Open-Armed Welcome (1 Corinthians 6: especially vs 17 & 18 ESV)

 It sounds arrogant to say, come away from those people, be separate from them, they are 'unclean.'  Then and only then, you are welcome into our elite 'clean' group.  

We all know what it was liked to live so exceedlingly separated during the Covid years.  Do we go back to that scenaro?

Take a look at the context of the text though.  Even parents warn their children, especially their teens who crave independance, that they need to be wary of certain groups of people.  Watch out for the drug scene, gangs and those who'd lead you astray into bad company.  This is wise instruction.

However, if we walk among certain groups of people, we will be affected by their beliefs and actions.  It could be a slow drift into them and eventually we become an 'in' member.  We have come into agreement with their core values and standards some of which could be an illicit culture.

It's a choice then, we need to personally make, just as it was for the Corinthians Paul was writing this second letter to.  Corinth was a promicuous society.

Sexual immorality abounded, apparently.  There was  immense wealth and much materialism and ethnic diversity.  It was a Roman colony.  This was 'Sin City' (AI Overview).

The higher up Roman elites let it be known they were 'elite'.  They condescended upon those they considered beneath them.  This early Corinthian church had representatives from across this stratification.

Due to his tent making, often considered, awnings, made for, for example, hawker stalls  at the Roman games, Paul got to rub shoulders with a cross-section of the diverse crowds.  He knew the temptations that could come ones way.  He knew the city vibes.

He knew he should not linger, loiter or mingle.  He should be in the world but not of it.  He knew what he was talking about and therefore taught these believers to

 "be separate".

Separate from the uncleaness and lures of their society from which they had been rescued by Jesus.  Old habits needed to die, old influences relinquished and the new creation in Christ had to grow.

The way to do so was to ...

"Therefore go out from their midst," 

Paul wrote, 

"and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you ..." (2 Corinthians 6:17 ESV).

That society had been their confidence, their benefactor of sorts.  But now, if they'd be separate from all that, the Lord Almighty promised to be a father to them.  He'd be their protector.  And he'd welcome them.

It's so nice to be welcomed by someone.  An open-armed welcome is so sweet.  May each of us too, have this experience as we keep ourselves separate from unclean things - the things that would taint our Christian behavior, walk and talk.

Then we can go out and sincerely preach the gospel with pure hearts and minds, remembering we are Almighty God's sons and daughters.  Let's be holy as He is holy (see 1 Peter 1:15).

                                                ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on 2 Corinthians 6: especially vs 17 & 18 ESV.

Sing, Holy, Holy , Holy, Lord God Almighty, along with Chet Valley Hymns and Songs.

Photo Credits:  Jane Koh.

Earnest Longing (2 Corinthians 5:1`-5 ESV/KJV)

 May our "inner selves" be renewed day by day allowing spiritual growth to abound and our relationship with Jesus to become stronger every day (see 2 Corithians 4:16 ESV).

And as the tabernacle we live in dissolves, we can earnestly long for our heavenly dwelling more and more.  That has been the case with several believers in Jesus Christ I have known.

My Dad was one of them.  He'd be heard to say that "Perhaps Today" it would happen.  This is NOT to say he was suicidal.  No way!

Rather, he expectantly awaited the rapure of all the saints of God to go up to be with Jesus, en masse.  Then we would be together forever, with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Getting to see Jesus was more his focus though.  In the end, some of Dad's children longed for him to go, even solo, because of his being 'trapped' in his earthly body and the declined mental capacity that Alzheimer's Disease ravished.

It was so devasting to witness.  And so we 'groaned' about his earthly body, when he no longer could even think of "perhaps today".

One day, we, God's children, will have our mortal flesh "swallowed up" by everlasing life, and changed bodies.  Until then, our guarantor, the Holy Spirit, indwells us teaching us patience.

So we can, praise the Lord, singing, "Hallelujah!" every day as we ...

 " ... long to put on our heavenly dwelling" (vs 2).

We earnestly long for and patiently wait ... perhaps today!

                                              ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 ESV/KJV.

Sing, When the Trumpet of the Lord Shall Sound, along with Grace Bible Church.

