Jfirst Cause Weekly Devotional
July 19, 2007
Living on The Edge
Grand Canyon – This past July 4th weekend I had the privilege to go camping at the Grand Canyon. I always wanted to go so I thought, why not ask my buddy Akira if he would like to go. Akira agreed and he said that he would try and get a campsite for us. I thought to myself there is no way Akira is going to get a campsite for that weekend and I let him know that. He said he would get one and low and behold he did.
I told friends that I went to the Grand Canyon and went camping during the fourth of July weekend and they marveled at the fact that we got a campsite during that time. Akira is amazing and I am still wondering how he pulled that off.
While we were there sightseeing, I noticed how people are pretty careless when taking pictures. I saw elder folks taking pictures right on the edge with dress shoes on. I saw families taking pictures with their kids on the edge in flip flops. I saw young people climbing down the edges to try and get a better picture in tennis shoes and not having any concern whatsoever about slipping and falling. I saw others go right to the edge and take pictures like if they were in their front living room.
I was amazed how careless people were. I was praying for these folks every time I saw them just taking pictures with no thought of personal safety. I saw God’s Amazing Grace in action and I emphasize Amazing Grace. God has extra angels on duty at the Grand Canyon.
I also went hiking on the rim of the Grand Canyon. It wasn’t anything major as far as hiking but there were times when we were right on the edge. I looked down once and that is all it took; I was extremely careful and didn’t want to be a headline in the paper. I even thought, what the heck am I doing right now? Seeing the Grand Canyon and taking pictures from a safe distance is plenty good enough for me.
This was a trip that I will never forget and as I was thinking about hiking on the edge of the Grand Canyon I thought about how God has called us to live on the edge. He hasn’t called us to live a normal life; He has called us to a life of faith and to walk against the grain. I thought about the Apostle Paul and he is a great example of someone who lived on the edge and walked by faith in life. We will be looking at 2 Corinthians 11:22-31 (New King James Version).
Suffering for Christ
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? 30 If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
In verses 22 and 23, Paul asks a series of questions to validate his Apostleship. He is being attacked by some false apostles who are saying they were more Jewish than him. They were bringing up a foolish argument and Paul addresses this in verse 23 when he says, “I speak as a fool.” Paul has done more for Jesus then them and he has suffered more for Jesus. They had not been living on the edge like Paul, they probably were jealous and now want to bring up the idea of Paul not being as Jewish as them because he was a Greek speaking Jew.
In verses 24-29, Paul talks about how living a true life of Faith took him to the edge and at times over it. He was wiped five times forty stripes minus one and probably should have died. Three times he was beaten with rods and again should have died. He was stoned and left for dead but God spared him again.
He was ship wrecked for a night and a day and he had be in perils which means danger of waters, robbers, own countrymen, Gentiles meaning non-Jewish people, in the city, in the wilderness, in the sea, among false brethren like in this passage, weariness, toil, sleeplessness, hunger, thirst, fastings often in cold and nakedness. He also had to be concerned about the church and its welfare. He asks the questions, who is weak? And I am not weak, who is made to stumble and I do not burn with indignation. Paul is saying if anyone has an argument to lose Faith, I have a big one but I am not even gonna go there.
As a matter of fact, I have more faith and if I am going to boast about anything it is in weakness. I wonder what those false brothers had to say about that. I don’t think any of them where going through the trials and tribulations that Paul had to endure. All they had was that they were more Jewish then Paul. They weren’t even more Jewish, they were just cowards who probably didn’t even know the Jewish law or who Jesus really was.
Paul had to be a man that lived by faith to go through what he did. He had to live on the edge.
When you really live on the edge you live dangerous. We see that in Paul in all the dangers he endured. His life was caught up in Jesus and he knew that he wouldn’t die until it was God’s time. Did Paul want to go through these things? Probably not but he lived dangerous because if he went past the edge God would catch him How dangerous do you live?
When you live on the edge you see and acknowledge how God gets glory in your hardships and weaknesses. Paul mentions in verse 30, “If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.” Infirmity hear means weakness. Paul is not going to talk about how he had led many people to Christ. How he started many churches throughout the known world during his time. He is not going to boast about how God used him to do lots of miraculous miracles.
