the core truths of the church: “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (15:3-4). The cross & the resurrection of Jesus are the central themes of our Christian message! It is the truth by which we are saved and upon which we stand (15:1-2).
Fortunately, the message of the cross is not subject to the changing moods of culture, which come and go with the seasons. Instead, the gospel, revealed in the written Word of God, needs no editorial adaptation from generation to generation and will never be shaken by the ebb & flow of popular opinion. Paul received the good news as it was and passed it on to others “according to the Scriptures” (15:4). Thank God the Gospel does not change!
A woman who was getting older and forgetful once asked her grandson to help her find a Sears catalog — not from the current time, but from 30 years earlier. She wanted something that the store no longer carried, and she wanted to pay the prices from decades ago. In her confusion, she mistakenly assumed that the old catalogs, like her memories, were frozen in time. Of course, it doesn’t work that way in our earthly economy, but in a way, it does work that way in God’s. You see, the price for our sin was set long ago, a price we could never pay on our own, and the glorious truth is that it has already been paid! The unchanging truth of the gospel is that all we have to do is accept the free gift Jesus offers. Hold fast to God’s unchanging truth today!

Daily Walk Through the New Testament
December 2
Read 1 Corinthians 14:1-25

Spiritual gifts are the supernatural tools God gives to every believer. When these miraculous gifts are coordinated to complement each other, they build up the church, the individual Christian, and even unteaches people! How is that possible? Spiritual gifts edify the church. The word edify, used in (vs. 3-5, 12), comes from two Greek words that literally mean “to build the house.” Some gifts build up the individual (vs. 4), some build up the church (vs. 4-5), and some help to evangelize the lost (v. 24-25).
If you hired a carpenter, a painter, an electrician, and a plumber to work on your house, all of them would use different tools and do different jobs, but in the end, the finished product would be home improvement. Spiritual gifts are just like that. Even though our tools and tasks differ, the church is edified through the exercise of them.
Are you taking part in what God is doing in and through the body of Christ? Look around you for needs to meet, and offer your spiritual gifts to build others up. Ask God to guide you and use you for His purpose.

Daily Walk Through the New Testament

December 1

Answer the following questions regarding your readings from this past week:

1.)    Do you think of others and how your attitudes and actions may affect them?

2.)     What do you need to consider changing so you do not offend others?

3.)     What are your spiritual gifts? How are you using them to build others up?