July 11 Devo Psalm 6

Chapter 6
1 LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.
2 Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint;
heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony.
3 My soul is in deep anguish. How long, LORD, how long?
4 Turn, LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.
5 Among the dead no one proclaims your name.
Who praises you from the grave?
6 I am worn out from my groaning.
All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with
tears.
7 My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes.
8 Away from me, all you who do evil, for the LORD has heard my
weeping.
9 The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;
they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.

Meditation
1. David described his feeling of weakness as he had no strength left
to face life’s challenges. His bones were in agony, his soul in anguish,
he was worn out from groaning. His bed was flooded with
weeping and his couch drenched with tears. His eyes grew weak
with sorrow.
2. Praying along with David’s psalm helps us face our own challenges.
He was realistic about his weaknesses, and honest about his fears.
Dishonesty – an attempt to maintain a “perfect” image – keeps us
from acknowledging our weaknesses. And keeps us from full dependence
on the Lord.
3. Read through this psalm for a couple more times. Pay attention to
the words David used to describe his emotions and attitudes. Use
this psalm as your plea to God for your own situations.

Personal Note:
I have been feeling very weak physically lately.  I see that life is full of challenges.  I am weak and I need to depend on God.

Revelation 2:1-7

1”To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and
walks among the seven golden lampstands: 2I know your deeds, your hard work
and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you
have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them
false. 3You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have
not grown weary. 4Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
5Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you
did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand
from its place. 6But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the
Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the
tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Meditation
1. Think about our own church. In what ways is it similar to the church at
Ephesus?
2. Focus on the relationship between me and the Lord. How does v.4 speak to
me? Have I walked away from my first love for the Lord?
3. How can I regain that first love? What have distracted me from the Lord? In
what areas should I repent? If I haven’t walked away from my first love, how
can I continue to be faithful and in love with God?

Personal Note:
In my church, I see there is a group of brothers and sisters who are willing to labour and endure hardship because of the name of Jesus Christ.  When I reflect on myself, am I engaging in the actions because of the love of Jesus Christ?  When ministry work is done apart from the response to God's love, it is futile and useless.

There is nothing I can do in my own will and power to regain that first love.  God's grace of salvation was a free gift in the beginning.  To regain that first love, I have to humble before God and repent.  Just like how he unconditionally loved and saved me when I was a young believer, I can continue to be faithful and in love with God through repentance and do the things I did at first.

The things I did at first was praying for all occasions.  I remembered that I used to spend lots of time praying for pretty much anything by myself and with brothers and sisters.  Secondly, I had a great interest in God's Words and who God is.  I remembered that I spend lots of time reading and reflecting on God's Words.  Thirdly, I was eager to bond with brothers and sisters and have some burdens to pray for them and encourage them.

3 John 5-8

5Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though
they are strangers to you. 6They have told the church about your love. You will
do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. 7It was for the
sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8We
ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together
for the truth.

Meditation
1. Read the passage carefully as if John is writing specifically to me.
2. What opportunity have I had recently to show someone hospitality? Or in
some way help someone who is trying to do good? How did I respond to
that opportunity? What do I notice about the motives and priorities behind
my action (or non-action)?
3. Think about some gifts I can offer to others (such as cooking, listening ear,
words of encouragement.) Write them down and go through the list with
God. Determine which gifts I am glad to share, and which ones I’m hesitant.
Now think of a specific person who would be helped by my hospitality. Ask
God what he would have me offer to this person. Be open to take this small
step toward hospitality, and see how God may change my heart as I do it.

Personal Note:
I am going on a few visits today to encourage some brothers in Christ.  I pray that may my visit encourage them to rejoice in God.

2 John

1The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and
not I only, but also all who know the truth - 2because of the truth, which lives in
us and will be with us forever: 3Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and
from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. 4It has given
me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father
commanded us. 5And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but
one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6And this
is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the
beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

Meditation
1. A person who “walks in truth” lives in harmony with spiritual and moral
reality. Therefore, we walk “in the truth” if our lives are marked by holiness
and by love. The Christian life is a dynamic pilgrimage of self-giving. It is not
a comfortable resting place of self-indulgence.
2. On a scale of one to ten (with one being the lowest and ten being the
highest), how would I rank my “love quotient”? How might my friends rank
my love quotient? What is needed for me to grow in my understanding and
expression of love to others? What would my life look like if I were diligently
“walking in the truth”?

