Today’s Reading: 2 Corinthians 1:3-11
2 Corinthians 1:9 — Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.
God promises to teach us to rely on Him. When you were a baby, you relied on someone to feed you, change your diaper, carry you, and keep you safe and warm. There was no shame in depending on your mother or father to take care of you because you were helpless.
Why are we ashamed to need God and rely on Him to take care of us? Is it so terrible to admit, “Nothing good lives in me; that is, nothing good lives in my corrupt, sinful nature” (Romans 7:18)? Can’t we just agree with Jesus and say, “Apart from You, Jesus, I can do nothing” (John 15:5)? We are spiritually helpless.
Paul said that he suffered afflictions that brought him to the end of his strength. The burden of life was more than he could bear. He felt like he would certainly die. Paul could have shaken his fist at God and yelled, “God, this is not right! You are not fair! I’m done with You!” And then he could have walked away from God in the bitterness of pride.
But Paul did not turn from God. Instead, Paul realized how much he needed God to comfort and strengthen him. He let the cross teach him that all life depends on God. Trees and flowers depend on God to give them sun and rain so they can grow. The birds of the air depend on God to feed them daily. Life depends on the Living God.
God will interrupt your plans with a cross today, something that is designed to offend your flesh and reveal its total depravity. God has a plan to sanctify you by showing you how spiritually bankrupt and helpless you are without Him. God desires to teach us to abandon all reliance on ourselves and rely completely on Him for life. Let God take care of you.
..08/09/2024
Devotional
“God will interrupt your plans with a cross today, something that is designed to offend your flesh and reveal its total depravity.”
“The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?”
Proverbs 20:24 NLT
“Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”
Psalms 27:13-14 NLT
Thank you, Jesus!
2024년 8월 9일 묵상
“하나님께서는 오늘 여러분의 육신을 공격하고 그 전적인 타락을 드러내기 위해 만들어 진 여러분의 계획을 십자가의 힘으로 못하게 방해하실 것입니다.
“사람의 길은 여호와께서 결정하시는데 우리가 어떻게 자기 길을 알 수 있겠는가?”
잠언 20:24 KLB
“나는…