![Where the Bush is Burning: A Daily Devotional by [Thomas Tice]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41u9kx4miUL.jpg)
Reconciling the World
2 Corinthians 5:19 (NKJV)
“that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”
Strongest when Weakest
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NKJV)
“Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
His Strength, Our Weakness
His Strength, Our Weakness
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness…”
II Corinthians 12:9b
Long term physical afflictions are wearing upon every portion of us. Our body is in pain; our mind chafes under the limitations; we are less able to joyfully interact socially; and our spirituality can easily become less vibrant. We may say to ourselves, ‘why is it so with me? My hear’s desire is to glorify God by laboring heartily for His Glory. I want to have strength and ability to make much of Christ.’ We may go so far, as Paul did, to pray for God to remove this ‘thorn in the flesh.’ Yet God may not remove it, because He will do a greater thing. Yesterday, we considered that after Paul had besought the Lord three times to remove his ‘thorn,’ Christ answered His petition with, ‘My Grace is sufficient for you.’ He follows that with a reason, which serves as our text for today, ‘for my strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Our weakness provides the stage for the display of the Strength of Christ. By viewing us, in all of our inability, carrying out the work of God, making much of Christ, behaving in a Christ-like manner, ministering in a Christ-like way and pointing others to Christ, they see, not us, but Christ and the display of the full complement of His Strength. As His ‘strength is made perfect in weakness,’ He gets the glory; for the success of any endeavor depends upon Him, and the credit belongs to Him. Therefore, we today can endure these thorns knowing that Christ will have the glory.
Our Strong and Able Savior,
We praise You, that You empower us,
who have no strength apart from You.
Uphold us this day, with Your Free Spirit,
that others may praise and magnify You.
Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning
Riches to Rags
2 Corinthians 8:9 (NKJV)
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”
His Unspeakable Gift
His Unspeakable Gift
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
2 Corinthians 9:15
Now is the season for gifts and giving. By tomorrow, there will be new material possessions strewn across households everywhere. We lay emphasis upon these things, and while they are not, in and of themselves virtuous, our giving of gifts to one another is an indication of our love and regard for those to whom we give them. Lifting up our eyes from these things, we behold Christ. Our text for today exclaims, ‘Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.’ Yes, Christ is the Indescribable Gift of the Overwhelmingly Generous God. What makes Christ this ‘Unspeakable Gift?’ That God would so love us, that He would send Christ, is beyond our comprehension. That Christ would so humble Himself as to, ‘take upon him the form of a servant, and be made in the likeness of men,’ defies our ability to adequately articulate. That He would endure the lifetime of humiliation, knowing that it would end in the cruel torture and agonizing death of the cross, evacuates our imaginations of all ability to adequately summarize. Having said that, what fountains of joy do these things cause to spring up in our hearts. How abundantly thankful does this Christ and His work make us! It elicits from us a thankfulness that transcends the season, and fills us with joy that cannot arise from any human source. Christ has made us glad through His Own Great Self. We today, and every day, give thanks to God for His unspeakable Gift.
Our Great and Glorious God, You do all things well.
We rejoice today especially in Your abundance towards us,
in giving unto us Your only Begotten Son, in Whom is all our delight.
Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning