Daily Devotion

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River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english 2 Corinthians 4:16-17   Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.   Why did Paul say "therefore we do not lose heart"? It is a result of knowing that "we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us," as stated back in verse 7. As human beings living on earth, our bodies are indeed "wasting away." Several years ago I led a group a youth from church to a camping trip, and I realized that my physical condition was really nothing like when I was young. I like reading Psalm 73:26, which says "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Our days on earth and every around us will come and go; throughout our lifetime, only God can forever become the strength and blessing inside our hearts. That's why Paul said that "we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." Don't be troubled by the decline of your own physical condition, and don't complain about the circumstance you are in, just look upon God and praise Him! God will renew you day by day, because He will always be your strength. Even though our bodies are wasting away, our hearts can be renewed by God daily. That's why Paul can overlook his difficult circumstances and say that "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."   Did you know that every trouble and setback can lead you before God, and you can accomplish "eternal glory" because of Him? Very often God will use temporary hardship to shape and build up our lives so that we can become more like Jesus Christ. When the eyes of our souls are uplifted to sit on the throne with Him, we can overcome the circumstance of our surrounding. Do you feel that you are trapped by the enemy coming from all sides? We need to proclaim by faith that our hearts will be renewed day by day. The enemy cannot defeat us and the world cannot devour us, because the Lord's presence is inside you and I. When we make such proclamation in faith, God will lead us to claim victory each and every day.       Pray with Pastor Tong Liu          Lord, I thank you because even though our bodies are wasting away, you are still the strength in our hearts, and you also give us strength daily, especially today! Help us to meet our challenge today, and to strengthen us before the enemy so that we can proclaim victory against it. I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!

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Daily Devotion

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River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english 2 Corinthians 4:13-15   It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.   When we learn to deny ourselves for the sake of others, we need to firmly believe that Jesus is the Savior who has resurrected from the dead. Christians often see the difficulty of self-denial, but neglect the joy of resurrection. Paul was able to overcome the pressures of life because he firmly believed that Jesus Christ is the resurrected Savior and that Jesus will give him strength to overcome his difficult situation so he may sit on the throne with the Lord. Hence, Paul was able to look forward to that eternal glory and not focus on the current suffering.   When we accept Jesus as our personal Savior, we have experienced His resurrection power. Because of Jesus' resurrection, we are able to enter the Kingdom of God and be set free from the bondage of sin. However, we cannot merely stay in the moment of salvation, God wants us to experience His resurrection power in our daily lives. There are many places around which seems to be full of death and darkness. There are families that are void of love or trust, many hearts that do not have hope and many church that do not have vision or power. The resurrected life of Christ needs to expel darkness and death, causing what is dead to come alive again. Because of God's faithfulness, we can overcome our disappointments. Because of His forgiveness, we can overcome bitterness. Because of His presence, we no longer feel lonely. Because of His victory over death, we no longer need to be afraid. We can death calmly because when Jesus comes, we will rise with Him.   Paul said in Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." He was able to experience the resurrection because the Lord first died for us. Are you experiencing the resurrection power of Jesus Christ every day? Are you willing to be united with the death of Christ so that the resurrection power of Christ may be manifested through you?       Pray with Pastor Tong Liu          Lord, we thank you because you not only did you rise from the dead, you want to manifest your resurrection power in every aspect of our lives. Lord, help us to learn from your example, to be able to deny ourselves, so that your resurrected life may be reflected through us. We thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

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Daily Devotion

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River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english 2 Corinthians 4:10-12   We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.   The death and life that is referred to here is the death of Jesus on the cross for us, so that we may deny ourselves for the sake of Christ in our daily lives. When we depend on God, it does not mean that we do nothing. It means we will use our wisdom and strength to overcome any difficulties and to live for the Lord.   On one hand, Paul emphasized that we have this treasure in jars of clay. On the other hand, we see that Paul was actively laboring for God. Verse 11 says, "For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body." Paul's dedication is not for himself, but so that the life of Jesus may be revealed in his life. God has given us time, money, talent, work, family, friendship and health so that we can be his faithful steward in every aspect of our lives.   Hence, we need to plan our lives accordingly. If we feel pressure in a certain area, it could be due to a need in that area of your life. Ask the Lord to help you be humble and willing to learn. If your environment needs to be changed, you need to plan accordingly and make the necessary changes. If you feel that you are struggling in the area of relationships and communication, you need to find ways to improve yourself.   As Christians, we should continue to compare ourselves with who we were in the past. We need to ask ourselves every day whether we love God more each day and whether we are being a more effective witness at work compared to yesterday. In relationships, we need to ask ourselves whether we are more gentle and humble today compared to yesterday. In other words, we need to be willing to deny ourselves. When we are willing to die to ourselves, it is like a glass of perfume being shattered and the aroma of Christ will be spread so that those around us can be benefitted. This is why Jesus said, "Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many." Pray that the Holy Spirit will help us to live for God daily!         Pray with Pastor Tong Liu          Lord, we thank you, because you first died for us, so we may live for you. May your sacrifice be manifested in our lives each and every day so that those around us may be benefitted. We thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

