Thanks Be to God

​Thanks Be to God
Read 2 Corinthians 1 thru 9
 
2 Corinthians 2:13-14 But I had no peace of mind because my dear brother Titus hadn’t yet arrived with a report from you. So I said good-bye and went on to Macedonia to find him. 14 But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.
 
CAN you relate to Paul? He had no peace of mind as he was concerned about Titus. Paul changed plans and adjusted to the uncertain circumstances.
   Then comes that important three-letter word. “But” is a sign the Holy Spirit awakened Paul to remember he lived in the authority of the LORD God Almighty! How wonderful to remember, “He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession.” Many might reject this view of following Jesus because it describes a conquering general leading the enemy captives under his authority. Jesus, Savior and Friend, is also the conquering King, who has captured us with his love. Saved in our confession of Jesus, we are no longer his enemies, but thankfully we are held captive in his salvation. This captivity becomes a complete freedom for the saved one. Made alive and new in Jesus, we recognize we are his servants to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere like a sweet perfume.
   Jesus also captures us in his love. Paul turned his worry to faith as he considered Jesus’ love, and so will you. To know you are saved in Jesus’ blood must be an incorruptible sweetness in our minds. In such faith, God will take us to quiet places above life’s tumult, captured in his kindness.
    
       
A Delightful Way to Live
 
2 Corinthians 6:18 “And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
 
LET’S take a minute or two and dwell on this promise. Have you stopped and considered the eternal, almighty Creator God promises to be your perfect Father? He promises to be ready and willing to love you when you’re unlovable, to guide you when you lose direction, to forgive you when you sin, to show you the way to joy and to welcome you to your eternal home as he grants you faith in Jesus Christ.
   How do we know his wonderful promises? He tells us in the gospel. This is the Good News of Jesus Christ. Do you know God, the Father, offers his love to you? Do you see God stretch his hand toward you as the Son was nailed to the cross? Go ahead, accept his love and take his nail-pierced hand. Walk with him into his holy sanctuary.
   Do you know the way there? Remember Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Focus on Jesus. He the Word made flesh. He is Alpha and Omega. He is the Light of the World, the Good Shepherd and Resurrection. Taking God’s hand is grasping Jesus’ teaching. It is seeing Jesus in creation and in God’s response to the fall. Jesus is in Noah’s ark, and he’s with Abraham on Mt. Moriah. He is the judge and healer of David’s broken soul. Jesus is the Restorer of hard hearts and healer of calloused souls.
   Jesus wants to bring you to a place where you experience his holiness. He wants you to be holy, too, safe with him. How good it is when God is your Father and you are his child.