                

Father's Day 2026 - A Surprize

 

My Mom was a nurse.  Dad was not, but one day he surprized me with nurse-like ministration.  I can still recall it almost as if it had been yesterday.

I had had a cold and my sinuses were so blocked I definitely could not breathe through my nose.  What's worse, eating was virtually impossible.

In misery I quietly got up from the dining table and went and lay down on the living room sofa.  There I suffered it out, almost in tears.

Silently, my Dad approached and brought some sort of magic.  He told me to close my mouth and sniff as he squirted some de-clogging sinus sauce into one nostril.

"I can't," I quavered.

"Try anyway," Dad insisted.

I tried and oh glory be - instant relief!

He repeated the exercise with nostril #2.

In shocked surprize, I could breathe and eat again.  I hadn't known my Dad could do that.

I don't recall ever thanking him for it either.  Shame on me!  But as I think back, I see his compassion that moved and compelled him to bring his daugther relief.

No doubt there are many good Dad's everywhere who would act similarly on behalf of their offspring.  I take my hat off to all of them, but especially to my Dad even though he's been gone to glory for serveral years.

God our Heavenly Father is every bit as good and compassionate.  In fact, He is the most perfect Father of all time and eternity.  We can have a relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ.  

I really appreciate this relationship but I do need to remember to thank Him often.  All my praise and worship should be to Him as an offering of sacrifice from my lips (see Hebrews 13:15).

Let's all do that but don't forget to thank and honor your earthly fathers too.  Surprize them with it while you still can.

To all the good fathers out there ...

                                       HAPPY FATHER'S DAY 2026!

                                                   ~  ERC  May 2026  ~

Read Hebrews 13:15; Exodus 20:12 ESV.

Sing, Good, Good Father, along with Chris Tomlin.

Old Age (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV)

 

Again and again, God's Word comforts.  Despite the suffering, we endure and focus on eternal things.

When we visit old age or assisted living homes we can observe the

 "wasting away"

 and 

"the affliction"

 that overcomes our bodies as we age.  It's uncomfortable and unsettling to see.  We can't wait to get out of there and go home.

But the scene lingers in our minds especially since we ourselves may be aging and already feeling the decline, and wear and tear upon our bodies.  Aches here, pains there; more wrinkly wrinkles, liver spots on our arms and so forth.

Paul told the Corinthians,

" ... death is at work in us, but life in you (vs 12)," 

and 

"knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into His presence" (vs 14).

He then assured them,

"So we do not lose heart" (vs 16 ESV).

Paul reminded them that this state of decay was only temporary suffering.  He goes on to tell them to look at the positive focus, that despite the bodily devastation,

 " ... the inner self is being renewed day by day" (2 Corinthians 4:16).

God is so gracious!

He contiued, it's

 "light and momentary" 

but by compasrison we look beyond to the eternal glory we will enjoy.  Look to the unseen rather than dwell on the seen.

The "seen are transient" but the "unseen are eternal" (vs 18).

It's easy for us to say while we are still able-bodied.  But we can meditate on these Scripture verses now, preparing our hearts for the further incapacitation that may come as we age further.

Think on the time to come that is eternal and when we have our imperishable bodies.  For the here and now, we can build ourselves up in our inner beings, in our spiritual growth and relationship with our heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit's comfort, conviction and guidance.  I find comfort in this.  Maybe you do too...

So don't lose heart.

                                                  ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV.

Sing, Eternal Weight of Glory (Wendall Kimbrough 2016), along with Breathe Back Ministries.

The Lifted Veil (2 Corinthians 3:14-18 ESV)

 "But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed" (2 Corinthians 3:16 ESV).

The veil over the minds and hearts of the unsaved will be lifted.  This only happens when they turn to the Lord.  Christ will take it away.

This is an assurance we can rest in.  It can spur us on when we flag and feel discouraged when we pray for unsaved relatives and friends to come to Christ.

Some of us have been praying for the salvation of unbelieveing relatives and friends for decades.  It seems like nothing is moving and there is no breakthrough.

We can continue though, through thick and thin that they will turn to the Lord.  He will then lift that veil that blinds their minds and hearts, keeping them from seeing Jesus, keeping them satisfied with their own good works and supposed build up of merits, and keeping them from coming humbly to Jesus for their sufficiency.

