The Daily Dose

Dreams

Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”  Matthew 2:12-13

Many times in scripture God spoke to people through dreams.  He spoke to Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Solomon, Daniel and many more.  Here we have to dreams that happened almost simultaneously.  The wise men were warned in a dream not to go back to talk to Herod and Joseph was instructed to go to Egypt with Mary and Jesus to protect Jesus from Herod.  We don’t know if these happened in the same night, but it doesn’t even matter.  The point is that God speaks through dreams.

This causes me to ask, does God speak through dreams today?  I believe the answer is yes.  He did then and He does now. Not only because He said He does in scripture (see Acts 2:17) but also because He has showed me things through dreams personally.  I wrote about one instance where the Holy Spirit showed me in a dream how my prayer for my family and others has changed the outcome of their lives.  Many times, I have dreamed about a person, randomly, so I would pray for them or send a message of encouragement to them only to find out they were in a struggle and God had reminded me to pray for them for help.

What about you?  Have you ever had a dream that was striking or even disturbing?  Don’t just push them aside, talk to God about them.  Maybe He will show you something He is trying to get across to you or maybe He will just put it on your heart to reach out to someone whom you haven’t connected with for a while.  Whatever the case may be, be aware that God does speak through dreams, and He may be speaking to you.

Today I want to encourage you to be aware that you may have a dream that God has given to you.  Be prepared in the night, if possible, to make a note if you have a strange dream so you don’t forget about it by morning.  You may even take a minute to pray about it right then and ask the LORD if He is trying to say something to you? You can even ask Him before you go to sleep to reveal something to you through a dream if you are not getting it when you are a wake.  It may not happen that night, but at least you will be aware when it does. What ever the case may be, talk to God about your dreams and pray about them when you are awake.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 2:7-15

7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” 9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.  11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. 13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” 14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Look at the stars

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, WISE MEN from the East came to Jerusalem.  Matthew 2:1

Who were the wise men that came to Jerusalem to worship Jesus?  They were scholars from the east (Persia) that studied the stars.  Tradition calls them kings, but the truth is they were astronomers that understood the significance of events that took place in the sky.

In Genesis 1, God said that the stars were to divide the day from the night, but also that they would be for SIGNS and season.  Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years. (Gen. 1:14) I have always read over that part of the creation account until recent years. Maybe it’s because technology has come so far or maybe it’s because more events are happening in the sky, but it seems like almost monthly there is another phenomenon to be seen in the heavens and I really enjoy taking the time to observe. These happenings have always fascinated me, but only about the last 5 years of my life did they take on meaning.  I know that God is in the process of bringing heaven and earth together and that he is speaking to people through these signs.  Of course, as God’s people, he speaks to us through His Word and His Spirit, but to the world, He uses many outside resources including the stars to get their attention.

Interestingly enough, tonight there will be a display of some of the planets lining up with the moon.  I got a glimpse of the start of it last night and it is quite an impressive display.  I don’t know what it means, but I do know who is putting the show on and I don’t want to miss seeing the handiwork of my Father.  Even though I don’t know the significance, I still ask Him if there is anything He wants to say to me through this great light show.  Mostly I just believe He is saying: “Hey, I am here, and I want all people to recognize My hand in the world today.” Step into the moment and take some time to appreciate His goodness tonight.

Today I want to encourage you to be a “wise men” and give some attention to what is going on in the sky.  You don’t have to try to figure out what it all means but enjoy the beauty of God’s creation.  If anything, step into the moment by taking the time to appreciate all He has done and is doing in the earth and in the sky.  He is speaking to us, up close and from far away in the universe.  Take time to talk with Him and ask Him if there is anything you should be doing to prepare for coming events or if there are things you shouldn’t be doing as we draw near to the end of this age of His grace. Most of all, just seek Him!

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 2:1-6

1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

God’s plan

Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.  Matthew 1:19

Yesterday’s dose was focused on women and their purpose in creation.  Today I want to talk about men and God’s plan for them in the family unit.  When God gave Eve to Adam, he said this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.  Then God joined them together and they became one flesh.  Adam named her woman because she came out of man or in other words, she was part of him.

