November 16th, 20

 Can You Afford It?

Today’s reading is II Corinthians 7 – 10.  We are reading from the New Living Translation.

Do you want to live a life that is generous and strong? Can you afford to live a generous Christian life.  Do you have the strength to defend yourself and your faith against the enemy’s attack?  I guess that depends on how rich and how strong you are. In the previous chapters, Paul is good to remind us of where our riches for generous living and the strength for our struggles, come from.  They come from the One who, alone, is rich enough and strong enough.  They come from Christ, Christ in you.  Do you want to live a life that is generous and strong?  Than it will have to be Christ living in you.  The previous chapter from yesterday’s reading, (II Cor 6:7) sets this up for us.  It says that God’s power is working in us.  And we use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand, and the left hand, for defense.   Now, in II Corinthians 7:1 we read,

“Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit.  And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God”

What’s the promise?  It’s the promise of Christ in you.  What are some of the earmarks of holy living?  Generosity and strength.  He tell us that now, because Christ lives in you, you are able to cleanse yourself from everything that defiles your body and your spirit.  Now you have the strength and generosity to move forward and experience real change. You can work toward complete holiness because you fear God and because Christ lives in you. Can you afford a generous life?  It depends how rich you are.  Can you defend yourself against the enemy?  That depends on how strong you are.  How rich are you?  How strong are you?  If Christ is in you than you have all the riches you need, and then some.  If Christ is in you, than you have all the strength you need to face the enemy.

“…The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 Jn 4:4)

Because we have these promises, we can live the Christian life, the normal Christian life.  

Be awakened by the Word of God, to the Life that is in you…Christ, in you! Christ, living His life through you, enables you to be generous and strong.

You are loved!