“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” – 2 Corinthians 12:10

In case you’re still laboring under any aspect of the lie that Christians shouldn’t/won’t experience suffering and hardship, please reflect on the life of the Apostle Paul! Paul was utterly devoted to the Lord. He poured out his adult life to advance the cause of Christ and spread the Gospel far and wide. And Paul suffered. Hunger and poverty, betrayal and abuse, persecution and disaster. Paul also suffered from some sort of “thorn in the flesh” that left him profoundly aware of his own weaknesses and limitations.

Paul clearly hated this thorn and begged God to take it away. His prayer was fervent and sincere and his faith was absolute. He knew, without a doubt, that God could heal him in an instant. However, the Lord had better plans for Paul. It was the Lord’s will for Paul to continue to be humbled by this problem. God not only said “No” to Paul’s prayer, He was clear that Paul’s suffering and weakness were going to be used for the glory of Jesus Christ!

Paul’s suffering continued so that Christ’s strength would be revealed through Paul’s weakness. By humbling Paul’s body, Jesus revealed His infinite power that lives within every faithful believer. Paul understood this and learned to delight in it. He was content in his weakness because He understood it revealed God’s power to a watching world.

Nearly everyone will one day experience and have to come to terms with weakness, age, disability, or illness. The question is whether we’ll be confused by it and how it could happen to a Christian or will we be empowered by it, drawing nearer to God in dependence on Him and allowing His power to be revealed. Understand the truth of what the Bible teaches about ailments, weakness, and suffering. Pray in faith for relief but learn to be content as God’s strength is revealed through your weakness. #FollowJesus

“You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.”
– Isaiah 26:3

There is a peace of God that surpasses all human understanding. God offers us peace that transcends every earthly circumstance. Supernatural peace can be yours no matter how chaotic or difficult the situations and circumstances of your life may be. That’s what Isaiah promises here and the Apostle Paul explains is the fruit of taking every concern, need, and desire to God in prayer with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:4-8).

When our mind is “stayed” on God – meaning that it’s fixed on Him no matter what, focused on Him despite any and all noise, distraction, and chaos – then the inexplicable and indescribable peace of God is ours. What a glorious promise – peace, no matter how challenging our situation in life! When we trust God more than we trust the voices of doom, gloom, and distress that surround us, then the peace of God is ours. Why? Because we know Who is in sovereign control and we trust both His perfect wisdom and His perfect goodness.

We see a brilliant illustration of this when Jesus invited Peter to step out of the boat and walk on the waves to Him. As long as Peter kept His eyes and mind focused on Jesus, he walked in peace on top of the water. As soon as his mind, eyes, and ears turned to the wind and the waves surrounding him, he began to sink. Is your mind stayed on Jesus? Are your thoughts anchored in God’s presence, power, and perfection?

Make that your goal. Work on that in your times of prayer, Bible meditation, and personal worship throughout the day and week. Be intentional about drawing near to God. Be purposeful to turn your mind onto Jesus throughout the day. Remind yourself that He is with you, loves you, and strengthens you. Talk to Him about your concerns and about the chaos. Don’t anchor your thoughts in your changing daily situation or circumstances. Anchor your thoughts in your unchanging Savior. #FollowJesus

“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” – 2 Corinthians 9:6

While Paul is specifically talking about giving financially to support God’s work, this principle applies equally well to all of our spiritual habits. If we’re stingy toward God with our time, energy, emotion, and devotion we close ourselves off to the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in us. On the other hand, if we throw ourselves into joyful worship, deep Bible study, extended prayer time, committed service, sacrificial giving, eager evangelism, and genuine fellowship with other believers, we will reap enormous blessings of spiritual growth!

When we devote ourselves to drawing near to God and become more like Jesus in the power of His Spirit, we will achieve those goals in time. We will experience closeness to our Creator and be increasingly transformed into the likeness of His Son. When we hold ourselves back, budgeting out the limited portion of time and energy we’re willing to give God, then we will experience little of the abundant life Jesus came to give us. That’s the Law of Sowing and Reaping.

What are you sowing for the Lord? What’s your level of investment in Kingdom living? How generous are you toward God with your time? With your talent and energy? With your earthly treasure? Are you measured? Have you put God on a tight budget? If so, how’s that working out for you???

If you’ve been listening to the world’s advice about how to keep more time and energy for yourself rather than giving it to the Lord, try accepting Jesus’ invitation to deny yourself, take up your cross, and #FollowJesus. You will likely discover an amazing crop of blessings when you do! If you already have, why don’t you share your story in the comments…

“But with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.”
– Isaiah 11:4

Isaiah described the coming of Jesus centuries before He stepped out of heaven to be born in Bethlehem and thousands of years before His return in glory. Isaiah described the nature of Christ’s coming, eternal Kingdom. It will be a Kingdom of power – the power of His Word. Power beyond anything we can possibly imagine. Forget nuclear weapons – His spoken word is the rod of His mouth with which Jesus will strike the earth! That’s the power by which our triumphant Lord will wipe out the wicked when He returns!

However, it’s also a Kingdom of tough and tender justice, concerned with the poor and oppressed. King Jesus will justly judge in favor of those who are downtrodden and unable to defend themselves against the systems and structures of our fallen world. He will treat the poor righteously rather than taking advantage of them as so many do today. It will be truly glorious when King Jesus returns!

In the meantime…we who follow Jesus SHOULD embody those same values because He is already King on His throne in heaven. As citizens of His Kingdom, we must be concerned for the poor. We must practice justice toward the downtrodden and defenseless, knowing that we are serving King Jesus when we do. We must live in obedience to His awesome, powerful Word, knowing that His Word is life to us and death to His enemies. Meditate today on what it would look like to fully live your life as a citizen of THIS king’s present and future Kingdom. What should you do differently – in thought, word, and action – to more fully #FollowJesus?

“But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.” – 2 Corinthians 8:8

Giving financially to the work of God’s Kingdom in your community and around the world is an “act of grace”. What does that mean? It doesn’t mean that giving financially earns you favor with God. That’s the exact opposite of what grace means! Rather, Paul says that as you give sacrificially and joyfully to the accomplishment of God’s will on earth, the act and attitude of sacrifice helps you draw nearer to God. Giving aligns your heart to His will as you learn to care about what He cares about. This is because we naturally grow in our love for the things we choose to support financially. Giving teaches you to live by faith in your Provider as you release your “control” over the money God has entrusted to you. Giving expands your mind to think about things vastly bigger than yourself and your immediate financial need. Giving also sets you free from bondage to material things.

If you’re reading this in the West, there’s a very good chance that you’re blessed with far more resources than the overwhelming majority of Christians who’ve ever lived on earth! We also live in a time in which it’s easier than ever to instantly make a Kingdom impact on people’s lives from our nearest neighbors to the farthest ends of the earth. Followers of Jesus can do more to relieve spiritual and physical bondage, poverty, suffering, and deprivation in the name of Jesus than ever before. Are we willing to make the sacrifices to do that?

Heed Paul’s exhortation and pray about how you can excel in the grace of making financial sacrifices to help God’s Kingdom to come and God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Pray about ways God may be calling you to get more deeply involved in global efforts to introduce people to Jesus, relieve poverty, provide access to safe food and water, bless your community, bless the nations, and accomplish the work of your local church. Pray, then excel in this act of grace, preparing yourself to experience even greater joy in Christ! #FollowJesus