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I love this picture. The Hi-Res one is here. Actually, I really like most pictures by Stephen Poff. You should check him out. The picture reminded me of how much I am loving Scripture this past year. Specifically, it reminded me of the verse in Acts 14:11.

“As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath.”

Made me wonder. Do I have that same feeling, that emotional desire and drive for more? More scriptural insight, more teaching, more quiet listening, simple more of Jesus. Thankfully i don’t have to beg, but I should want to, right?

Interesting, when Paul came back to teach the Jews the next Sabbath, they didn’t hear what they were hoping for, and kicked him out. Again, I wonder…

Do you sometimes feel like a cracked, fragile clay pot?

So today I am reading 2 Corinthians 4 – 5.  I encourage you to read along with me and share what stuck out to you. My hope is to share quick devotional thoughts every weekday on what stuck out to me in my daily Scripture reading. (I said hope, most likely not reality. )

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies….

6 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

Today, I got quite emotional reading this passage. I’m not going through any big affliction or struggle, either is my family, but yet the weight of Paul’s words hit me somehow.  I always ask myself questions as I read Scripture and these are the ones that raced through my head.

• When I struggle do I easily get confused, feel despair, feel like I have lost, been destroyed?
• Do I choose to thank God that He may be glorified through my weakness, physical trial or otherwise?
• I prayed that i would not lose heart when and if suffering comes my way. Lord help me to be strong and faithful.
• Do I actually consider any kind of affliction to be light, compared to the future eternal glory that awaits me?
• Do I actually even think about my future inheritance through Jesus, do I cling to His promise and His great sacrifice and salvation for me?
• I thought, this gets even harder when I walk beside those whom I love deeply, should they suffer affliction in the future. (whatever the kind)

So, today was a great reminder to me that I am indeed a jar of clay, weak, prone to suffering and yet with the incredible ability to praise God throughout because I will never be destroyed. Lord, just as Paul wrote, may I be reminded that, “this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” Compared to our future glory and inheritance for eternity, my current affliction is indeed “light”

Lord, grant me strength to continue to fight the good fight and live faithfully for you. I realize I am a clay pot, fragile, easily broken, and one day you will make me beautiful.

Thank you that you have overcome, so that, one day, we may as well.

There are very few smells better to me than freshly brewed coffee in the morning. And for me, that would be freshly brewed, bold, Starbucks coffee.

There is something about starting my day in a coffee shop, around those great smells that I really enjoy and that has become a daily routine.

However, I recently entered into my routine, got excited at the smell of my fresh bold coffee, sat down, expectantly tasted my first sip, and spit it out. It was horrible. Tasted like sour acid on my tongue.

Today I was reading in 2 Corinthians 2-3.  Verse 14 and 15a stuck out to me in light of this experience.

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ…

Made me think about my faith and example.

• Do I leave a good aroma of Christ to others. Does Christ smell good if you will?
• Do I “smell” good enough to encourage people to taste and see? Or just average and not “different” than anything else?
• Does their experience with me leave a bad taste in their mouths?
• Did my actions, the the reality of spending time with me, meet the expectation of the aroma they first encountered?

As I found out, something can smell very good and still taste very bad.

You smelling good today?  (Oh, I really dislike the Starbucks RED coffee and love every other bold. Starbucks, I still really like you.   )

I’m creating a new category on my blog for my initial thoughts after reading a passage of Scripture. These probably won’t be overly theological, or academic, but will be quick, off the cuff thoughts about how my heart was stirred, at that specific time, by what God’s word spoke to me, and what i was convicted and reminded of.

So, every day I try and read 1-4 chapters of the bible.  Today I was reading through 1 Corinthians 11-13.

I’m actually working through a new bible and marking it up as I go along. I was frustrated at the thought of the process of changing bibles, as I love my old bible, but yet it’s interesting to see what I highlight differently. I also switched to the ESV version, so I do have to read every word, because it’s different. I would actually recommend everyone to re-read the bible in a version you have not read before. Maybe a mid year resolution for you.

In a nutshell, Paul addresses everything from head coverings, to the Lord’s supper, to spiritual gifts and then the love in chapter 13.

Today it was 1 Corinthians 12: 31b that stuck out.  …“And I will still show you a more excellent way.” The Way of Love. (Chapter tile of ch. 13)

Why did Paul have to address this? Because the Corinthians were a special bunch. Selfish, indulgent, jealous, loved the “showy” gifts, wanted to be recognized above others, etc, etc.  What stuck out to me is the fact that all of us, me included could have fit in nicely with that bunch. At least on some days, right? Perhaps you are better than I?

Today, I will make an extra attempt to choose the more excellent way, the way of love. Which is of course the Jesus way.

Two quick verse that popped into my head while reading this today was:

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

and

But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:27-28)

I pray that today you and I would love (serve) in a greater degree than we did yesterday.

I’m pretty sure you have these moments.

• you feel crabby to start out with. (starting with a bad attitude never helps)
• You start thinking negatively about someone or an event.
• You choose the high road ahead of time and make the decision to be positive once you encounter the situation
• you arrive and do exactly the opposite of what you’ve been just contemplating, promising, and even panning to do.

Today, God pointed out Romans 7:21.  I actually kinda laughed when I read it. 

v.21 “So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.”

Paul, this week, I related to you all too well.  It is incredible frustrating to rationally, calmly think out the proper , God honoring, course of action and then fail so miserably.

Can you relate?

At least we can have confidence that there is always hope.

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 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. Romans 8:37