In today’s scripture, we see Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, wanting to protect Mary from becoming a public example.  Even though, I’m sure he was hurt and confused about the news of her being pregnant, he didn’t respond in anger and determine to make her pay for the pain she had caused him.  He had in mind to deal with her in private to protect her reputation and he did not want to shame her.

This is a perfect example of God’s heart for the way a husband loves and cares for his wife.  God wanted man to protect and provide for her.  The directive God gave was not, this is someone who will complete you and help you in all your accomplishment, (even though she does do that).  Rather it was: Here is a precious gift for you to nurture, care for and protect from all outside forces.  She is a part of you so pay attention to the way you pay attention to yourself. God never intended for man to dominate his wife, that is not the reason God told her to submit to him.  He gave the husband responsibility to make sure his wife was his number one priority and that she should trust him because he loves her above all other things in the world including himself.

It is easy to see how God’s plan for a married couple would work if kept in His perfect order.  A husband loves his wife above all others (including himself) and she submits everything to him and his direction because she knows he always has her best interest in his heart and likewise she has his.  I have heard it said that men want respect from their wife and women want security and I do believe this is true.  However, the kind of security she wants is in knowing that she is the most precious and protected person in his world by him, not the security of dollars in the bank account.  If he holds her up as the most precious part of him, she will know she can surrender all to him and he will protect that too.

Today I want to encourage you men/husbands to love your wife in the same way that Christ loves the church and gave Himself for it (Eph. 5:25. Hold her in such a regard that you would even give your life if needed to protect your most precious gift from God.  Make her feel secure by the way you lift her far above all other people in your life and trust me, you will have no problem with her submitting to you after that.  It is all she wants, but it is up to you to take the first step.  Next, I want to encourage wives to honor and respect your husband.  If he is a husband that doesn’t quite get the order that God planned, it will be easier for him to do his part if you are doing yours.  You don’t need to be telling him the way to love you, instead begin to speak to him with honor and let him take the leading role in your marriage and family.  Then pray for him as he steps into the position of head of the household and God will partner with your efforts because you are lined up with the way He created marriage to be successful.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 1:18-25

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” 24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

A position of success

_{Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king. Matthew 1:3-6}

Since we have Daily Dosed through most of the New Testament except for the gospels, Acts and Revelation, I want to start from the beginning with the book of Matthew toward finishing it up.  I believe going through the gospels in this way will bring great revelation.

So right off the bat, Matthew starts off with the genealogy of Jesus.  You may have read through genealogies in the Old Testament, or not, but it is surprising how much you can learn in the comments about some of the people, the nation and the culture of the time.

In this passage, I want to focus on the four women mentioned in the lineage of Jesus in Matthew’s account.  They are Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba.  I believe God specifically choose each one of these ladies to send a message to all people of the future.  I had initially thought that I was going to write about God wants to work through everyone despite what is in our past, but upon taking a closer look I see something different now.

Each one of these women were victims of their circumstances and destined to live as a childless widow for the rest of their lives. A fate, in that culture, that was worse than being dead. Yet, they each made a decision that changed the direction they were headed.  A step of faith that brought God on the scene of their lives and opened the doors for them to walk through right into the blood line of the Son of God.

As I consider these women, the times they lived in and the future they were headed for, I pause to reflect on my own life’s journey.  I have always considered myself to be strong and capable, but ultimately, I know it has been my faith and relationship with my Heavenly Father that carried me through many difficult seasons.  I have had failed relationships and I have spent time alone without a husband.  However, while being a single parent in the current culture can still be difficult, it is widely accepted by the world’s standard and there are many programs available to help.  But regardless of what I have gone through, I can see my purpose more clearly now more than ever before.  I am a woman created by God to love and care for a family and household.  I remember times when I was alone and thinking I couldn’t go on.  Thankfully, I knew my children were counting on me to be there and provide for our little home.  They were the reason many days that I kept on going.

