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.

Comfort & Participation (2 Corinthians 1:1-11, espcially vs 3, 4, and 11)

 Two key words stand out at me.  They are 'comfort' and 'participation'.  The first is found in 2 Corinthians 1:3 & 4 while the second is from Philippians 2:1 ESV.

The first is blessing the

 "Father of mercies and God of all comfort" (ESV). 

 In the second instance, if there is

 "encouragment in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit" (Philippians 2:1).

Who or what comforts you?  Is it your spouse, a friend, or a cat?

Cats can, surprisingly, be comforting creatures.  I've experienced this myself even though I once did not like cats.  They are too aloof, I thought.

That was, until God brought a litter of kittens to my doorstep.  The mother cat had meowed for about three days until I finally gave in and gave her some milk.  She lapped it up in jig time and then disappeared.  And she got the last laugh at me because about 10 minutes later, suddenly there were five little kittens bequeathed to me and she was no where in sight.  Nor did she reappear again in the following days.  The nerve of her!

But those little kittens comforted my exceedingly lonely, homesick heart.  The Lord knew what I needed in a place that was foreign and isolated from acquaintences.  There was definitely comfort from God's love in stirring my heart with His care in this most unexpected manner.

And in this second letter to the Corinthians, Paul is reminding those in Corinth of Christ's love and God's comfort and their particiaption in the Spirit.  But exactly, what is the meaning of that last phrase?

'Participation' in the ESV is translated as 'fellowship' in the KJV.  The two work together.  The taking part together in the Spirit gives us fellowship with one another.  Sharing together in any particular activity, event or process creates that participation.

In this case, because of being 'in Christ' (Christians), each believer had the Holy Spirit indwelling them.  Therefore, each one could participate in the Holy Spirit.  Paul was asking them to help him and Timothy to comfort them by helping them in prayer together to fulful their mission and ministry.

"You also," Paul requested, "must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through prayers of many"                                       (2 Corinthians 1:11 ESV).

They were their #1 prayer support group.  This is essential for any missionary, pastor and any person in the Lord's work.  We may not be that 'go-er' but we can be the 'send-er' in prayer (and financial support too if so desired and needed).  We too, would participate in spreading the gospel of Jesus to the world in this way.

All praying together is participation in the Holy Spirit showing fellowship and collective dependance and humility before God.  The follower of Jesus Christ can participate in the Holy Spirit in this manner and so be a blessing to all, especially those who need the prayer support.  This brings much comfort, not from a litter of kittens, but from our great and almighty God and Father and His mercies that are new every moring (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Let's share in God's work by blessing those we know involved in His work through prayer and participation in the Holy Spirit and bring comfort to the hearts that need it most.

Let's do all for His glory and honor.  To God be the glory!  Amen.

                                             ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on 2 Corinthians 1:1-11, especially vs 3, 4, 7 and Philippians 2:1 & 2 ESV/KJV.

Sing, God of Comfort, along with Ellie Holcomb.

Lord's Day Devotion - Phenomenon of Change (1 Corinthians 15:36-38, 42, 49, 51-58 ESV)

 "So is it with the resurrection of the dead.  What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable" (1 Corinthians 15:42 ESV).

The verse reveals a phenomenon of change that a 'dead' body (or what's left of it) undergoes when it is resurrected.  The before picture is a perishable one while the after is imperishable.

That is mind-blowing!  Our human brain limitations think it impossible.  Resurrection to be impossible in the first place and then changed flesh elements, in the second!?  (If that's the correct terminology.  I'm no scientist.)  It is totally astounding.

But how the apostle Paul explains it all sounds sensible and logical.  What's more, when you think of why the body composition would need to change, you'll realize and undersatnd the necessity.

A saved-by-grace person receives everlasing life.  If we are going to be everlasting, we will need bodies that are imperishable.  Anyone who is aging will definitely realize this, as we accrue and endure more and more pain and discomfort in our bodies.  God would definitely need to do something about this wear and tear.  And He promises it.

Paul shares the secret and mystery of it all and even gives the analogy of a seed being planted in the ground.  The seed needs to die before it can live.  

As it sprouts up, the seedlings brave the winds and rain but eventually grow into the plant, flower, or tree, etc. they will mature into.  The mature growth then looks totally different from that small seed.

The change in our body's composition, we're told, will happen in

 "the twinkling of an eye."  

This too, either if we have been dead and buried, or if we are still living on earth at the time we hear the trumpet sound.  That trumpet signal to go up to meet our Savior and to be with Him forever we await expectantly for.

Victory over death, through Jesus Christ our Lord, whom God Himself had 'planted' in the ground, but His body sprang back to life at His resurrection.

"Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ"                   (1 Corinthians 15:57 ESV).

