Day 243 Bible Readings – 2 Corinthians 4: 17-18 (ESV)

 Micah 1-4, 2 Corinthians 4, Psalm 131

2 Corinthians 4: 17-18 (ESV)

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,  as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

In verses 17 and 18 from 2 Corinthians 4, Paul tells the church at Corinth to remember the temporary nature of suffering in the world as they faced persecution from the Jewish and Roman authorities. Paul reminds them that their suffering was not meaningless but instead will prepare them for eternal glory with Father-God. Paul reminds all believers that our lives need to focused and oriented towards the things that will forever, and not the transient pleasures of the world.

It can be hard to be a believer in Christ in today’s world, since popular culture seems to be intent on demonizing everything that is associated with Jesus Christ and the value expounded in the Bible. Studying the nature of cultural trends, you can see that they seem to be temporary, changeable, and sometimes seasonal. What is popular for a few months will be looked upon as evil by popular culture later. But the promises of Father-God are eternal. Father-God is the same as he was in the Bible as he is today. The faith of Jesus Christ has been thriving and growing since its inception, despite the views of popular culture. Father-God has been giving his children signs, wonders, and miracles for the last 2,000 plus years. As believers in Jesus Christ, we need to remind ourselves of all the signs, wonders, and miracles in our lives since we came to faith when we are going through a season of problems, doubt, and persecution. Father-God is always faithful to his children, and his love and mercy towards is eternal and forever.

If you enjoyed reading my thoughts on these Bible verses, and you want to cultivate a faith that trusts in Father-God’s promises even when you are in challenging circumstances through your faith in Jesus, please pray this prayer out loud:

Heavenly Father, I want to give you my Life. Forgive me of all of my sins. Wash me in your blood. I believe in my heart You raised Jesus from the dead. I confess with my mouth Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Right now, I receive forgiveness by the blood of Jesus. I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! Do yourself a favor and find and join a Holy Spirit filled, full Gospel, Bible-based church where you can hear the words of Father-God preached and experience signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.

Day 242 Bible Readings – 2 Corinthians 3: 17 (ESV)

2 Chronicles 35-36, 2 Corinthians 3, Psalm 130

2 Corinthians 3: 17 (ESV)

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

I love verse 17 from 2 Corinthians 3. We sing this verse in song at least once a month in my church. Jesus Christ gave us a new covenant with Father-God, where he gave us the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ liberated us from the bondage of the old covenant of Moses with its laws, and the from the bondage of sin. We have the presence of the Holy Spirit within us, who brings us transformation into the ways of Jesus Christ. We are freed from sin because Jesus Christ died for us. Our new covenant with Father-God is now through the grace of his son Jesus Christ. In the old covenant with Moses, people had to veil themselves before approaching Father-God in the temple. Jesus Christ gave us a new covenant where that veil is no longer needed, because Jesus Christ removed it so we can approach Father-God with boldness.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we need to invite the present of the Holy Sprit into our lives. The Holy Spirit will guide and help us to have a deeper relationship with Father-God. We need to embrace the gifts of the spirits given us to by the Holy Spirit, so we can enjoy a more direct and person relationship with Father-God through his son Jesus Christ.

Having a relationship with the Holy Spirit has been the most important development in my spiritual journey to have a deeper relationship with Father-God through his son Jesus Christ. I seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in everything I do, and I love knowing that the guidance I am receiving is coming from Father-God and Jesus Christ because of the new covenant and the trinity.

If you enjoyed reading my thoughts on this Bible verse, and through your faith in Jesus Christ you want to have a deeper relationship with Father-God through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, please pray this prayer out loud:

Heavenly Father, I want to give you my Life. Forgive me of all of my sins. Wash me in your blood. I believe in my heart You raised Jesus from the dead. I confess with my mouth Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Right now, I receive forgiveness by the blood of Jesus. I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! Do yourself a favor and find and join a Holy Spirit filled, full Gospel, Bible-based church where you can hear the words of Father-God preached and experience signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.

