Daily Dose of Hope

December 26, 2024

Day 5 of Week 39

Scripture: Jeremiah 8-10; 2 Corinthians 11

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan. I do hope you had a lovely Christmas Day and now get some time to enjoy the after-Christmas peace.

Let’s get right into our Scripture. In these chapters of Jeremiah, we see pictures of the Babylonian destruction of Judah. Jeremiah sees bones filling the Valley of Hinnon at the end of chapter 7. Now, in the beginning of chapter 8, we see the bones are those of the kings and leaders who led the people astray by making idolatry and oppression such a regular part of their lives. And yet, there is an interesting statement that those who survive the Babylonian conquest of Judah will actually be worse off than those who die. Basically, it's going to be terrible when God finally lifts his hand of protection and allows Judah to be decimated.

God expresses some shock that the people have not returned to him. But God knows what has to happen. The current state of affairs can’t be allowed to continue. Judah will be conquered and many will be led into exile.

Chapter 10 takes a bit of a turn. It moves away from discussion of exile and focuses on how God is greater and higher than all these other idols. God is sovereign and all-powerful. He warns the people to not fall into the ways of the Gentiles. At the end of the chapter, there are some prayers and pleas by Jeremiah. To me, it’s rather gut-wrenching.

Our New Testament chapter is 2 Corinthians 11. Up until this point, Paul has avoiding boasting and self-aggrandizement. Because of this, he has gotten slammed by his rivals. Now, he asks the Corinthians to bear with a little foolishness as he boasts. He seems to think there is no other way to address these charges against his authority as an apostle and Christian leader than to clearly articulate why he is qualified. But unlike his rivals, Paul makes it clear that he knows boasting is nothing but foolishness because it leaves God out of the equation.

Paul begins his foolish boasting to counter the attack of his rivals. From reading this, we can guess that those opposing Paul took pride in their Jewish heritage, in their ministry work, and in their visions and revelations. Paul matches them point for point. But he does so knowing it's all a bit ridiculous. The only thing that really matters is boasting about God.

Paul's original discourse with the Corinthians about boasting is found back in 1 Corinthians1:26-31. Reflect on the difference between this and what Paul is expressing in today's passage, Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope – Merry Christmas!

December 25, 2024

Day 4 of Week 39

Scripture: Jeremiah 5-7; Psalm 75; 2 Corinthians10

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan. Merry Christmas! My prayer is that you will all enjoy this day, celebrating the peace and joy that comes from knowing Jesus.

For our Scripture today, we are back in Jeremiah. I’m not going to lie. This is not great Christmas Scripture. It isn’t all sweet and comforting. But I guess neither was the time and place Jesus was born into. It was dark. And Jeremiah’s prophecy is dark too. He is speaking, on behalf of God, about what is to become of the people of Judah. Jerusalem will be besieged. There is another call to repentance but we know that by this time, things are so far gone. Jeremiah would probably not be a very popular guy.

With that, let’s head on over to the New Testament. Our chapter for today is 2 Corinthians 10. After a lengthy discussion on the collection for Jerusalem believers, Paul returns to the issue of defending his love for the Corinthians and his authority as an apostle. Paul is concerned with his own reputation but he is more concerned with saving the Corinthian church from these rivals who are promoting a false Gospel.

It's interesting that many people read Paul's epistles and think of him as uncompromising and even harsh at times. But that apparently isn't the Paul that the Corinthian church witnessed. They thought of Paul as weak and timid. In today’s chapter, Paul is defending himself against such accusations. He is not timid but bold. However, he doesn't wage war in the typical sense. He wages war with God's power. Thus, we can suppose that Paul fights with spiritual weapons such as prayer and divine wisdom.

According to the Scripture, these weapons allow him to demolish strongholds. The Corinthians would have been familiar with strongholds, places with much fortification to help defend against attack. But it would have also been common knowledge that no amount of fortification could defend against a strong, forceful offensive attack. The power of God, Paul's spiritual weapons, were much stronger than anything that his rivals could present. Paul stands ready to attack the "stronghold" erected by those in Corinth who oppose him and slander his name. No amount of verbal attacks on his character, no intellectual arguments, no worldly debate could match the power in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul was on the side of Christ and that was his most effective weapon.

Do you make use of spiritual weapons? And if you don’t, then why not?

Again, please know you are loved and being lifted up.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope

December 24, 2024

Day 3 of Week 39

Scripture: Jeremiah 1-4; Psalm 130; 2 Corinthians 9

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan. It’s Christmas Eve! I’m hoping to see at least most of you tonight at one of our New Hope Christmas Eve services. The family-oriented service is at 5pm and the traditional service with full choir is at 7pm.

For our Old Testament Scripture today, we begin the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah was a major prophet that began his time of ministry in Judah under King Josiah. If you recall, Josiah was a good king, determined to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. In many ways, this was a good time for Jeremiah to start his time of prophecy. He was protected in so many ways. That didn’t stop him from being a reluctant prophet. Look at how many times he uses his youth as a reason for not responding to God’s call.

We are all called by God to do something. Maybe we haven’t been called to prophecy (or maybe we have), but I guarantee God has something in mind for you. It may even be something hard. What excuses have you used? I’m too young, I’m too old, I’m too tired, I’m too busy, I’m too unprepared. There are so many. But if God calls, he will equip. Eventually Jeremiah relents and begins his 40-year ministry as a prophet of God.

Let’s move into chapters 2 and 3. Keep in mind that God often refers to Judah and Jerusalem as Israel in the book of Jeremiah, though the northern kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrians roughly 100 years before Jeremiah’s work as a prophet. God refers to Judah and Jerusalem as representing all of Israel because by this time, it did. Through Jeremiah, God recalls the past relationship he had with Israel, which is now dissolving. He is horribly upset by Israel’s sin and idolatry. In chapter 3, you will see how Israel is compared to a prostitute, as she gives herself to many gods.

In chapter 4, we read about a call to repentance. Will God’s people change their ways? The rest of the chapter details the destruction that will occur if they do not. More on that tomorrow.

Psalm 130 is another psalm of ascent, which the Jewish pilgrims sang as they made their way into Jerusalem for the various required festivals. It’s a beautiful psalm, promising the hope and redemption that comes with walking closely to the Lord.

Our New Testament passage is 2 Corinthians 9. In this chapter, Paul is continuing his discussion on giving. Paul is trying to rouse some enthusiasm amongst the Corinthian believers on the topic of giving, specifically giving to the destitute believers in Jerusalem. They were initially very interested and enthusiastic but apparently, they haven't followed through on their commitments.

Today’s chapter leads to some interesting thoughts. You reap what you sow, not just with material resources but also in other ways. This idea is found throughout Scripture but most notably in Jesus' teaching in Luke 6:38, Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

But it also suggests that giving is an individual decision of the heart. We don't give for public recognition but to please God and demonstrate his love to others. God doesn't want us to give out of a sense of obligation but truly out of a kind and generous heart. All we have comes from God, we are simply giving a portion back to God's work in this world. Finally, Paul is suggesting that when we give to God's work, we will be blessed. God will ensure that our needs are met. Notice Paul doesn't say that our wants will be fulfilled but rather our needs. We will have what we need to be content. What does it take for you to be content? Do you give with a cheerful heart?

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki

Daily Dose of Hope