Scripture

For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes”. Through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “yes”) ascends for his glory.

Observation

Paul planned to give the Corinthians a double blessing by visiting them on his way to Macedonia and again on his way back.

Paul did not change his plans because made his plans carelessly or because he is like the people of the world who say “Yes” when they mean “No”. Paul’s word does not waver between yes and no. Christ is God’s ultimate “Yes” to us, and this is who Paul preaches and serves.

All of God’s promises are fulfilled with “Yes” in Christ. When we say“Amen” to Christ, it rises to God for His glory.

God enables us to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us and has given us the Holy Spirit as a deposit.

Application

All of God’s promises are “Yes” in Christ.

Paul makes the point here that God does not waver between “Yes”and “No” in terms of His promises. When Jesus died on the cross, that was the ultimate sign of His commitment to us. Having given His all to us, He is not going to back off now, or alternate between opinions about us and our worthiness to receive His promises.

In Christ, all of God’s promises are“Yes”. He invites us to reach out in faith and take hold of His promises to us. These are promises to save us, to heal us, to provide what we need, and more.

God has even given us the Holy Spirit in us as a sign of His trustworthiness. The Holy Spirit is a deposit, a down payment that guarantees the payment of the full amount.

If you are born again, you the Holy Spirit. If you have the Holy Spirit, you have the sign that every promise of God will be released to you.

This is not an automatic process like a vending machine. It is based on a relationship as we walk with God each day.

Prayer

Lord, all of your promises are “Yes” in Christ. Thank you so much for this assurance. Help me to walk confidently and faithfully with you each day. Amen.

Scripture

We think you ought to know, brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.

Observation

Paul describes the troubles he and Timothy went through in the province of Asia. They were crushed beyond their ability to endure. Then they stopped trusting in their own abilities and trusted only in God.

God rescued them from mortal danger, and He will do it again. The Corinthians help by praying for them.

Paul says with confidence that he has lived with God-given holiness and sincerity. His letters have been straightforward with no hidden messages. When Jesus returns, they will be as proud of him as he is of them.

Application

Paul faced great opposition, even to the point of being close to death. That sounds scary, but it had the effect of forcing him to rely on God’s grace and not his own ability.

There is a saying that God will not send us anything that we can’t handle. That is not true. God does it all the time. He does promise that He will not send us anything too big that He can’t handle its.

The Lord is wanting too deepen our trust in Him. We face many trials in our life, some small but others seem huge at the time. In it all, God invites us to trust Him more. As we grow in our ability to trust the Lord, through smaller tests,He sends bigger tests to deepen that trust

Whatever tests I face today, Jesus is with me.

Prayer

Thank you father for the assurance that you will give me victory in every trial. Please help me to trust you. Amen.