Paul sees God working in everything and he knows that he is only an instrument Paul knew it was only because of God that he had a ministry, was able to preach the Gospel, see people healed, and have a relationship Jesus Christ. Paul wouldn’t even exist if it wasn’t for God’s Grace. When is the last time you boasted in your weakness? If you haven’t in awhile, I urge you to do it because in doing so you are giving God glory in the highest. Hardships make us stronger in our relationship with Jesus and builds character which leads to Godliness. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12: 10, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak then I am strong.”
This is opposite of the world. If you are weak in the world’s eyes, you are definitely not considered strong but instead a push over and an idiot. In the Kingdom of God, you are strongest in weakness. Let’s learn to shout for joy in our weakness and bring glory in the highest to Jesus our Lord.
The last thing I see when you live on the edge is you let God defend and validate you. Paul says in verse 31, “The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.” Paul could have boast in his strengths meaning how God used him but instead he gives God the glory due to Him and says that God will back me and He knows that I am not lying. He is saying go check and see if in fact what I am saying is true. I have nothing to hide and when you check, you will find out that I am an Apostle called by God through Jesus Christ and He will prove to all who are listening that I am not lying.
When you are telling the truth, you never have to remember what you said but Paul goes a step further and says I do remember because how could I forget that I had been called by God to preach the Gospel. How could I forget the hardships I had to endure because Faithfulness to God brought me much difficulty and guess what, following God may bring you much difficulty as well. Can you handle that? We should all be able to say yes because God knows what we go through and He knows that you are His child and He will defend you and validate you just as He did with the Apostle Paul.
The Challenge – Choose to live your life on the edge because ultimately, it’s up to you. Keep in mind the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Living on the edge is a life of faith and God may ask you to do some wild things that require you to step off the edge. When He does because He will, His power will catapult you forward to greatness and you will see Him do great exploits through you.
Living on The Edge
Grand Canyon – This past July 4th weekend I had the privilege to go camping at the Grand Canyon. I always wanted to go so I thought, why not ask my buddy Akira if he would like to go. Akira agreed and he said that he would try and get a campsite for us. I thought to myself there is no way Akira is going to get a campsite for that weekend and I let him know that. He said he would get one and low and behold he did.
I told friends that I went to the Grand Canyon and went camping during the fourth of July weekend and they marveled at the fact that we got a campsite during that time. Akira is amazing and I am still wondering how he pulled that off.
While we were there sightseeing, I noticed how people are pretty careless when taking pictures. I saw elder folks taking pictures right on the edge with dress shoes on. I saw families taking pictures with their kids on the edge in flip flops. I saw young people climbing down the edges to try and get a better picture in tennis shoes and not having any concern whatsoever about slipping and falling. I saw others go right to the edge and take pictures like if they were in their front living room.
I was amazed how careless people were. I was praying for these folks every time I saw them just taking pictures with no thought of personal safety. I saw God’s Amazing Grace in action and I emphasize Amazing Grace. God has extra angels on duty at the Grand Canyon.
I also went hiking on the rim of the Grand Canyon. It wasn’t anything major as far as hiking but there were times when we were right on the edge. I looked down once and that is all it took; I was extremely careful and didn’t want to be a headline in the paper. I even thought, what the heck am I doing right now? Seeing the Grand Canyon and taking pictures from a safe distance is plenty good enough for me.
This was a trip that I will never forget and as I was thinking about hiking on the edge of the Grand Canyon I thought about how God has called us to live on the edge. He hasn’t called us to live a normal life; He has called us to a life of faith and to walk against the grain. I thought about the Apostle Paul and he is a great example of someone who lived on the edge and walked by faith in life. We will be looking at 2 Corinthians 11:22-31 (New King James Version).
Suffering for Christ
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? 30 If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
In verses 22 and 23, Paul asks a series of questions to validate his Apostleship. He is being attacked by some false apostles who are saying they were more Jewish than him. They were bringing up a foolish argument and Paul addresses this in verse 23 when he says, “I speak as a fool.” Paul has done more for Jesus then them and he has suffered more for Jesus. They had not been living on the edge like Paul, they probably were jealous and now want to bring up the idea of Paul not being as Jewish as them because he was a Greek speaking Jew.