We can persist in prayer that they too will,

 "with unveiled face, [that they, along with us will] behold the glory of the Lord and be transformed ..." (vs 18).

Pray that the Lord who is the Spirit, will work mightily to see this through.

Abba Father, in Jesus' name and through Your Holy Spirit, we continue to plead for the salvation of our relatives and friends who need Jesus.  Cause them to turn to the Lord, unveil their minds and hearts, so that they come to Christ before it is forever too late.  May they too, experience freedom in Christ.  

May the 'burning house' of their hearts be doused with the water of Your Word.  We ask this in Your Son Jesus' most precious name.  

Amen.

                                          ~ ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on 2 Corinthians 3:14-18 ESV.

Sing, We the Kingdom - The Veil, along with We the Kingdom and My Life is in Your Hands, along with Kirk Franklin.

Photo Credits:  Jane Koh.  China's Manmade Stone Marvel Bridge that's lasted more than a millenium.

Sufficiency From God (2 Corinthians 3:5 & 6 ESV)

 

Are you sufficient?  Or is whatever sufficiency we have, actually coming from God?  The correct answer is that He has,

" ... made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant ..." and this, " ... of the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:5 & 6 ESV).

Paul claimed this for himself and Timothy.  It was God's will for them to have this sufficiency.

As believers in Jesus Christ we have the same sufficiency too.  When we (or others) may feel we don't have what it takes to serve the Lord in whatever capacity, know that of course we don't!

It has to, it must, only come from God through His will and Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit within us.  It's only through Him that we have our strength for the good deeds He has for us to do.

When we rest on this knowledge, we will do much for Christ, whether it's preaching the gospel, or sharing the Word in order to build up the chgurch in their most holy faith.  May His Spirit continue to give life to the work we've been ordained to do for Him.

Let's make good use of such opportunities because He makes us sufficient for the task.  Onward ho, brothers and sisters-in-Christ!  To God be the glory and honor.  Amen.

                                                    ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on 2 Corinthians 3:5 & 6 ESV.

Sing, To God Be the Glory, along with The Worship Initiative.

Photo Credits:  Jane Koh. 

Welcome Back the Repentant (2 Corinthians 2: especially verse 6, 7, 10 & 11 ESV)

 There are preachers and pastors who have done wrong.  I mean, majorly wrong.  Wrong, such as adultery or embezzling church funds for personal use.  Some have even done time in prison.

Some have repented and shown genuine transformation.  What do we do then, as members of the congregation?  Do we continue to spurn them even when they humbly return?

Several years back, we heard of such a high-profile senior pastor, who had to serve time in a neighboring country.  After some years he was invited to speak at a church in the country and city near me.

When this pastor's coming to town was reported, the very first reaction of many and I admit, even of myself was, "Has he truly repented?"

Later, I heard from a reliable source, sister-in-Christ and friend, that he was truly a changed man - changed for good.  Do we then continue to shun the brother?

The apostle Paul addressed the case of the man who'd commited incest with his father's wife (see 1 Corinthians 5:1-3).  In the second letter to the Corinthians he wrote,

"For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough. So you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow"                     (2 Corinthians 2:6 & 7 ESV).

He went on to tell the Corinthians that he'd forgive anyone they would forgive, in the presence of God (see vs 10 ESV).

In our hearts, there will be those judgemental struggles for sure.  Has the person truly repented!?  And we watch and watch every move he or she makes, our eagle eyes on them.  We forget that when we point a finger at someone else, there are three pointing back at ourselves.

Paul continued that we need to forgive, since we are in the presence of Christ,

" ... so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs" (2 Corinthians 2:11 ESV).

Satan wants to divide and conquer, but the Holy Spirit wants us to have unity of Spirit in the bond of peace.  Our Lord Jesus Christ is God an He is infinitely more powerful than Satan and his minions.

Let us therefore move forward in the mighty name of Jesus and forgive not just verbally,  but mentally and with our hearts as we once again welcome the repentant one back into our midst.

So be it, Father.  

Amen.

                                                    ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on 2 Corinthians 2: especially vs 6, 7, 10 & 11 ESV.

Sing,  Lord I Need You, along with Matt Maher.