This Day With God – A Spiritual Journey | Share The Word

Instruction

Posted on May 24, 2019 by Mark Shields

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. – Mark 12:30-31

Within the post “Stern Because of Concern”, Paul demonstrates his love for the Corinthians. His love was similar to parents loving their children. He was willing to postpone what he would like for what they would like because he was concerned for their future.

This continues to be the greatest instruction for us today. To love God the Father with all our heart, soul, and mind. Then to love our neighbor as ourselves. Take inspiration from today’s song More by Matthew West.

Index of devotionals

Posted in Devotionals, Love | Tagged Bible Study, Future, Instruction, Love, Neighbors, Parents, Praise, Teachers | Leave a comment

Stern Because of Concern

Posted on May 23, 2019 by Mark Shields

In 2 Corinthians 12:11-21, Paul spends time acting as the ironic fool because he wants to get across to them that he is laying it all out there for their own benefit and not his own benefit. He loves the Corinthians like his own children and only means well for their future.

Paul’s defenses are directed at the false teachers who believed he desired personal financial gain. In the past, the Corinthians did not stand up to the false teachers and allowed them to misrepresent his motives.

Even though Paul was let down by the Corinthians, He would continue his support of them because of his love for them. He feels much like a parent feels when their children have let them down.

We all work hard to make the life for future generations better than our own. When our friends and family dishonor this hard work by rejecting our efforts and going in the wrong direction, there is this feeling of why should I work so hard? I could enjoy life and spend my intellectual and monetary resources on myself rather than working so hard for future generations.

Paul is apprehensive about his forthcoming visit to the Corinthians because he may find that they are losing the battle rather than winning. He may find that they are losing to the negatives like discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, and arrogance.

He’s apprehensive because they may lose the battle towards the way of Christ and things may eventually fall apart. The negative way of life may not cause things to fall apart in the present but in the distant future. The burdens of the future would fall on those who do not listen to the way of Christ.

The older generation has a responsibility to the younger generation to give instruction about the way of Christ. Parents have a responsibility to their children, teachers to their students, brothers to their sisters, and neighbors to each other.

This day with You Lord, help us to do what needs to be done. To accept the love You have given in Your Son and point out this love. Help us to offer this love to others even when they may reject this love. Help us to be concerned for the well-being of others. Amen.

Posted in Bible Study, Love | Tagged Bible Study, Future, Instruction, Love, Neighbors, Parents, Prayer, Teachers | Leave a comment

Carry Me

Posted on May 22, 2019 by Mark Shields

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:10

In the post “Higher Power”, highlighted was that Paul was content even in tuff times because it was during these times that he was dependent on Christ. This dependence allowed a greater power to work at full strength to carry through the rough times.

Like the scripture at the top states, we can be content even in our difficulties because it is during these times that God becomes our strength. Like today’s song Carry Me by Josh Wilson, He carries us out of the sinking sand to the solid ground.

Index of devotionals

Posted in Devotionals, Overcome Difficulty | Tagged Bible Study, Devotional, Grace, Inspiration, Overcomer, Passion, Praise, Spirit, Truth | Leave a comment

Higher Power

Posted on May 21, 2019 by Mark Shields

Reading in 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, Paul was content even in difficulty because it was during these times that he was dependent on the Lord and would receive a power greater than any earthly power. The lesson for us is that the Lord brings balance into our life so rejoice even in tough times because He will work to remove the obstacles we face. We will be made stronger in order to handle life’s difficult situations.

Embrace the wonder of God’s power and learn to be patient. Maintain the passion by living in God’s Spirit and Truth. Think of an airplane. It is the air resistance that lifts the plane higher much like the resistance we face in life that lifts us to new heights.

Be inspired by people like Walt Disney who was fired at a newspaper because he was not creative enough. By people like Henry Ford who went broke four times before he started Ford Motors. By people like Sylvester Stallone who was homeless at one point in his life as he struggled to make ends meet as an actor. Then he not only was the actor but also wrote all the “Rocky” and “Rambo” movies.