In verses 24-29, Paul talks about how living a true life of Faith took him to the edge and at times over it. He was wiped five times forty stripes minus one and probably should have died. Three times he was beaten with rods and again should have died. He was stoned and left for dead but God spared him again.
He was ship wrecked for a night and a day and he had be in perils which means danger of waters, robbers, own countrymen, Gentiles meaning non-Jewish people, in the city, in the wilderness, in the sea, among false brethren like in this passage, weariness, toil, sleeplessness, hunger, thirst, fastings often in cold and nakedness. He also had to be concerned about the church and its welfare. He asks the questions, who is weak? And I am not weak, who is made to stumble and I do not burn with indignation. Paul is saying if anyone has an argument to lose Faith, I have a big one but I am not even gonna go there.
As a matter of fact, I have more faith and if I am going to boast about anything it is in weakness. I wonder what those false brothers had to say about that. I don’t think any of them where going through the trials and tribulations that Paul had to endure. All they had was that they were more Jewish then Paul. They weren’t even more Jewish, they were just cowards who probably didn’t even know the Jewish law or who Jesus really was.
Paul had to be a man that lived by faith to go through what he did. He had to live on the edge.
When you really live on the edge you live dangerous. We see that in Paul in all the dangers he endured. His life was caught up in Jesus and he knew that he wouldn’t die until it was God’s time. Did Paul want to go through these things? Probably not but he lived dangerous because if he went past the edge God would catch him How dangerous do you live?
When you live on the edge you see and acknowledge how God gets glory in your hardships and weaknesses. Paul mentions in verse 30, “If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.” Infirmity hear means weakness. Paul is not going to talk about how he had led many people to Christ. How he started many churches throughout the known world during his time. He is not going to boast about how God used him to do lots of miraculous miracles.
Paul sees God working in everything and he knows that he is only an instrument Paul knew it was only because of God that he had a ministry, was able to preach the Gospel, see people healed, and have a relationship Jesus Christ. Paul wouldn’t even exist if it wasn’t for God’s Grace. When is the last time you boasted in your weakness? If you haven’t in awhile, I urge you to do it because in doing so you are giving God glory in the highest. Hardships make us stronger in our relationship with Jesus and builds character which leads to Godliness. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12: 10, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak then I am strong.”
This is opposite of the world. If you are weak in the world’s eyes, you are definitely not considered strong but instead a push over and an idiot. In the Kingdom of God, you are strongest in weakness. Let’s learn to shout for joy in our weakness and bring glory in the highest to Jesus our Lord.
The last thing I see when you live on the edge is you let God defend and validate you. Paul says in verse 31, “The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.” Paul could have boast in his strengths meaning how God used him but instead he gives God the glory due to Him and says that God will back me and He knows that I am not lying. He is saying go check and see if in fact what I am saying is true. I have nothing to hide and when you check, you will find out that I am an Apostle called by God through Jesus Christ and He will prove to all who are listening that I am not lying.
When you are telling the truth, you never have to remember what you said but Paul goes a step further and says I do remember because how could I forget that I had been called by God to preach the Gospel. How could I forget the hardships I had to endure because Faithfulness to God brought me much difficulty and guess what, following God may bring you much difficulty as well. Can you handle that? We should all be able to say yes because God knows what we go through and He knows that you are His child and He will defend you and validate you just as He did with the Apostle Paul.
The Challenge – Choose to live your life on the edge because ultimately, it’s up to you. Keep in mind the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” Living on the edge is a life of faith and God may ask you to do some wild things that require you to step off the edge. When He does because He will, His power will catapult you forward to greatness and you will see Him do great exploits through you.
Be Blessed,
Joey
PS: If you need prayer, write you requests in the comments section of the blog. Let us know when God answers your prayers by sending your praise reports. If you haven't received Jesus Christ yet and you want to, pray this prayer. Dear God I admit I am a sinner in need of a Savior and I believe that Savior is Jesus Christ. I confess Jesus today as my Lord and Savior and commit my life to Him. I pray this in the name of Jesus Amen. Let us know if you received Christ so we can rejoice with you because it’s the greatest thing you will ever do in this life.
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