2 Corinthians 6 - 1.2.24

Scripture:  ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭6:14‬ - Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

Observation: Paul is warning the Corinthian church to not be “yoked together” with unbelievers. The word “yoke” would be easily understood by the early church but maybe not for some today. A yoke is basically a wooden bar that connects two animals for the purpose of working together: Adobe Photos of a Yoke The yoke makes it possible for both animals to be guided down the same path. When yoked together, these animals are in close proximity and have to work together. There’s no way one animal could go right and the other to the left. They are forced to do the same thing!

Paul then brings the command full circle with the common sense correlation in “what do righteousness and wickedness have in common… or light have with darkness?” We would obviously respond to this with an emphatic “they have nothing in common!” They are complete opposites. The same is true between a Christian and unbeliever that are yoked together - they are complete opposites.

Paul is warning the church about being “yoked together” in an intimate or close relationship - just like the yoked oxen in the image.  Some think this scripture means you can’t associate with any unbelievers. If that were the case, how can we lead others to Christ if we don’t associate with unbelievers?

This Scripture is a reminder of a very personal and hard lesson I learned in my life. Long ago I was able to finally meet my maternal half sister who was adopted out at birth. During the short time we were together, she knew I was a believer and I knew she was walking in the world. When we had an opportunity to start a new internet business, I literally talked myself out of this scripture and entered into a business with her. I had all the signs to run the other way and heed the warning of this scripture but didn’t. What a terrible mistake!! Six months later I found out why this scripture is so important: my half sister stole my identity, ran up bills in my name that were sent to her house, and I was left with a huge loan for the equipment I bought for the business. Boy, did I learn a hard but valuable lesson.

Application: The image of the yoked oxen can be very helpful to gauge if a relationship with an unbeliever goes to the level of being unequally yoked. Ultimately we are called to be different, salt and light to the world (Matthew 5:13 - 15), and not conformed to this world but be transformed (Romans 12:2). The moment a relationship with an unbeliever transitions from being a witness or a light to the unbeliever and becomes “yoked’ together in a close and intimate type relationship, it’s time to run to God for wisdom and direction. His word commands us to “Do not” be unequally yoked and there’s a reason. The unequally yoked relationship can and will negatively affect your life in many ways physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Trust me - I know! 

 Prayer: Lord, I ask that you give me great wisdom when it comes to being around unbelievers. The mission is to spread the Gospel and shine your light to the world. Help me to avoid situations when a relationship becomes “yoked together” and transitions away from the mission to reach the lost for you. Thank you for your grace, mercy and forgiveness for the time I completely ignored this command. I’m so thankful for lessons learned and your love to guide me in the path of life.

- Mary Oberg

2 Corinthians 5 - 1.1.24

Happy New Year church family!

Scripture

2 Corinthians 5:17; 20- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here!…We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

Observation

Paul is saying that because of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, reconciliation with God has been made possible. David Guzik’s commentary on enduringword.com says that Paul could be imploring “the whole world on Christ’s behalf” or imploring “Corinthian Christians on Christ’s behalf.” “The thought is valid either way, and both ideas may be in mind.”

Application

Be reconciled to God and join us for our 28 days of prayer and fasting.

Another word for reconciliation is restoration, like restoring something that is broken or not working as it should or used to work (Source: New Oxford American Dictionary).

When my relationship with the Lord doesn’t feel secure or as deep as it should be, it’s 100% my fault. Prayer and fasting always helps me during those times, such as fasting meals so that I could spend more quiet time with Him and rely on Him. Also, getting off social media for a month helps me to quiet my mind and fill it more with Him through prayer, journaling and reading His Word and other books that point me to Christ. The amazing thing is that when my relationship with Christ is good, it affects all other areas of my life and relationships too, for the better!

Come join us as we pray and fast as a church family for 28 days!The kickoff is this Wednesday, January 3rd at 6:30p. Here are a couple more links with information on it:

Prayer and Fasting

https://www.desertstreams.com/28days

One on One’s

https://www.desertstreams.com/one-on-one

Prayer

Dear Lord,

I pray over this New Year and this week as we kick off our 28 days as a church family. May our roots grow deeper with You and may we eliminate any and all distractions that keep us away from You. May we be reconciled in our minds and hearts with our relationship with You. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi

2 Corinthians 4 - 12.29.23

Scripture : 2 Corinthians 4:13-18

“13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Observation: 

Verse 13 says we believe and therefore we speak. We are to share our faith that the one who raised Jesus from the dead will also raise us. When we do, we will get a great reward.  God is glorified as an ever increasing amount of people rejoice at this news. 

Even people in Paul’s times got discouraged (vs. 16). Paul offers a solution. We are to fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is eternal.  Also, we can remember the troubles we experience now will reap eternal glory. We can be renewed on the inside daily. 

Application:

I need to seek God each day to fill me with a spirit of faith, not focusing on the trials around me.  Instead, fixing my eyes on who God is and his power that raised Jesus from the dead. BTW that power also is given to us. (Romans 8:11) What a hope we have that others need to hear. 

This has become extra real to me as my Uncle passed away and my cousin is dealing with the sudden death of his mom last March and now this. The pain is real, but we have hope. We need to speak it out because we never know if the people we meet and those we love have another day. 

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

Thank you so much for all you have done for us. Coming as a baby was such a humbling experience. The God of the universe having to cry so his mom knows he needs to be changed. You did not come in vain, but died for our sins and on the third day you rose from the dead to give us everlasting life. 

Please help me to have this truth at the front of my mind daily and the joy that goes with it. So, I will not be able to keep quiet. My faith will prompt me to share with others and as this passage says “more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”

Amen. 

- Cindy Howard