Personal Note:
The greatest command from God is that we love one another.  I need God's help in my understanding and expressing love to others.

John 5:1-5

1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone
who loves the father loves his child as well. 2This is how we know that we love
the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3This is love
for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4for
everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome
the world, even our faith. 5Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who
believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Meditation
1. John insists that God stimulates one love in our heart; a love that expresses
itself both toward God and toward others. We can’t be warm toward God
and cold toward our fellow Christians at the same time.
2. There is another exciting thing about love for God. It makes obeying
EASY. “Want to” is always easier than “have to”. As long as we feel that
we are forced to do certain things that God demands, those things will be
burdensome to us. But if we eagerly want to do those same things, they
seem to us to be a delight.
3. Do a quick check up on my love for God. Do I want to do those things that I
know please God?

Personal Note:
God wants me to grow in the love for him.
God wants me to love the people around me especially those I minister to.  
God wants me to proclaim the good news of Christ to people who do not know him.

Do I want to do the above things to please God.

1 John 4:4-18

4You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one
who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5They are from the
world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens
to them. 6We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever
is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth
and the spirit of falsehood. 7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love
comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No
one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is
made complete in us. 13We know that we live in him and he in us, because he
has given us of his Spirit.
16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever
lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete
among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in
this world we are like him. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out
fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made
perfect in love.

Meditation
1. Read the passage aloud slowly for a few times. Pause at the word “love” each
time coming upon it. Consider these love gifts from God (love, relationship,
God’s own life, the Spirit).
2. Draw a little picture of me receiving God’s love gifts. How do I feel?
3. Pray: Thank God for pouring such gifts to me. Tell God my desire to be like
an absorber of His love and to be saturated with His love so it overflows in
me and pours out to others.

Personal Note:
Perfect love drives out fear.  When I have fears about the future, my abilities, etc, my love for others is incomplete.  When I am saturated with God's love, all my fears are gone as I am confident of God's providence and protection.  As a result, I can love others sincerely.

1 John 3:18-24

18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in
truth. 19This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we
set our hearts at rest in his presence 20whenever our hearts condemn us. For
God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21Dear friends, if our
hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22and receive from
him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.
23And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and
to love one another as he commanded us. 24Those who obey his commands live
in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it
by the Spirit he gave us.

Meditation
1. Read this passage slowly and carefully. Think: why can we cease to be
controlled by the internal voice of self-criticism when we love others (v21)?
2. What role does self-criticism play in my life? Do I constantly criticize myself
or do I find it difficult to receive compliments or affirmation? Explore this
with God, and talk with Him about what I discover.
3. Why does John so firmly ties loving others and freedom from self-criticism?
Ponder this connection(18-20,24).
4. Pay special attention today to my self-criticism. Jot these things down. Then,
talk to God about it. Recall what John says about loving others and selfcriticism,
and ponder it some more. Thank God and accept the “confidence
before God” (v21).

Personal Note:
I find that I struggle with self criticism that wants to condemn my heart.  Am I a good enough pastor, husband, brother...?  When I love others in action and in truth, the condemnation ceases.  The guilt and shame is taken away as I dwell in God's presence.  I can receive affirmation from others when I am convicted of my acceptance before God.  I thank God for reminding me that loving others frees me from self criticism.

2 John 2:15-17

15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the
love of the Father is not in him. 16For everything in the world—the cravings of
sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes
not from the Father but from the world. 17The world and its desires pass away,
but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

Meditation
1. The “world” in this passage refers to the value system and perceptions
expressed in the culture of sinful human beings. John pointed out the roots
of every human society are in the selfish cravings of man, in the tendency to
greedily desire the materialistic things he sees, and in man’s drive for selfimportance.
Each of these is antagonistic to God.
2. It is easy to become self-centered and drawn away from God by the glamour
of sensuality, status, and riches that will not last. Those who remain on
pilgrimage with God will live forever. The author reminds us that we must
choose; we can have only one master.

Personal Note:
I find that most people including myself love the things of the world more than God.  Before engaging in this devotion, I went on Facebook to check out some videos and comments of my friends and that took like 10min (yes, I try to discipline myself in this area).  I am reminded that anything in the world will pass away.  Why don't I get excited for spending time with God and resting in His Words?  I can only do the will of God when I read and reflect on what God says through His Words.

