Verse of the Day 1/13

  2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NIV)  For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. ¹⁵ And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

 

Norman Vincent Peale is famous for his book "The Power of Positive Thinking".  It has its merits and the concept is definitely better than constant negative thinking.  Positive thinking should cause us to look at things differently and if we look at things differently, we should react differently.  But positive thinking doesn't always make things right.

 

We started the week considering losing our life and not  living for ourselves,  to finding life it in Christ.  Today's verse starts with the thought that Christ's love will "compel" us, lead us, guide our thoughts and literally force us to live for him.  This will lead to a much different outcome in our lives than living for ourselves.

 

The thought fits in well with a couple of verses from Philippians which are part of a devotional that the youth group at our church is going through.

 

Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV) Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

 

It involves more than "positive thinking", it expands it to whatever is right, pure, lovely and admirable.  We are to think on these things.  But it doesn't stop there, look at the result, the God of peace will be with you.  Do you need God's peace and the God of peace with you today?  Then think of these things in Jesus.  It will be another way to count your blessings.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

2 Corinthians 5:14-20 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. ¹⁵ And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

 ¹⁶ So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! ¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.