"Warning!"

Wednesday, March 18, 2020 (7:15 a.m.)

Father God,

Blessed Jesus,

Holy Spirit,

We, as a people of the human race, are in need. Of You! Each of You!

 “Social distancing.” “Shelter in place.” “Unprecedented.” “Flatten the curve.”

These words and phrases have become the norm. How I call on each one of You collectively to be the Father, Son and Holy Ghost we have been taught to believe You to be.

I turn to 2 Corinthians (13:11-13). Your apostle “Paul’s Final Greetings” to the church at Corinth. Listed as “New Covenant Ministry. Written “to explain new life in Christ.”

Looking at the overviews of this letter I find such hope Father. Truly. From one moment to the next this world does not know what is coming.

Turning to, depending on, trusting and believing in Your promises is where I am right now. Father, thank You that ‘You so loved the world that You gave Your only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life’ (John 3:16).

According to The Message, “This is how much God loved the world: He gave His Son, His one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending His Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in Him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust Him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to Him.”

Oh amen Dear God! Amen!

How we truly thank You for loving us so much. And ask (Matthew 7:7) You to continue Your work in guiding, teaching, molding us. We need You Father. So incredibly much!

Looking at the overview for 2 Corinthians New Covenant Ministry Illustrated Bible Handbook again I view Your Word as being “full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are” (Hebrews 4:12).

This letter begins with Paul’s greetings and is broken up from there:

Chapter 1. Comforting Others

Chapter 2. Deep Love

Chapter 3. Transparency

Chapter 4. Confidence

Chapter 5. Motivation

From here it gets a little more complex:

Chapter 6, 7. New Covenant Exemplified

Chapter 8, 9. Giving under the New Covenant

V. Authority under the New Covenant (2 Corinthians 10-13)

Chapter 10. Appeal, Not Command

Chapter 11. Serve, Not Exploit

Chapter 12. Weakness, Not Strength

Chapter 13. Warning!

And this is where I had originally turned. 2 Corinthians 13:13. “May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” Yes! Please.

In this particular time of unknowns, another favored verse comes straight to mind. 1 Corinthians 13:13. “There are three things that will endure - faith, hope, and love - and the greatest of these is love.”

(1:58 p.m.)

NONE of us knows what will happen next, Lord. Thank You that YOU do!

Turning back over to 2 Corinthians 13 in The Life Recovery Bible, I read the comment. “13:11 As Paul closed this letter to the Corinthians, he left them with some worthy challenges and goals to pursue. In essence, he admonished the people to open their minds and hearts to personal change and the healing of their relationships. Such spiritual growth and interpersonal harmony can be fueled by faith in God, the ultimate source of healing love and peace. As modern readers of this letter, we, too, can benefit by acting on Paul’s wise counsel.”

Amen, Precious Father!

As I read the various translations for verse 11, it is The Passion Translation I present here. “Finally, beloved friends, be cheerful! Repair whatever is broken among you, as your hearts are being knit together in perfect unity. Live continually in peace, and God, the source of love and peace, will mingle with you.” Yes. Oh please Dearest Lord.

“Now glory be to God, who by His mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of - infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes” (Ephesians 3:20).

You know best Father. Do all You must. We love You. We thank and praise You. We need You. Desperately! Thank You Lord. Amen.

(781 words ~ 2:29 p.m.)