Devo John 17:20-26

20”My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me
through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in
me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you
have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be
one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete
unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you
have loved me. 24”Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where
I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me
before the creation of the world. 25”Righteous Father, though the world does
not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26I have made
you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love
you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Meditation
1. Read the passage slowly, knowing that this is Jesus praying for me (“those
who will believe in me”). Read it again; substitute my name when it comes
to them or they. If needed, read it one more time.
2. What am I most excited about Jesus praying for me or saying about me?
Why?
3. Thank Jesus for praying for me. Talk to him about the prayer phrases I found
most meaningful. Pray Jesus’ prayer for his followers alive today in the world.
4. Walk around today with the sense that Jesus is in me and that this was
always his plan – to be in me.

Personal Note:
Jesus prays for me all the time.  He prayed this prayer before his death and resurrection.  He is praying for me in the midst of all my joy and sorrow.

Devo John 15:1-9

1”I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch
in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so
that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I
have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear
fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you
remain in me. 5”I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and
I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone
does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such
branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me
and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be
my disciples. 9”As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in
my love.

Meditation
1. Jesus’ disciples are branches, He is the Vine. As we remain in His love, we
produce fruit. A branch draws its nutrients from the vine. In the same way
we draw the spiritual vitality from Jesus in order for us to produce fruit. Thus
Jesus says clearly, “Apart from me you can do nothing.”
2. For the branches to bear more fruits, the gardener needs to prune his vine
regularly. The great Gardener, our heavenly Father, works with extreme care
to prune His vines. We’re assured that God, the gardener, actively tending
His vineyard, is fully committed to bring us to maximum fruitfulness. God’s
pruning work benefits us, it doesn’t threaten us.
3. Remain in the Lord and thank Him for the necessary pruning in order for me
to be fruitful.

Personal Note:
I know that I am in the good hands of God.  I am to remain in Jesus Christ in order to bear fruit.  I am willing to follow Jesus Christ's leading and let God's Spirit work in me.

John 14:15-17

15”If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16And I will ask the Father,
and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of
truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him.
But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

Meditation
1. This passage is about the Holy Spirit, ask Him to guide in a prayerful reading
of it. Make the reading a prayer in itself.
2. The Holy Spirit is the most neglected personhood of God. Yet Jesus promises
to leave His disciples (and us as his followers) with this important Friend.
What does it mean to have the Holy Spirit in me and guiding me throughout
my day, as this passage says: “But you know him, for he lives with you
and will be in you”? Is it comforting? Discomforting? Frustrating? Hard to
understand? Awesome? How can I grow today in awareness that the Friend
lives in me?
3. As I drive, walk, work, study, and interact with others today, call on my
Friend for his guidance with the thoughts I think, the words I speak, and the
decisions I make.

Personal Note:
The Spirit lives in me and is guiding all my thoughts.

Devo John 13:1-5, 13-17

1It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for
him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in
the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. 2The evening meal
was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of
Simon, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his
power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up
from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet,
drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned
to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.
13”You call me ‘ Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now
that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one
another’s feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done
for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a
messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these
things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Meditation
1. Jesus’ Last Supper begins with profound lessons in humility and baptism.
Notice the incredible extent of Jesus’ love, the ignorance of human
responses, and the immensity of Christ’s servanthood.
2. Think over the definition of Service – Loving, thoughtful, active promotion
of the good of others and the causes of God in our world, through which
we experience the many little deaths of going beyond ourselves. (Spiritual
Formation Bible)
3. Reflect: Is humility the trademark for my service? Talk to God and wait for
His response.

Personal Note:
Do I really value others above myself?  Am I really to sacrifice my time, energy, money, reputation, and convenience for the sake of modelling Jesus Christ to the people I serve?  Why am I hesitant at times to care and go out of the way to serve my brothers and sisters?  I thank God for His word to remind me that my leadership is great when I model Jesus Christ's humble leadership.

Devo Psalm 13

1 How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?
   How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
   and every day have sorrow in my heart?
   How long will my enemy triumph over me?

 3 Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
   Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
4 my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
   and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

 5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
   my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD,
   for he has been good to me.

Personal Note:
God, I am feeling deep sorrow in my heart.  My heart is faint and weak.  I am in times of fear, hopelessness, darkness, confusion, weakness, and despair.  I feel like I am trying to seek after you and you are hiding in the dark.  There is so much darkness in this world and you said you are the light of the world.  Unless you give me light and guidance, I will be lost in this darkness.  LORD, you are calling me to believe and put my trust in your unfailing love.

