The Process

Posted on 2016/02/04 by Shawn Thomas

“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” (II Corinthians 4:16)

The first part of this verse describes how a believer need not lose heart at the deterioration of their body, because they can see a corresponding spiritual growth in their lives that is preparing them for heaven (See yesterday’s devotion on this here.)  But a key facet of this verse is found in the next phrase: “IS BEING RENEWED DAY BY DAY.” This phrase describes the ongoing process of sanctification, or holiness, in the life of the believer.

One of the important things this reminds us of is that sanctification is a PROCESS. Continue reading →

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We Do Not Lose Heart

Posted on 2016/02/03 by Shawn Thomas

“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man in decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” (II Corinthians 4:16)

It is a sobering reality to many when they observe the gradual decline of their physical abilities.  Many become depressed and discouraged by what they are experiencing.  But the Apostle Paul indicates here that it is not so for him — and it will not be so for wise Christians today, either. Continue reading →

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Our Ultimate Aim

Posted on 2016/02/02 by Shawn Thomas

“… that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.” (II Corinthians 4:15)

This verse reveals something very important when it tells us what happens when God’s grace is spread to more people.  It says that more thanks is given, “to the glory of God.” This phrase “to the glory of God” teaches us that it is praise to God that is our ultimate aim or goal. Continue reading →

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“The Disciple’s Character: Mourning Over Sin” (Matthew 5:4 sermon)

Posted on 2016/02/01 by Shawn Thomas

Many times over the years, people have come to my office, feeling very troubled over a sin or a habit in their life. And sometimes they will say something like: “I feel so bad about that sin; I am not even sure that I am a Christian.” But the truth is, oftentimes the OPPOSITE is true: if you are a real Christian, you will most likely feel worse about your sin than an unbeliever would.
— Jonathan Edwards, the great American pastor and theologian from the 1700’s, said that as a Christian, “I have had a vastly greater sense of my own wickedness and the badness of my heart than ever I had before my conversion.”
— Donald Whitney, in his book we studied in Discipleship here last fall, 10 Questions To Diagnose Your Spiritual Health, wrote “the fact that there is a struggle with sin, and a sense of grief because of sin, is good. Unbelievers have no such struggles or griefs.”
I’ve seen Christian guys who mourned and grieved over the fact that they had used pornography — but I’ve also seen that lost guys often just laugh and boast about it! So, far from feeling bad about your sin meaning that you are NOT a Christian; it may be the very sign that you really ARE a Christian — or that you are about to become one! Continue reading →

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It’s Not The Place, But The Heart

Posted on 2016/02/01 by Shawn Thomas

God opens the majestic concluding chapter of the Book of Isaiah by proclaiming: “Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me?”  In other words, we human beings cannot build a “place” to hold God, in which we might locate and fellowship with him. He cannot be contained by our buildings — whether it be the Temple on the mount in Jerusalem, or any of our contemporary worship centers.  Where then can we meet God?  He tells us in the next verse: Continue reading →

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His Terrifying Fury

Posted on 2016/01/28 by Shawn Thomas

“Then He will speak to them in His anger, and terrify them in His fury.” (Psalm 2:5)

Many people today have a woefully inadequate view of God. Some consider Him to be soft and lenient, like a doting grandfather who won’t discipline his errant grand baby. Others see Him as a God with whom they have a relationship, and do not need to fear. And truly, there ARE some who have a personal relationship with God: those who have repented of their sins and put their trust in Jesus as their Savior. They do indeed have no reason to fear God’s wrath.

This does NOT mean, however, that just anyone can rightfully adopt this attitude towards the Lord. Continue reading →

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“Perplexed, But Not Despairing”

Posted on 2016/01/27 by Shawn Thomas

In verses 8-9 of II Corinthians 4, Paul lists a series of contrasts. He said that he and his ministry partners were: “afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”
Some of these contrasts are more obvious in their meaning than others. For example, when verse 8 says they were “perplexed but not despairing”, just what does it mean that Paul and his companions were “perplexed”?  This refers to something that each of us faces at least occasionally, and Paul’s response can help us when we come to such times: Continue reading →

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From A Little Cottage In The Foothills

Posted on 2016/01/26 by Shawn Thomas

Well we are just about dug out of “Snow-mageddon 2016” here in our “Little Cottage In The Foothills.”  I haven’t heard the official total on how many inches of snow we received, but the rain gauge at the “Little Cottage” flowed over the 8″ maximum with snow, so it was something more than that!  I thought this might be a good time for an update on some stories from our neck of the woods: Continue reading →

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Prayer + Purity = Power

Posted on 2016/01/26 by Shawn Thomas

In II Corinthians 4:7, the Apostle Paul speaks of “the surpassing greatness of the power” that is in the life of a Christian, even though in and of themselves they are merely an “earthen vessel.”  In other words, God manifests His power through our weaknesses so that only He will receive the glory.  (For more on this, see yesterday’s devotion here.)   But, one might counter, we do not see this in every Christian life. Perhaps you would even admit that people do not see it in YOU!  Why is this?

We need to understand that this manifestation of God’s power in our lives does not just “happen.”  It is the result of a couple of commitments in our lives: Continue reading →

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Something Beyond Ourselves

Posted on 2016/01/25 by Shawn Thomas

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves” (II Corinthians 4:7)

Why is it that God often allows those of us in His service to experience weaknesses and difficulties?  This verse sheds light on at least one answer to that question: Continue reading →

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