In such victory, we have hope and joy and thanksgiving.  But we don't just "hurrah, hurrah" the rest of our earthly lives.  No, with joy and gladness we give Him praise, we remember Him in His death and resurrection through the breaking of bread, and drinking of the cup as often as possible, until he comes.  This was Jesus' request.

Furthermore, we become and maintain, being ...

 " ... steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV).

And so we go on day by day, living each moment for God's glory and the extension of His kingdom, until He comes or until our body perishes.  Then we look forward to those imperishable ones and being with Him forever.  

Praise His glorious name!

Remember Him now, this Lord's Day, pass the broken bread and the cup of wine in the gladness of heart and resurrection power we will someday experience and that coveted change of body.  (Not someone else's body, but our own new imperishable one.)

Lord Jesus, we adore You.  We give You our praise and thanks for enduring the cross, despising the shame, the dying that we may live.  That we may have life eternal and imperishable bodies and go to be withYou at Your appointed time and be with You forever.  In Your name we give You our thanks.  Amen.

                                        ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on 1 Corinthians 15:36-38, 42, 49, 51-58 ESV.

Sing, Glorious Day, along with Hadleigh Baptist Church and Hidup Ini Adalah Kesempatan, along with Harmony Voice.

Lyrics and translation:

HIDUP INI ADALAH KESEMPATAN 

Hidup ini adalah kesempatan

Hidup ini untuk melayani Tuhan

Jangan sia sia kan waktu yang Tuhan b'ri

Hidup ini hanya sementara

Oh Tuhan pakailah hidupku

Selagi aku masih kuat

Bila saatnya nanti ku tak berdaya lagi

Hidup ini sudah jadi berkat

Hidup ini adalah kesempatan

Hidup ini untuk melayani Tuhan

Jangan sia sia kan waktu yang Tuhan b'ri

Hidup ini hanya sementara

Oh Tuhan pakailah hidupku

Selagi aku masih kuat

Bila saatnya nanti ku tak berdaya lagi

Hidup ini sudah jadi berkat

Oh Tuhan pakailah hidupku

Selagi aku masih kuat

Bila saatnya nanti ku tak berdaya lagi

Hidup ini sudah jadi berkat

Hidup ini sudah jadi berkat

This life is an opportunity

This life is to serve God

Don't waste the time God has given

This life is only temporary

Oh God, use my life

While I still have the strength

One day I will be helpless

This life has become a blessing

This life is an opportunity

This life is to serve God (don't waste it)

Don't waste the time God has given

This life is only temporary

Oh God, use my life

While I still have the strength

One day I will be helpless

This life has become a blessing

Pockets and Purses (1 Corinthians 16 KJV & ESV)

 

In our Bible Study lesson the other week, the study writer John White directed our attention to the following.  He wrote,

"The last parts of us to be converted are our pockets and purses."

Rather humorous, I think. But then again ...

I think he's right in saying this.  When it comes to money matters, it really does create a tug-of-war with our pockets and purses.

When the apostle Paul was writing his farewell lines of his first letter to the Corinthians, he talked about money.  But he seemed to speak with the confidence that they'd give somewhat freely.

He spoke the

 "collection for the saints." 

 They were to give of their "store" as the Lord

 "had prospered them" (vs 2).

Paul made his appeal to them to ...

"... bring your liberality unto Jerusalem" (1 Corinthians 161-3 KJV).

The ESV calls it their "gift" (vs 3).

'Liberality' says more to me and makes me feel the pinch more.  'Gift' may cause a twinge too, though.  Why should they give of their hard-earned cash for others?

But a believer, whether in yesteryears or nowadays, can show God's love to our brothers and sisters-in-Christ even in freely and gladly giving when and where the necessity arises.  Paul encouraged,

"Let all be done in love" (1 Corinthians 16:14 ESV).

We can recall Jesus' parable of the foolish rich man who built bigger barns to store all his excess grain.  He did so without regard to others in need.  He was ready just to eat, drink and be merry without regard for his soul (see Luke 12:13-21).

He had a self-centered attitude that generated self-centered actions.  He would keep all for himself seems to be implied.

Financial security.

One never knows when one will need what they have.  So one hoards what one has.

But we need to be rich towards God whether we are rich or poor.  We need to build up treasure in heaven.  When the Lord prospers us with money and/or possessions we can use them for His glory and furtherance of His kingdom and to help those in need already in the kingdom.  All by the grace of God working in and through us on His behalf and on behalf of His people.

May the liberality of our pockets and purses be generous, until He comes.

                                               ~  ERC  June  2026  ~

Based on 1 Corinthians 16 KJV & ESV.

Sing, Give of Your Best to the Master, along with The N Crew and Hidup Ini Adalah Kesempatan, along with Harmony Voice.

No Quacking or Clucking (1 Corinthians 14:1, 5, 12, 15, 17 ESV)

 Ha, ha!  Have you ever seen or heard of a duck communicating with a chicken?  It'll 'quack' you up if you do, I think.  They do not speak the same language.

