PJ's Journal

"Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant - not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." 2 Cor. 3:4-6 Confidence which leads to competence is important in almost everything you do. I remember playing basketball in high school on varsity as a sophomore, and the coach thought it was safe to put me in the game. I was the only white boy on the team and the only one in the gym for this game. At the time I played the number 2 guard (shooting guard) and 20 seconds into my entry into the game, I was given an opportunity to shoot a three ball. There was no one near me (or so I thought) so I pulled the trigger only to find my ball landing in the bleachers about six rows up. Out of no where, an opposing player featuring his 6'6" frame blocked my shot! That will do something to your

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?" 2 Cor. 2:14-16 Have you ever walked into a home where someone was baking and you became really hungry in a hurry? I am getting hungry just thinking about it. The aroma of what was being cooked could not be ignored. Paul reminds us that we are the aroma of Christ and God leads us to spread the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere we go. It's interesting that he does not say that your words are the aroma of God, but rather you are the aroma of God. I believe he words it this way because what people know about Christ goes beyond your words. It encompasses every part about you... your attitude, your reaction

"Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." 2 Cor. 1:21-22 Have you ever walked across or along a creek bed? Its an interesting experience because you never know if your next step will provide you with a safe place for your foot or not. The rocks sometimes move or are slippery and if your not careful you could step in a hole, finding yourself a little more wet than you expected. Its always more secure when we step onto something that is firm. Paul uses the security we find in our footing to make the point that, in Christ, God has made us stand firm ! Our security in this life is in the promises of Christ. He has anointed us! He has set us apart and called us His own! I don't know what you think about being owned by other, but it is perfectly ok with me that the Almighty God, who is maker of all... knows all... and holds

"Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace. For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus." 2 Cor. 1:12-14 Trust! Wow, trust is such a big thing in relationships... something that is easily destroyed and hard to get back. I love Paul's confidence as he is basically saying to the Corinthian believers, "You can trust me and my buddies!" They know their motives and can say with a clear conscience that God has enabled them to conduct themselves in a way that is pure and genuine relative to their relationship with the people. This relationship is rooted i

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort." 2 Cor. 1:3-7 It is difficult to understand this passage without understanding the context that Paul is in and his worldview on life. In the next passage, he explains to the believers in the church that he is going through an incredible amount of suffering... to the point that he and those with him despair life. He is clear about