Today I want to encourage you if you are a wife and mother.  This is your greatest success in life and your #1 priority.  You were created to fulfill this role and to train up leaders for the next generation.  Your reach spans the generations from mom to grandma to great grandparent.  You are creating a legacy right in your home in your little corner of the world.  If you are not married or have no children, I want to encourage you that this can change, and you can still fulfill this mission in life.  Talk to God about it and trust that He is leading you to the open doors that you are preparing to walk through. Ask Him for the strength and wisdom to position yourself as He leads.  If you are a husband and father, be thankful for the wife and family God has given you to love and provide for.  Proverbs 18:22 says that finding a wife is a good thing and gives favor from the LORD!  God created women as the answer to the first problem (man being along) and that solution is still going strong in the world today.

Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 1:1-17

1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: 2 Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. 3 Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. 4 Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. 5 Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, 6 and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. 7 Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa. 8 Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. 9 Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. 10 Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah. 11 Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon. 12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. 13 Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. 14 Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. 15 Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. 16 And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.

Establish your words

This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” 2 Corinthians 13:1

What words are you establishing?  Do you speak in agreement with what your circumstances are telling you or do you speak in agreement with what the word of God says He can do about your issues?  Today’s text says that when two or three people agree on a subject, they are settling it in their life.  It is established and true.

There is a great example of this in Numbers chapter 13 when Moses sent twelve spies to spy out the land that God had given them.  When the spies returned, ten of them brought a bad report.  They agreed with the circumstances that they saw in the land.  They said: “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we. The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. (Numbers 13:31&32) The ten spies totally ignored the fact that God said He had given them the land and that He was going to take them in to conquer it. Instead of agreeing with God’s word, they established their own.

Meanwhile, Joshua and Caleb, the other two spies, agreed with God that it was a good land and that the people were ready to be defeated.  However, the congregation decide to agree with the ten and so that was the word that was established and what they settled on.

We face circumstances every day that we can allow to defeat us by agreeing with them, or we can overcome them by bringing God and His word into the situation and agreeing with it.  When we face the giants/obstacles of life with our sword (the word of God) drawn and ready to step into agreement with what God has to say about the situation, we will establish His word by taking our authority as a child of God over every issue we come up against and it won’t take an entire nation to establish it. I will happen by the mouth of only two or three.

Today I want to encourage you to establish and settle God’s word in your life by coming into agreement with all He says about you and your circumstances. Below is a short list of some of the promises that you can apply and establish in your life every day:

Of course, there are many more.  Begin today to start establishing God’s Word in the world around you by coming into agreement with it and with those who will stand for it with you.

Today’s scripture reading: 2 Corinthians 13

1 This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” 2 I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare— 3 since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. 4 For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. 5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. 6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified. 7 Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified. 8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete. 10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction. 11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints greet you.14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

The thorn

_{Because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 2 Corinthians 12:7}

I think most of us are familiar with Paul’s “thorn in the flesh.”  Scholars, ministers and preachers have tried for years to figure our exactly what that thorn was.  Most of them conclude that it was some kind of disease or affliction that God refused to heal.

I have come to look at it in a different way.  Let me explain: First of all, Paul calls it a thorn.  A thorn is a very small thing that causes some discomfort and a reminder that it is there.  Thorns are not big and thorns are not deadly.  Thorns are usually a minor irritant, but if not dealt with, they can be very painful. 

Secondly, I believe the reason Paul calls it a thorn and not give it an actual name was so we would not make it bigger than it was.  We cannot identify what the problem was so it could have been whatever he was going through at the time.   This thorn was to teach Paul not to be conceited and proud. What we are to focus on in this passage is God’s grace, not the thorn.

Lastly, I believe we all have thorns today.  Maybe not the same kind that Paul had and certainly most of us will never suffer as much as he did, but we are all going through something, all the time we are alive.  These afflictions and test are always with us and if we recognize them for what they are, we can grow from them and through them.  Every test, trial and temptation that we are up against can either grow us to be stronger in our faith walk or weaken us to the point that we are totally ineffective for God’s kingdom.

So what is it with you?  What is your “thorn in the flesh?”  What test or trial are you currently walking out and hopefully growing through?  Is it a financial struggle?  Something to do with a family member?  Maybe it is an obstacle with your employment or health?  The fact is, that each day, we walk out some kind of opposition.  Whether it is internal or external, it is still there and if we learn how to let God’s grace be our guide through the crisis, we will be ready for the next step in our walk with Him.