Like Paul, we can be content with weaknesses. Whatever situation we get into is not beyond help and actually creates an opportunity for God’s greater power to be put to work.

It is during difficulty,
That we need patience
And to accept Christ
As our acquaintance.

For it is through Him
That we receive grace
And we can step ahead
At an amazingly fast pace.

Like the first snow of winter that covers the rough ground created from drought and erosion, God’s grace covers the rough spots along our journey through life to smooth out the path.

Snow in Waco 2-4-11

This day with you Lord, we have faith that You will provide the resources we need to get through anything. We grow stronger even in weakness as we read Your Word, meet in our groups, praise You with song, and memorize scripture. These activities make us stronger in order to handle stressful situations. We are grateful for this power in Jesus name. Amen.

Posted in Bible Study, Overcome Difficulty | Tagged Bible Study, Grace, Inspiration, Overcomer, Passion, Praise, Spirit, Truth | Leave a comment

Questions for Reflection for Study of 2 Corinthians 12-13

Posted on May 20, 2019 by Mark Shields

Over the last few weeks, we’ve shared some thoughts and ideas from the journey through 2 Corinthians 9-11. The first thought was how God initiates in our heart the eagerness and enthusiasm toward giving. The gift of Christ inspires in us the desire to give as a thanksgiving for what we have been given.

Not only is it important to share in our material blessings but there is also a need to share in our spiritual blessings. As a team member for God, we can step ahead of hate, iniquity, and other corrupting influences in the world that keep us down. Instead, we can desire the authenticity, sincerity and certainty that God provides using technology to make a positive impact on your life.

Just a click away are scriptures, sermons, Christian blogs, and uplifting music available at any place or any time just by using your phone, mobile device, or computer. There is unlimited power when we work together. Lay claim to the ONE who unites us all. Together, we can gain advantage over the enemy and achieve the standards set by God in His Word.

Over the last few weeks, we’ve been made aware of Paul’s courage in standing up to the negative ways of the world. He was devoted to being a servant of Christ even when in danger, imprisoned, and facing tremendous pressure. As we journey through this life, impossible situations may be a part of our future too but the weapon we can use to face these situations is the power of the Holy Spirit. The indwelling Spirit will provide what we need to step out in adventurous ways with a courageous vision.

This picture below is of Emerald Bay and Lake Tahoe which is the largest alpine lake in North America. Not only is it large in area but extremely deep (1,645 feet). Like Lake Tahoe that stores up massive amounts of water, we should be a reservoir of God’s Truth so that others can be refreshed with the pure authentic Gospel, the True spirit, and the real Jesus.

The reading plan below will be used to hold me accountable to sharing about God’s word. As I share about my study of the next few posts, it’s important to have a plan. I’m thankful that Jesus is God’s plan for us and by accepting Christ as Savior; we have taken the steps necessary to make this day with God amazing!

Questions for Reflection

2 Corinthians 12:1-10
Why can Paul be content with personal weaknesses, insults, hardships, etc.? How and when can a weakness become a strength? How can you be content with your weaknesses?

2 Corinthians 12:11-21
Why has Paul spent so much time acting the ironic fool? To whom has Paul’s defense been directed? Can you think through possible relationships with friends and family when you could gladly spend for their benefit? What are the reasons for Paul’s apprehension regarding his forthcoming visit to the Corinthians?

2 Corinthians 13
How will Paul act toward the Corinthians when he comes? What is Paul’s concern in challenging the Corinthians to examine themselves? How can you conduct your life so that you can claim to do nothing against the Truth? What must you do so that the God of love and peace will be with you?

Feel free to respond with a short note or a comment about any of the questions above. Also, I welcome any other thoughts or ideas, favorite inspirational videos, photos, or favorite Bible verses. Just add them to the comments or to a Facebook page I’ve set up at this link: This Day With God.