Where am I now if I did not receive your salvation?  My heart rejoices and you are my only hope.  I am certain of you coming again and restore this world without pain, sorrow, sin.  Until that day, I will continue to worship you.  I will continue to dwell in your Words to bring healing to my soul.  I will continue to pray for seeking closer to you.

1 Peter 1:13-22

13Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope
fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14As obedient
children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
15But just as he who called you is holy, so; 16for it is written: “Be holy, because
I am holy.”
 17Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your
lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18For you know that it was not with
perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty
way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious
blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20He was chosen before
the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified
him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
 22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have
sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.

Meditation:
1. Peter’s call to holiness can be confusing and intimidating.  We are often
bombarded by the media depicting “holy” people as stiff, sexuality repressed,
boring, lifeless, self-righteous, judgemental, and deeply hypocritical.  Yet the
picture we see in the Bible is that to be holy is to be transformed into Christ’s
image.
2. While Jesus was on earth, sinful people flocked to him, while self-righteous
folk tended to avoid an encounter.  Peter experienced firsthand Christ’s
penetrating, loving holiness, and even after his greatest mistakes he couldn’t
keep away from Jesus.  How are holiness and love related?  Peter further
instructed: “have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply,
from the heart”.
3. Pray.  Ask God to teach me to live an authentic holy life that is different and
separated from the world.

Personal Note:
Holiness means being set apart to be more like Christ.  God is love.  Jesus Christ is God.  A person who is holy is also a loving person.  I can love sincerely when I have experience the holiness of God's love.

At times, I feel tired from caring and loving for others.  Coming back to God in prayer and resting in Him is the only way to keep on serving and loving others.

1 Timothy 1:3-7

3As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you
may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4nor to devote
themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies
rather than God’s work—which is by faith. 5The goal of this command is love,
which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6Some
have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. 7They want to
be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what
they so confidently affirm.

Meditation:
1. In his letters Paul often emphasized the importance of teaching “sound
doctrine” as well as guarding against those who teach “false doctrines.”
Paul noted that teaching sound doctrine produces a distinctive lifestyle
characterized by love, “which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience
and a sincere faith” (v5).
2. God’s truth has the power to stimulate faith, to cleanse the conscience, and
purify the heart, because God’s truth is in fact, the Truth—Jesus (John 14:6).
A person touched by Truth will become a loving, caring individual.  We are
not to fight for God’s Truth.  We are to open our hearts to the Truth, and let
Him transform us.
3. Stay quiet before God and consider the following:
• Does my love come from a pure heart? Or has it been contaminated
by self-centeredness?  Ask God to help remove the selfishness in my life.
• Is my love real, and from a good conscience, not fake? Ask for courage
to be authentic with God, others and myself.
• Does my life and love demonstrate a sincere faith in God? Or is it
closed off, or resistant to God and His purposes?  Ask God to give me
the willingness to be more open to his purposes, even if doing so feels
uncertain and scary.
4. Am I willing to live and love selflessly, authentically, and openly today?

Ephesians 3:14-21

14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in
heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he
may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that
Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted
and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp
how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this
love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the
fullness of God. 20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all
we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be
glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and
ever! Amen.

Meditation
1. The “love” Paul spoke of here isn’t the love of God, or love for God. His
theme was family love –love for one another in Christ. Paul earnestly desired
that God’s people be “rooted and established in love” in order that we have
power “together with all the saints” to grasp and know the love of Christ
(vv18-19). How can we grasp or understand love? In the context of the
family that loves and cherishes, that nurtures and supports, that cares and
shares, we are to learn by experience the width and length and height and
depth of the love of Christ.
2. “Christ has no body now on earth but yours;
 Yours are the only hands with which He can do His work,
 Yours are the only feet with which He can go about the world,
Yours are the only eyes through which His compassion can shine forth upon
a troubled world,
 Christ has no body now on earth but yours” – Teresa of Avila
3. The mark of a truly spiritual church is still, “See how they love one another.”
With this passage in mind, pray for my church that we, as a church family,
may bear the mark of “loving one another” and may experience deeply the
love of Christ.