Today I want to encourage you to cast your thorn/concerns irritants and pains over on the Lord.  Receive His grace to walk you through the fire whatever it may be.  Instead of walking from failure to failure, struggle to struggle, start walking from victory to victory and mountain top to mountain top.  Identify your thorn each day and grow your faith to the point that there is no room for the thorns of life to control your world anymore.

Today’s scripture reading: 2 Corinthians 12:7-21

7 The extraordinary level of the revelations I’ve received is no reason for anyone to exalt me.  For this is why a thorn in my flesh was given to me, the Adversary’s messenger sent to harass me,  keeping me from becoming arrogant. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to relieve me of this. 9 But he answered me, “My grace is always more than enough for you,  and my power finds its full expression through your weakness.” So I will celebrate my weaknesses, for when I’m weak I sense more deeply the mighty power of Christ living in me.  10 So I’m not defeated by my weakness, but delighted! For when I feel my weakness and endure mistreatment—when I’m surrounded with troubles on every side and face persecution because of my love for Christ—I am made yet stronger. For my weakness becomes a portal to God’s power. 11 I have become foolish to boast like this, but you have forced me to do it, when you should have boasted in me instead. For there is nothing I lack compared to these “super-apostles” of yours, even though I am nothing. 12 The things that distinguish a true apostle were performed among you with great perseverance—supernatural signs, startling wonders, and awesome miracles.13 Furthermore, how were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I didn’t burden you financially—forgive me for depriving you!  14 And now here I am, ready to come to you for the third time,  and I still refuse to be a burden to you. For what I really want is your hearts, not your money. After all, children should not have to accumulate resources for their parents, but parents do this for their children. 15 And as a spiritual father to you, I will gladly spend all that I have and all that I am for you!  If I love you more, will you respond by loving me less? 16 Be that as it may, I haven’t been a burden to you at all, yet you say of me, “He’s a scoundrel and a trickster!” 17 But let me ask you this. Did I somehow cheat or trick you through any of the men I sent your way? 18 I was the one who insisted that Titus and our brother come and help you. Did Titus take advantage of you? Didn’t we all come to you in the same spirit, following in the ways of integrity? 19 I hope that you don’t assume that all this time we have simply been justifying ourselves in your eyes? Beloved ones, we have been speaking to you in the sight of God as those joined to Christ, and everything we do is meant to build you up and make you stronger in your faith. 20 Now I’m afraid that when I come to you I may find you different than I desire you to be, and you may find me different than you would like me to be. I don’t want to find you in disunity, with jealousy and angry outbursts, with selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and turmoil. 21 I’m actually afraid that on my next visit my God will humble me in front of you as I shed tears over those who keep sinning without repenting of their impurity, sexual immorality, and perversion.

Weak made strong

“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”  2 Corinthians 12:9

I know I spend a lot of time writing about our responsibility as believers to have faith and trust in the things God has promised.  I often write about doing our part, and believing God is faithful to do His.  However, today I want to talk about the weak times because I know we all have times when we come to the end of our rope.  I know there are times we feel like we can’t hold on to that promise any longer and I know there are even days when we just want to give up.  That’s what is so amazing about our God because He said in our weakness, He is strong.  His grace meets us right where we are and then picks us up and carries us to victory.  Hallelujah!!

In today’s reading, the Apostle Paul talks about a thorn in the flesh that was given to him.  It was a messenger of Satan sent to buffet and harass him wherever he went.  He was so frustrated by this evil force coming against him that he kept talking to God about it until finally he heard God say, “I have given you My grace, it’s there to make My strength perfect and complete in you in the midst of your weak moments.” (my translation)  Glory to God!  God’s strength covers us when we are weak!  This is priceless!   It’s like a grace blanket that we can hide under so God can wrap us up in His protection and complete the things He is doing in our heart and in our lives.

