YEAR 2, WEEK 23, Day 5, Friday, 9 June 2023

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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Friday, 9 June 2023:

Isaiah 34:1, 2 — Draw near, O nations, to hear, and give attention, O peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that fills it; the world, and all that comes from it. For the Lord is enraged against all the nations, and furious against all their host; he has devoted them to destruction, has given them over for slaughter.

We are intended to be citizens and ambassadors of God’s Kingdom (not earthly kingdoms), with a message to all earthly kingdoms. An ambassador is loyal to the nation that sent him, and he lives in a foreign land as an outsider. Ambassadors do not represent themselves, they represent their leader. Are you a good ambassador to the earthly kingdom in which you live which is also subject to God’s coming wrath?

Isaiah 34:4 – All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree.

God’s judgment affects the entire universe. “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it….” (Romans 8:20)

Isaiah 34:8 – For the Lord has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion.

God has a concrete plan to help His people that people cannot see.

Isaiah 34:10 – Night and day it shall not be quenched; its smoke shall go up forever. From generation to generation it shall lie waste.

God’s discipline may be temporary, but His judgment is permanent.

Isaiah 34:6, 17 – Seek and read from the book of the Lord: Not one of these shall be missing; none shall be without her mate. For the mouth of the Lord has commanded, and his Spirit has gathered them. He has cast the lot for them; his hand has portioned it out to them with the line; they shall possess it forever; from generation to generation they shall dwell in it.

God’s written word shows you can depend on His promises.

2 Corinthians 11:3 — But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

Purity and fidelity start with your thought life.

2 Corinthians 11:5, 6 — But I do not think I am in the least inferior to those “super-apostles.” I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way.”

Similar to many today, the church in Corinth was being led astray by dynamic, impressive, talented teachers who were falsely preaching “another Jesus” for their own personal gain. They were “rock star” preachers who were wolves in sheep’ clothing. Jesus said that the discerning would recognize false prophets by their fruit, and Paul says the same thing, as humbly as possible, comparing his own fruit to theirs.

Paul is a great example of real leadership, a man who had earned the right to lead and, as opposed to false teachers, had true “knowledge” required for leadership which can only be obtained through the Holy Spirit and from genuine experience and practical application:

Paul preached the gospel free of charge. How many leaders do you know who lead without reward? Paul gave to others but did not take; his leadership was not burdensome. Paul was motivated solely by love, and he did not direct attention to himself but rather to Christ.

Paul’s leadership was gracious, gentle, patient, and enduring; in fact, Paul even questioned whether he was too gentle (2 Corinthians 11:21). To those who are easily enamored by self-confident superficial “leadership,” Paul’s meekness was perceived as weakness, but Paul warns others not to be deceived.

Paul could match credentials with anyone, but he did not consider credentials or pedigree to be the measure or qualifier of leadership but rather Holy Spirit empowerment along with sacrifice and suffering in love for the cause. Paul had put his life on the line countless times for Jesus and often endured without even food or water. All the while in the face of many pressures and temptations, he remained holy and faithful – he did not falter, and his character was unblemished. Despite his shining character, he did not boast in himself but rather boasted in Christ and was quick to point out his own sins, flaws, and weaknesses in order to reveal the Grace of God in his own life. (2 Corinthians 11;28-32)

Consider the popular preachers and leaders today: how many live like Paul? How many “gifted speakers” have been raised up to “super-apostle” status? Take a moment to be introspective. Do you lead like Paul? Have you paid the price to lead? Thousands of years ago, Sun Tzu once remarked that great generals are never honored or noticed because they don’t fight great battles – they win quietly, behind the scenes so that the “great battles” are never required, and they don’t have egos that demand the recognition that comes from spectacular (avoidable) victories. The irony is that greatness is not glamorous, most will miss it. Case in point, in the time of the reign of the mighty Herod, whose kingdom’s ruins still stand prominent today, our Savior was born in a manger — “For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” (Isaiah 53:2) Today, the only thing most people know about Herod is that he killed countless babies trying to destroy Jesus. But the One who was not esteemed is our Savior!

2 Corinthians 11:14 — And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.

Satan’s servants will present themselves as godly or good people. It takes discernment through the word of God to identify these imposters.

2 Corinthians 11:24-27 — Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

What are you willing to endure to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others?

“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 9 June 2023: Lead others today by denying self, taking up your cross and following Jesus. Leaders know the way and show the way. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6) If you aren’t leading others towards Jesus, you are leading them astray.