Reading 1 Corinthians 14 has been very timely for me.  I've been asked to share something about motherhood with some ladies - some mothers and grandmothers, who do not speak the same language as I.  I certainly am not competent to speak theirs. 

So it's a dilemma.

To further the complication, the translator is not feeling competent to translate from English into her language.  But she could from her language to the language of the ladies we would visit.  In this way, even though convoluted, there would be real communication happening.  Thank the Lord for ChatGPT that can translate the basics.

The apostle Paul knew something about this.  Well, not about ChaGPT, of course, but he wrote there's no point in speaking, even a Bible message if the hearers don't understand.  You need someone to translate, and that accurately (vs 5).

You don't want to be a noisy gong or a clanging symbol either.  You need to show love, care and respect to the hearers by ...

" ... pursuing love (God's kind) and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy" (chapter 14:1).

Oh how I'd love to have the tongue of this locale in which to prophesy.  Alas, try as I might, I seem to be a monolingual person that stumbles and falls over another language.

So I really thank the Lord for the sister-in-Christ willing to go even though it's the convoluted route, to convey something for me that hopefully and prayerfully the Lord sanctions and sanctifies me to share.  

The focus purpose being to build each other up in our faith, and to encourage each other in motherhood  and the Lord.  What's more, so that even ...

" ... the church may be built up" (vs 5).

May we all strive in building up the church.  May we also be eager for manifestations of the Spirit to aid in this process. May we all pray and sing and praise in our spirits as well as our minds, and not "cluck, cluck" annoyingly to give God glory.  So as much as in us lies, let's give thanks with cheerful sincere hearts, transmitting the love of God as best we can through whatever language possible, even if its convoluted.

                                                  ~ ERC  June  2026  ~                                                             

Based on 1 Corinthians 14:1, 5, 12, 15 and 17 ESV.

Sing, Oh For a Thousand Tongues, along with Reawaken Hymns.

P.S.  I'm back from that sharing and in the end another sister did the translating work.  Either way, may the Lord be praised and get the glory.  It's only by His grace we can doing any of this.

HAIKU - Clanging Gong (1 Corinthians 12 ESV)

 Puffed Up Knowledge, and

spiritual gifts, used to

dominate others.

No love.  No care.  No

prioritizing God's love

for all.  What's it for?

To strike your own gong?

To crash your own symbol?  Bong!

Crash!  Clang!  Ear attack!

Noisy!  Not the way

to love.  Not the way to show

loving care to all.

The more excellent 

way is LOVE.  Patient, kind, not

arrogant or rude.

Doesn't envy or

boast, NOR insist on its way.

Love is so much more.

No jarring, ear bash.

Sweet chimes of excellence, God's 

way, for God's glory.

Let's ring the sweet chimes 

of Heaven with His never

ending love and care.

          ~  ERC  May 2026  ~

Based on 1 Corinthians 13 ESV.

Sing, Love - Worship Song, along with Jason Silver Music.

Lord's Day Devotion - As Though They Had None (1 Corinthians 7: especially vs 23-31 and 35 ESV)

 

You can experience the two emotions from each end of a full swing of the pedulum.  You can be in gut-wrenching grief and then have all-encompassing happiness.  But we are wise if we are not consumed by them.  Each state is temporary.

We do well when we are not obsessed with our possessions or our spouse.  We do not make them idols although we are responsible for both, especially our spouse.

Of course, a marriage should be a more permanent state that this institution requires; at least

 "until Jesus comes or death do us part".

So whatever did Paul mean then with verse 29 when he tells the Corinthian assembly that those who have wives,

"be as though they had none"!?

Well we need to watch it that we don't twist Paul's words and take his intended meaning out of context.  Read the whole 7th chapter of 1 Corinthians, especially verses 23-31 and 35.

Our relationship with our heavenly Father and with Jesus our Savior and Best Friend should take priority above our earthly relationships (although a husband or a wife is an exceedingly important person with whom to establish strong, lasting bonds) and material goods.  But DON'T abandon your wife.

Life, at best, is very brief but eternity, well, that lasts forever.  Keep a looser grip on the earthly, temporary things and a firmer grasp on that which is permanent and eternal.  Rather, we should 

" ... promote good order and ... secure [our] undivided devotion to the Lord" (vs 35).

Jesus is coming soon and then we will be with Him forever.  Praise the One who died for you.

Think on these things as you partake of the bread and drink of the cup of wine this Lord's Day in remembrance of Him.  It will gladden our hearts until we see His face in person.

Lord, help us to loosen our grip on earthly things and make You and what matters to You, our priority.  Thank You for making us yours.  In Your precious name we give You our thanks and praise.  Amen.

                                                ~ ERC  May  2026  ~

Based on 1 Corinthians 7: especially verse 23-31 and 35 ESV.

Sing, Life At Best Is Very Brief, along with Squirrel.