So, standing on the Word, speaking to the mountain, and seeking first the kingdom of God are what you can do when you are up against circumstances.  You take your stand and draw strength from God in the times when you are preparing for battle, but when the days come that you just don’t have anything left in you, God’s grace comes rushing in to take over!  He sees when you are lying wounded on the battlefield, picks you up, wraps His grace around you, and carries you to safety.   Then He goes in and fights in your place and brings you the victory!  Now that’s being more than a conqueror!  You can’t lose when you walk each day with Him!!

Today I want to encourage you to be strong in the LORD and in the power of His might, but if you are having a day that you just can’t seem to stand any more, get under the grace cover and let God be the strength in your weakness.  Reach out to God and let Him be your refuge and strength and a very present help in time of trouble! (Psalms 46:1)

Today’s scripture reading:  2 Corinthians 12:1-10

1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Push through affliction

^{If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. 2 Corinthians 11:30}

I had a headache, and it was a bad one.  I woke up that morning with it and couldn’t seem to shake it off before I was to go serve that evening.  I asked the Lord for healing, and I commanded it to go away from me, but still nothing.  Despite my discomfort, I didn’t consider not going.  I know I could have said “It just hurts to bad; I just can’t make it tonight.” Or “Maybe it is God’s will for me to stay home tonight because I am severely uncomfortable, and I know laying down will make it feel better.”  The real truth is, I know my Father’s plan for me is to impact lives and to make a difference by showing up for People.  So, I went despite the pain.  It was a blessed evening, and I was able to grow in some relationships and develop new ones to invest in.  I never mentioned the agony I was carrying, I only stayed focus on how I could help others.  When I went home after, I still had pain, in fact it was worse because I hadn’t eaten, but I didn’t even consider that I might have done the wrong thing for my own health.  I knew I did the right thing for the spiritual wellbeing of so many others.

In today’s verse, Paul said that if he is going to brag about something, it would be about his weakness.  Then, he goes on to give a list of circumstances that he lived through, yet he was still accomplishing much.   He was often imprisoned, severely flogged (beaten), exposed to death many times, given lashes (another beating), pelted with stones, shipwrecked, left to drowned in the sea, sleepless nights, robbed, working continuously, hungry and thirsty, cold, naked and consumed with care for the churches he was mistering to.  I’m sure he didn’t feel well through some of these circumstances. I also know that when he showed up to the places he was to minister he never said, “I’m here, but I need to take a day or two off to recover from the journey or the latest beating.”  He showed up and showed the strength of God to those he was ministering to. He was still successful in his mission regardless of what he had to go through to get there.  He wasn’t complaining and making excuses for being a failure, He was boasting in the strength of God to get His work done despite the opposition and discomfort.

As I read this passage over many times, I imagined how I would feel if I had to suffer these setbacks.  I thought about the headache that tried to stop me from fulfilling my purpose for the day.  Yet, I never thought “Hmm, maybe this isn’t God’s will for me after all?” or “I am not strong enough to do this.”  I pushed through and I’m sure I will have to do it again, but my desire to touch lives and get people connected to God is more important to me than the things I will suffer along the way.  In the days to come, I will not remember the headache, but I will remember the impact I made in many lives that evening.

Today I want to encourage you to press through.  Press through the discomforts and troubles in this world.  The way to do it is to first spend time with God and hear the message He is speaking to your heart.  Then begin to pray for others.  Pray for God to touch their heart and draw them closer to Him.  Offer your life to invest into others for His plan and purpose.  Grow that plan up in your heart until you know that you are here to impact the world around you.  Then be willing to go through the aches, pains and even beatings if necessary, to get God’s love to those who need it.

Today’s scripture reading: 2 Corinthians 11:16-33

16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then tolerate me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. 17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. 18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. 19 You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! 20 In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face. 21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that! Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. 33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.

Revelation knowledge

I may be unskilled as a speaker, but I’m not lacking in revelation knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every possible way. 2 Corinthians 11:6

I don’t have a public speaking platform and I am not a skilled orator, but I do have words that God has put into my heart to share with others.  God always provides the audience that needs the message He gives at the right time.  I don’t have to look for an assembly of people to share with, most of the time I just pour into the people I am around that day.  I am not seeking to be famous or popular, I just want to share His message of love in a way that the people around me can receive it at the time.

