Daily Devotion in II Corinthians 1

 Daily Nugget:
“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:” II Corinthians 1:1

In the introduction to his second letter to the Corinthian church, Paul reveals part of the secret to his success. The preacher was used of God because it was the “will of God” (II Corinthians 1:1).

I say “part of his secret” because there was another factor that was not mentioned here. However, Paul’s testimony throughout the New Testament makes it very clear what it was. It was God’s will that Paul, the one-time enemy of God and His people, got saved, become an apostle, and let himself be used of God. He did what God showed him to do. His obedience to God was his real "secret" of success.

This distinction between “God’s will” and obeying God’s commandments is very important. After being saved by relying on Jesus’ sacrificial offering on the Cross for all sinners, most have a purpose in God’s mind. None of us are saved just to sit and soak up God’s goodness. There is a spiritual war raging in this world (Ephesians 6:12). It is always God’s will that every soldier of God takes part in the battle.

I believe most are convicted of God’s will for them, at least once in their life. The Spirit of God makes all feel guilty sometime in life for their sin. Many hear this “voice” encourage them to be saved or to repent of their iniquity. At times, they feel uncomfortable in their life-style and have a great desire to change. Some heed God’s encouragement to do His will. Unfortunately, too many ignore it.

The Holy Spirit’s encouragement too often is not heeded to do God’s will. Eventually, because they chose not to obey it, the “voice” of the Holy Spirit no longer “speaks” to them. They never get used by God because they have chosen not to obey Him.

Paul ignored the “pricks” (Acts 9:5) of the Holy Spirit for a long time. He disregarded God’s convicting him of his wrong-doing as he watched his acquaintances kill the first martyr for Christ. Paul closed his ears to the cries and pleas of the Christians he had killed and persecuted.

One day, however, God’s will was clear to Paul. In his case, he audibly heard the voice of the Son of God on the Damascus road, and he obeyed what Jesus told him to do. His life was different after that decision, and the world has never been the same because of his obedience.

God’s will for every one of us is to do something for Him. This, sadly, does not happen in too many cases. Many get saved. Some obey for a while. God has great plans to use them, but they never get used in the way God intended because of some disobedience. The real key to ever being used effectively by God is to be obedient to do what one is shown to do, as was in Paul’s case.

It is God’s will that all that are saved and serve Him. It is not His will that we disobey Him by putting off or ignoring what He has placed in our hearts to do. We can also have a life effective for the cause of Christ if we, too, will obey what God’s will for our life is!

Today’s Thought: 
“The will of God will not take you where the power of God cannot keep you.” — Author Unknown

Word to Understand:
Saints: those people that are saved

Today’s Reading:
II Corinthians 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 ¶ Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7 ¶ And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.
12 ¶ For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
13 For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;
14 As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.
15 ¶ And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;
16 And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.
17 When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?
18 But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.
19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
23 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.