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Verse By Verse Devotional by Pastor Jack on 2 Corinthians #108

February 27, 2017 | by: Jack Lash | 0 comments

Posted in: 2 Corinthians

All Things For You (4:15)

4:13-15 "But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, ’I believed, therefore I spoke,’ we also believe, therefore we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. 15 FOR ALL THINGS ARE FOR YOUR SAKES, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God."

Did you know that everything there is is for you?

Paul here is informing the Corinthians of the fact that all of what he has been talking about -- his bold apostolic testimony, his trials and sufferings, the future resurrection of believers and their presentation by the Father to His Son -- is for their welfare and blessing: "For all things are for your sakes..."

Probably when the Corinthians read this they harkened back to a similar statement that Paul made in his earlier letter (1Corinthians). He was talking about the divisions that had sprung up in the church around various personalities: Paul, Cephas (Peter), Apollos. After chastising them for their divisive spirit, Paul says this:

"For all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God." (1Cor.3:21-23)

It is hard to fathom, but it’s true! All things are for us! Everything that God has created, He created for us! It is all made for our good. It is all designed for our ultimate blessing.

Go outside and look at the stars in the sky. More than 100 billion galaxies with 100 billion stars each. And they’re all there for you. God wants to show you His glory. Look at the ocean and the sunsets and the flowers and the animals. Look at your own body, "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14). Look at everything you have and everything you see. They are all gifts of God for you. The Bible, the mighty works of God, His commands, the Holy Spirit, the Church, the promises of a glorious hope: they are all for us! Even your troubles are for you. The flood is for you and the drought is for you. They are not against you. God called them forth for your benefit, because He loves you (see James 1:2-3).

"If God is for us, who (or what) can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:31-32)

O sovereign God, I am crushed by the realization that I trust You so little when You are so worthy of my trust. You have never acted against me, but always for me. You have faithfully provided me with all things for my enjoyment and salvation. And yet I complain and feel sorry for myself. I interpret many of your gifts as if they are against me. I resent what is designed for my blessing. Thank You for Your forgiveness. Please increase my faith. I glory in Your love, O Lord. It is high and marvelous. It is beyond me. It is my hope and my song and my deep joy.

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