Intentional Warmth

“Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All God’s people here send their greetings.” -2 Corinthians 13:11-13

You’ve experienced both ends of the spectrum when you walk into a room of people, haven’t you? One group is warm, welcoming, and including. The other group is cold, unfriendly, and uninviting. What makes the difference and how can we carry that warmth everywhere we go so that others feel the love of Christ in us?

Paul writes to the church as family when he refers to them as brothers and sisters (v.11). We take on a new identify when we surrender our lives to Jesus! We are adopted into the family of God as we are reconciled to our loving Father in heaven! That means we also are joined into a much larger family with many brothers and sisters. That fundamentally changes how you view relationships!

You now look at other believers as eternal family that you can build long-term loving relationships with because of all you now have in common in Christ! For those outside the faith, you now see them differently as well and want them to experience what you enjoy. You see them as someone in great need of the same love and family you have received in Christ! Every person matters to God so every person matters to us!

Are you walking in your new identify in Christ? You are an ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20) of Christ which means you carry His love with you everywhere you go. You are a representative of the family of God and others will know the love we have by how you carry that love into the rooms you enter.

We are commanded to encourage one another and greet each other warmly (vv.11-12)! The way that we welcome each other may vary from culture to culture and different personalities have different needs. However, the clear mandate to carry God’s love is our goal and we are commanded to do it because it is not always our natural instinct. Left to ourselves we can drift toward isolation or solely focusing on our own needs.

You are not at your best when you walk into a room thinking about yourself, how others will perceive you, insecurely dwelling on if they will like you or not, obsessing over your image and appearance to others, or scheming what you can get out them for yourself. We are at our best when we are walking in the Spirit with the love of Christ shining through us for the benefit of others! God gets great glory and others feel the warmth of His love when you enter a room with the focus on building others up!

God placed you here at this time in part because there are people who need the warmth of God’s love that you carry! Walk in your new identity as a carrier of God’s love and watch the rooms you enter transform by His power at work through you!

Right on?

Read/listen to 2 Corinthians chapter 13 and Galatians chapters 1-2

Prayer focus: talk with God about the times you have felt His love through the warmth of others and ask Him to help you be a consistent carrier of that love to every room you enter

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Fight To Win!

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” -‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭3‬-‭5‬

Most people have no idea that they are in the middle of a battle! You will usually lose a fight if you’re not aware that it’s happening. The spiritual battle for your soul and the souls of everyone you care about is fierce and happening continuously.

The enemy is aware of what is at stake, but most believers don’t live daily as if souls are on the line. You may be unaware of the battle, but the enemy is not unaware of you. The devil is set on winning that battle in your life. Are you focused on winning and ready to fight for God's Kingdom?

You can make decisions every day that send ripples into eternity!

Our natural drift is toward an earthly mindset and material focus which causes us to approach our spiritual battles casually. If you are ambivalent to the fight at hand, you'll be unaware of the strategies of hell and uninformed on the weapons of heaven.

We battle with spiritual weapons, not weapons of the world (v.4). Do you battle in prayer and fasting for your the souls around you and for your future? Do you fight with faith in God’s power or operate only in your own abilities? Do you battle with the Word of God in your hand and in your mind every day?

Take the battle seriously and don’t show up unprepared for the fight! Daily press forward with the weapons of God in your hands and courage in your heart!

No matter how fierce the fighting, God is with you and you never fight alone! We have victory in Jesus and we can win the battles when we fight in His Spirit!

Right on?

Read/listen to 2 Corinthians chapters 10-12

Prayer focus: talk with God about the courage and awareness you need personally to fight and win the spiritual battles around you

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Overcoming Isolation

“For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.” -2 Corinthians‬ ‭7‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭

When we’re not feeling good on the inside, we can tend to not want to be around people. When you isolate yourself because of hardship, discouragement, or brokenness, you are playing right into the enemy’s trap. When you isolate from community, you are missing much of God‘s built-in support system for your spiritual life.

Our feelings can lead us into isolation, but we need to lead our feelings and not let them lead us! Your feelings help indicate what’s going on inside, but they should not be in control. God gives you a spirit of self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7) so you can stay in control of those feelings no matter how strong!

Many people make the decision to isolate because they just don’t feel like being around others, don't want to explain everything, and think they need to figure things out by themselves before reentry into the crowd. However, other people can add valuable encouragement, helpful advice, loving support, and a comforting presence when we are down.

Others accelerate our comebacks while isolation prolongs our set-backs.

You have a ministry of presence as well. Your presence, even if you are not feeling your best, can encourage others. There are many times when we hear someone’s trials and are reminded that we are not alone. Just you sharing what you’re going through can lift someone else who may be suffering in silence.

We are better together and we are stronger together. You need the support of God‘s Church around you and God‘s Church needs you! We are a Body, and we need every part of the Body. We also need you all the time and not just some of the time when you feel like being present with people.

Decide to step into your calling as a part of God‘s Church and show up for your ministry of presence consistently. Watch what God will do in you and through you to be a blessing to those around you!

Right on?

Read/listen to 2 Corinthians chapters 7-9

Prayer focus: talk to God about how you feel these days and ask for the courage to show up consistently with others despite how you feel

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