Here's the song inspired by this verse - Enjoy! 

Day 241 Bible Readings for August 30 – 2 Chronicles 33: 12-13 (ESV)

2 Corinthians 33-34, 2 Corinthians 2: 12-17, Psalm 129

2 Chronicles 33: 12-13 (ESV)

“And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.”

In verses 12 and 13, we read the response of King Manasseh when he was in a dire situation and taken captive by the Assyrians. Manasseh prayed, humbled himself, and repented to Father-God to deliver him. We also read about the mercy of Father-God and how he is always ready to forgive those who seek him, no matter how far away they have strayed from him. Manasseh was known for his idolatry and evil practices, and his rebellion against Father-God. Father-God heard Manasseh’s plea and restored him back to Jerusalem and his kingdom.

I love these verses because we see how merciful Father-God is, and how willing he is to restore a believer if they seek him and are repentant. Manasseh was the King of Judah, who willingly and deliberately turned his whole kingdom away from Father-God. He committed the greatest of sins, yet Father-God showed mercy and restored Manasseh physically and spiritually. No amount of my disobedience and sins towards Father-God can compare to Manasseh’s disobedience and sins, so I find it reassuring to know that Father-God loves his children so much that he will always show us mercy and grant us restoration if we seek him and are repentant.

If you enjoyed reading my thoughts on these Bible verses, and through your faith in Jesus Christ you want to have a relationship with a Father-God who will love you and show you mercy no matter how far you rebel against him if you seek him and are willing to repent, please pray this prayer out loud:

Heavenly Father, I want to give you my Life. Forgive me of all of my sins. Wash me in your blood. I believe in my heart You raised Jesus from the dead. I confess with my mouth Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Right now, I receive forgiveness by the blood of Jesus. I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! Do yourself a favor and find and join a Holy Spirit filled, full Gospel, Bible-based church where you can hear the words of Father-God preached and experience signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.

Day 240 Bible Readings – 2 Chronicles 32: 20-21 (ESV)

2 Chronicles 31-32, 2 Corinthians 2: 1-11, Psalm 128

2 Chronicles 32: 20-21 (ESV)

“Then Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried to heaven. And the Lord sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the sword.”

In verses 20 and 21, we read about what happened to Sennacherib the king of Assyria when he blasphemed the god of King Hezekiah, who was faithful to Father-God. The King of Assyria wanted to destroy the people’s trust in Father-God.  Hezekiah found out about the king of Assyria was saying and doing, so he and Isaiah the prophet prayed to Father-God for help. The Lord sent an angel to destroy the army of the King of Assyria, and Hezekiah did not have to fight them. But the King of Assyria did not escape punishment from Father-God. When he returned home, he was killed by own sons.

These verses stood out to me today as we mourn the shooting of the Catholic children in Minnesota who were gunned down while praying, and the response of certain politicians who made comments that seemed to say prayer doesn’t work. These comments about prayer not working when you are killed while praying are meant to destroy people’s trust in Father-God. Their comments remind me of what Sennacherib the king of Assyria did to King Hezekiah and people of Jerusalem. We need to see these people’s comments as attempts to shake our trust in Father-God and remember the times in our life when Father-God delivered on his promises to protect and deliver us.

If you enjoyed reading my thoughts on these Bible verses, and through your faith in Jesus Christ you want to have faith that Father-God will deliver on his promises to protect and deliver you, please pray this prayer out loud:

Heavenly Father, I want to give you my Life. Forgive me of all of my sins. Wash me in your blood. I believe in my heart You raised Jesus from the dead. I confess with my mouth Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Right now, I receive forgiveness by the blood of Jesus. I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! Do yourself a favor and find and join a Holy Spirit filled, full Gospel, Bible-based church where you can hear the words of Father-God preached and experience signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.