Personal Note:
The ultimate goal and purpose of life is to live for the glory of God.  God is glorified when we respond to the love that He has for us.  Our response to God's love is visible through the love and care for one another in Christ.  What really attract people to faith is not fun programs or entertainment.  The love people experienced in the body of Christ is what attract people to faith.  We are reminded that we are the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:31-39

 31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be
against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how
will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33Who will bring
any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34Who
is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised
to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or
famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
 we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37No, in all these things we are more
than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither
death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor
any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be
able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Meditation
1. How might trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger or the
threat of death cause us to question God’s love for us (vv. 35-36)?
2. In spite of these things, why does Paul proclaim that we are “more than
conquerors” (vv. 37-39)?
3. Look again at the powerful words of verses 38-39. How does this give me
courage to persevere?

Personal Note:
Trouble and hardship caused me to question God's love for me.  I used to think that being a Christian means a safe, protected, and smooth life.  I learn that God's love allows me to have peace and joy despite the hardships that I am facing.  I have only knew a few people who suffered persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, and threat of death because of Jesus Christ.  We are more than conquerors because Jesus Christ has conquer death.  We as God's children through accepting the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ cannot be separated from God.  No trouble in life can separate me from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:5-11

 5If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all
of you, to some extent—not to put it too severely. 6The punishment inflicted on
him by the majority is sufficient for him. 7Now instead, you ought to forgive and
comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8I urge you,
therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9The reason I wrote you was to see if you
would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10If you forgive anyone, I
also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I
have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11in order that Satan might not
outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

MEDITATION
1. The Corinthian church here has punished one of its members and Paul
writes to them, encouraging them to forgive and comfort him.  The point of
Paul’s writing is not to focus on the punishment, but rather to encourage the
congregation to care for the health of the whole community.  It is important
for the community to pursue forgiveness in order to prevent Satan from
accomplishing his schemes against the Church.
2. Do I know any believer that may need to re-enter the church community
right now?  If so, ask God for wisdom and love to forgive, comfort and restore
this person into God’s family.

Personal Note:
God has forgiven me of my sins and wickedness.  He allowed me to re-enter the church community by his grace and love.  As a pastor, I have made some foolish decisions (I may be doing so now and in the future) and I have received love, comfort, and forgiveness.

I believe that we are to take God's forgiveness of our sins seriously.  Without God's forgiveness, we would not have the heart to love and forgive.

1 Corinthians 16:13-24

 13Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. 14Do
everything in love.
 15You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia,
and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers,
16to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at
it. 17I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they
have supplied what was lacking from you. 18For they refreshed my spirit and
yours also. Such men deserve recognition.
Final Greetings
 19The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla
greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.
20All the brothers here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
 21I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.
 22If anyone does not love the Lord—a curse be on him. Come, O Lord!
 23The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
 24My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Meditation
1. The Corinthian Church has many problems.  Paul, with much love and
courage, pointed out principles and methods to deal with these problems and
urged them to go back to Christ.  I Corinthians taught us that Unity and
Love in church is far more important than leadership and reputation.
2. In these final instructions to the Christians at Corinth, Paul first charges
them to let all that they do “be done in love”(v14) and then to put themselves
“at the service” of such people as the household of Stephanas.
3. Loving service to the saints seems to be the norm, not the exception.  In what
ways have I “served the saints” during the past year?  In what ways can I serve
them in the future?  What could I serve in this week or this month?  Lord,
show me and I will obey.

Personal Note:
What is my motivation behind serving as a pastor?  Is it for the purpose of reputation and respect?  Is it for the purpose of making money to put food on the table?  My only valid purpose and motivation is the love of Jesus Christ.  Unity and love in the church is far more important than leadership and reputation.

I see that spiritual leaders who are being blessings to the world have an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.  I can stand firm in faith and be a man of courage when I am overflowing with God's love.  I am to serve the church by being faithful to the call of developing disciples in the English ministry in PGC.

1 Corinthians 13:4-13

 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record
of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always
protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
 8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there
are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For
we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the
imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a
child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind
me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to
face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
 13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is
love.

Meditation
1. True spirituality has nothing to do with one’s gifts, training, or performing
skills.  The truly spiritual person is the individual whose attitude and actions
express love.
2. Copy verses 4-7 on an index card, memorize it, or bring it out to review
often.  Examine my own attitude and actions often to see if there is any love
expressed.

Personal Note:
God is love.  For God so love the world that he sent his one and only son Jesus Christ to die on the Cross.  We as follower of Jesus Christ should be identity by the way we love one another.  I cannot see how I can be a loving person apart from the love of Jesus Christ.