Saturday 13 Feb 2021

February 13: 2 Corinthians 1:8-11
 
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 1:10
He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us
 
Devotion:
I wonder how much grief the writer went through so he would write words like these for all to read. I know I have faced so little compared to the hardships the apostles faced, but I have seen a side of people they probably did not know existed before they faced me in their anger.  
 
I find comfort in words like these because I know people hit out at us when they do not understand why we are doing what we do for God. Friends and family change when they see you doing things they have no understanding of; and in ways they don’t understand because they cannot grasp all God means to us or what He can do with and through us.
 
How can we “count it as joy” when people are turning against us because we are doing something different? Well, when we do something new or different when guided by the Holy Spirit, we will face opposition – after all, nobody likes too much change in their lives! Isaiah promoted the idea Christ was going to come and do something new; and when He did come and do something new, people objected and rose up against Him – even though Jesus knew what He was doing was the right thing to do!
 
When we face opposition we should not try and fight it alone because the fight we fight is God’s fight and not ours alone; we are working for Him and should be under His command. We are going to continue to face opposition and even dangers in our work for God, but as long as we stay close to Him and rely on Him for love and protection, you will be assured of a great future with Christ!
 
Points to Ponder:
Do you despair when facing opposition to God’s work?
 
Will you rely on God for His guidance today?