This is the kind of revelation knowledge that the apostle Paul was speaking about in today’s text.  He told the Corinthian church that he knew he wasn’t a trained speaker, but what he did have was a message from the heart of God to share with others.  Paul cautions the church to not be taken in because by preachers that were eloquent and persuasive but didn’t have the understanding and revelation of God’s message.  Basically, he warns them not to turn their hearts toward a message that was not backed up by the heart and word of God.

As the New Testament was being written at that time and by Paul, himself, the people at Corinth did not have a completed Bible to verify what other speakers were teaching them.  Paul encourages them to discern a sermon by how it lines up with what he taught them and not be pulled away from the truth of God’s love.

In the day we live in now, having access to God’s Holy Spirit on a personal level, you too can have a message to share with others each day.  Simply by spending quiet time with Him each morning and surrendering you heart and ear to His word and His voice on the inside of you, His revelation knowledge will be revealed to encourage you and others around you.  However, do not seek a platform or a big production, instead, share with the people God brings into your life on an individual basis.  Maybe your heavenly Father will open the door later with an invitation to a greater audience and that would be great. However, do not limit what God wants to do through your life right now by waiting until you have the perfect crowd to give His message too.

Lastly, make sure your “revelation” knowledge is backed up by scripture.  God will never go against His word.  So, if you think you received words from the Father, but you have no text to back it up, wait until the Holy Spirit leads you to the passage to confirm that you are hearing from His Spirit and not the voice of the enemy.

Today I want to encourage you to recognize that the size of the audience doesn’t matter when it comes to sharing God’s message.  Each morning as He gives you the perfect word to propel you through the day, ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to anyone who also may need to hear these words.  Then be ready to bring your conversations around to the subject as the opportunities present themselves.  Don’t be lured away by the current rants on social media or other platforms of eloquent speech.  Instead, purpose to share His revelation knowledge with the people in your life each day.

Today’s scripture reading: 2 Corinthians 11:1-15

1 I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.5 I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.” 6 I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. 7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! 12 And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

 Compared to others

For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.  2 Corinthians 10:12

Do you compare yourself to others around you?  Do you look at some and say “I wish I were that good looking.” Do you look at others and say “I’m glad I don’t look like that!”  Maybe you think, “Why can’t I be as smart as _________?” Or “I’m glad I’m not that dumb”.  What about your social media feed?  Does it cause you to be judgey and critical?  Do you look at posts and think “Well, at least I’m not that bad.” Or even “I am so much better than that guy.” Do you want to be wise?

In the key verse today, Paul talks to the Corinthian church about comparing their lives with the lives of others.  He said people who compare their selves to others, whether good or bad, are not wise.  Also, don’t put yourself in the same class as those who commend/glorify their self, by measuring yourself to that sort, you are not enlightened. Simply put: you do not have a godly perspective. 

Paul goes on to say, what really matters and what you need to be comparing your activity and ways to is how you are walking out the assignment God has for you in this world.  He continues by saying we all have limits, and we all have abilities.  What is most important is that God created each one of us for a specific purpose and we have the gifts and talents to complete the mission we have been given to do.  He also made us to be connected to each other, in that way we can inspire and work together on the plans of God’s heart. Paul said that if you are going to brag about what you have done, boast in the Lord, because He puts His supernatural power on you natural skill.

Today I want to encourage you to look at others to encourage and build them up, not measure yourself to their accomplishment.  Help others to find their life of significance in recognizing their purpose in this world.  Connect with your God family to work your callings together. Be attentive to your mission and don’t worry about who is doing it better or worse than you.  We are all at different levels and various stages in life.  When you do look at what others are doing, check in with the Holy Spirit about how you can help to multiply the work that they are doing not belittle and destroy it.  We are here to connect to and help one another, not compare and cut down each other.  So, the next time you look at your Instagram feed and see the success that someone is going through, cheer them on and love them through the entire process.

Today’s scripture reading: 2 Corinthians 10:12-18

12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. 14 We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. 15 Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, 16 so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. 17 But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.