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2 Corinthians 1:8-11
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.
New International Version (NIV)
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You have heard that it was said by ministers of old, “God will never give you more than you can bear.” Were they right? The Apostle Paul saw it differently.
Paul and the Corinthians knew God’s comfort. “The God of all comfort comforts us in any of our troubles so that we may comfort each other in all of our troubles.” Paul reveals his vulnerability as a pastor in these letters to the Corinthians. The theme music in the background sounds like the song, “Trouble, I’ve had trouble . . . since the day I was born.” He suffers, and they suffer. But is it more than they can bear?
Paul settles the question when he admits he and his companions were under great pressure far beyond their ability to endure so that they despaired of life itself. They thought they were going to die. Does this sound a bit like the current Coronavirus quarantine? What is the answer when we feel like we face the sentence of death? Good news: we serve the Savior who knows his way out of the grave. So we do not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
One way God works in our lives in these hard times is to increase our dependence on him. For the self-reliant this becomes most uncomfortable very quickly. But only when we depend on God do we experience his deliverance. Paul puts it in the past, future and present. God has delivered us and he will deliver us again and we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.
So what is our part as God delivers us? We pray. By our prayers we help each other to depend on God together. This leads us ultimately to gratitude. We pray. God delivers us. We all give thanks. Two of our members were on ventilators at a local hospital. We have prayed fervently for them. Both of them are off of the ventilator. In fact, I heard yesterday that they are the only two patients at the hospital to have come off of the ventilator and survive. In both cases the doctors are using words like, “Miraculous.” Not all of those for whom we pray will survive. But we ought to pray.
You have heard that it was said, “God will never give you more than you can bear,” but I say to you, “God will always give us more than we can bear, so that we have to turn to him and depend on him for deliverance". When God brings us through, we ought to thank him.
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Pray with me:
Thank you, Father, for hearing our prayers and delivering our friends. We know that some are coming home to you. For their sake we rejoice that their suffering is ended and they have entered your presence and experienced your comfort. For those whom you have delivered to continued life here, we pray that their stories will give you great glory. Father, grant in your time that we shall meet again and give thanks for all that you have done for us. Deliver us from our independence, lest we make a mess of things. Remind us again that you are our only hope. Then do what only you can do. We wait for you, with full knowledge that those who hope in the Lord renew their strength. We soar on wings like eagles, we run without growing weary, we walk without being faint. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Join us in memorizing the Word. Scripture for this week:
Matthew 5:31-32
It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
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| Our 2020 Every Day with Jesus readings will follow the Foundations New Testament reading plan. Copies of the reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download your copy at REPLICATE.ORG
We would love for you to join us as we read the New Testament through this year, five chapters a week. In addition I will continue my long-standing practice of reading one Psalm a day through the year. Use Robby Gallaty’s H. E. A. R. plan to study each chapter (also found at REPLICATE.ORG). Highlight verses which speak to you, explain what they mean in your own words in a journal, apply them to your own life, then respond by doing what God tells you to do.
Joyfully,
Duane
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