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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Wednesday, 26 June 2024:
2 Corinthians 3:3 – And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
Our transformed hearts and the love that overflows from us bears witness to the power of the Spirit within our lives. Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35). 1 John 4 expands upon the fruit of love: “Love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”
2 Corinthians 3:12 – Since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
True faith and hope make you bold.
- Romans 8:31-39 — What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2 Corinthians 3:14-17 – But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
You cannot understand God’s word or will unless you are empowered by the Holy Spirit upon salvation through Jesus Christ and surrender to His leading day by day. Anyone can study the Bible; however only those empowered by the Holy Spirit can truly understand it. The Holy Spirit dwells in true disciples of Christ. One of the moves of the Spirit is to give you a heart which loves God for who He is rather than what He can do for you, to give you a heart of genuine worship. In that place, 1 John 5:3 increasingly becomes a reality in your life as does Romans 8:29, and John 17:22-23. The requirements of the law become desirements, even more so, they become what you do without even realizing you are doing it as you abide in the Spirit. Just like a fish doesn’t think much about water, so obedience is to those who naturally embody God’s word.
2 Corinthians 3:18 — And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
“Discouragement in the Christian life comes easily when expectations are not realized. Some days we read the Scriptures and sense Christ’s stirring—our soul awakens from its doldrums, our mind engages, our heart inflames, and our affections kindle. We find encouragement or challenge in something we read, and our prayers flow with ease.
But then there are other days, days we don’t see the effect we would hope for. Our devotions aren’t quite so stirring. Our Bible reading feels more like a burden than a means of grace. Listlessness and formality mark our prayers. We begin to wonder if the time spent is worth the effort. We examine our Christian life and wonder why we haven’t progressed further.
At best, that line of thinking and feeling is silly, and at worst, it is dangerous. The Christian life is not lived in a moment, and it seldom progresses by major triumphs. Rather, most often, in Christ, we grow by degrees. Like the kindergartner who shows up for the first day of class and decries his classmates’ inability to answer calculus questions, so the Christian who despairs of seeing little progress in the moment proves rash. Few moments rise to the monumental. Rather, our growth in Christ happens by degrees and small alterations. This should encourage the Christian to read his Bible and pray daily, walk humbly, and keep persevering, even when it feels as though little occurs.
When snow falls, it falls in very small flakes. As those small flakes hit the ground, little appears to happen. Yet, a few hours pass and white covers the ground. An entire landscape changes, but only by small additions.
Most lasting change in Christ takes place by degrees, small additions, as we read and apply His Word. John Newton compared it to a house under construction. The beginnings of the construction appear insignificant. One passes by the home project for days and little progress is evident. The concrete slab is laid and supplies litter the yard. A few nails lie here and a few boards lie there. It doesn’t look like much. In fact, it looks like a mess. Yet, the architect and the builder know exactly what they are doing, and they accomplish it by degrees. The Lord is at work in you, dear Christian. The Master Architect and Great Builder has a plan. He knows what He is doing, but you can’t always see evidence of it today.
Keep attending to the means of grace—read your Bible, partake of the sacraments, and pray. Never give it up, not for a day, and surely not for a week. God is at work. Persevere in pursuing Christ. He is conforming you more and more to His image. You are not what you desire to be, but Christ is at work. We all “are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18). Walk humbly, read the Word, pray, and keep your head up—looking to Christ who is at work in you and upon you. Make no mistake, you are being changed—it is simply by degrees.” (Ligonier Ministries)
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 26 June 2024: Today, pursue Christlikeness with all your ability from the inside out, with your heart for Christ shaping your thoughts and attitudes which in turn shape your outward countenance, words, and actions. Press in to Christlikeness but also persevere as you are transformed degree by degree, all the while resting on God’s grace along the way. Don’t quit or step back when you fail. Repent, thank God, and press on!
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 