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Daily Devotion

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River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english 2 Corinthians 4:8-9   We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.   How was Paul able to keep pressing on in the midst of all kinds of affliction? The most important reason was because he was convinced that God was with him, and that God would open up a way for him in the midst of his troubles.   When you are faced with all sorts of pressure, learn to entrust these things to the Lord and come before Him with an expectant heart. Just like Moses when he stood by the Red Sea and declared to the people of Israel, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today." The God whom we believe in is a God who can turn crisis into opportunity. The disciples panicked when a storm started while they were out at sea. The sea calmed down once Jesus came. At the wedding in Cana in Galilee, there was no wine left for the banquet, but Jesus turned water to wine. Jesus turned the shame of the cross into a glorious symbol. As long as we entrust our lives to Him and ask God to help us, and as long as we choose to have faith instead of choosing to be negative or complaining, we can see what God can accomplish.   On the other hand, Paul was able to overcome pressure in the midst of troubles because he had good spiritual companions to support him. In verse 8 and 9, Paul refers to "we". When he was preaching the gospel throughout the region, Timothy and Silas were his co-workers. When he was in prison, he was accompanied by Epaphroditus and Luke. It is important to have good spiritual companions in the Christian life. When we are under extreme pressure, what we need the most is not others tell us what to do, but a person whom we can trust and who will understand us and listen to us.     God put us in the church, so that we can find our spiritual companions in the Lord, with whom we can run the race heavenward together. May the Spirit of God help us to take the initiative to find our spiritual companions in fellowship and in cellgroup. In this way, we can support one another, and learn to lean on God to overcome all kinds of troubles. Someone once said the pressures within your heart are the driving forces for growth. But this is only true on one condition - if you are certain that the Lord is with you and that God will make a way for you. At this time, you are most in need of a spiritual companion who can support and encourage you to move forward.         Pray with Pastor Tong Liu          Lord, we thank you because no matter what circumstances we are in, as long as we have Jesus, the storms can be calmed and our needs can be met. May your spirit give us the passion to live for you and help us find a spiritual companion to walk alongside us. We thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

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Daily Devotion

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River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english 2 Corinthians 4:8   We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair.   Being hard pressed on every side refers to the external pressure; Being perplexed refers to the pressure within us. You and I are often attacked by pressures from outside and within us. How can we overcome pressure? There are two ways of doing so:   First of all, Paul's thinking is positive. He said, "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed." For us to overcome the pressure, we must first overcome our negative thoughts and thoughts that sa "it is impossible". When you hear someone's testimony about how God helped him overcome his pressure, how many times have you thought, "His situation is very different from mine. God will not necessarily help me." Each time when a new proposal is being discussed at a meeting, there is always those who will immediately say, "We have no money, no people, no time, and it is impossible!" If we are to live a victorious life, we must reject negative and complaining people. How can we be hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed? The secret is to ask God to open our eyes to see His presence. During the time of Elisha in the Old Testament, the king of Aram led his army to attack the Israelites. When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early in the morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked. "Don't be afraid," Elisha answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. In an emergency, you and I need ask God to open our eyes to see that He is with us and He is bigger than the one in the world.   Secondly, an important principle to learn in overcoming despair is to have the glorious hope in our hearts. In the church people often lament that it is hard to be united in one heart to serve the Lord. This is the same problem among churches. We often feel that unity among churches is a difficult thing. It is only when everyone has a common vision in their hearts, can we be united in Christ. Are you troubled by something? Are you feeling hard pressed on every side? Turn back to God and He will grant you strength to overcome all the pressure.         Pray with Pastor Tong Liu          Lord, we thank you, because you still sit on the throne and you are our Savior and our Hope. May your spirit lift up each brother and sister, open our eyes so we can see the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around us, to know that you are with us. We thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

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Daily Devotion

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River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english 2 Corinthians 4:7   But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.   Paul describes here that man is like jars of clay. Our bodies and minds gradually fade away over time. We face all kinds of pressure in life and as such, some people say we do not "grow" to maturity, but we are "compressed" to maturity. Under all sorts of pressure, it is easy to feel lonely and helpless, and wonder if we will ever survive the pressure. At that point, we are either filled with anger or we are trying to run away; however, Paul mentions here, "We have this treasure in jars of clay."     While we are under all sorts of pressure, the most important thing is not to escape, but to ask God to open your eyes so that you can see this treasure, which is the presence of the Lord. After Jesus was resurrected from the dead, the disciples appear to be disheartened and were not too excited. The government officials said they had stolen the body of Jesus, the Jews say they were spreading rumors, but even the disciples themselves did not know where Jesus was. Peter took a few disciples fishing in the sea of Tiberia. Why did they go fishing? The truth is they wanted to run away and hide in a corner, to do the things that they can control. Since they were fishermen, fishing was their natural talent, but they caught no fish while they were at sea. You can imagine how frustrated and tired they must have been.   On the surface, running away may seem like an easy path, but the truth is increases our burden physically nd spiritually. Take the example of the disciples on that day. While they were discouraged, suddenly they heard a voice shouting at them from the shore, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" They answered, "No!" The voice commanded them to throw their nets on the right side of the boat, and there were 153 large fish in the net. John immediately realized that it was Jesus. Jesus has been with them the whole time, but they did not notice. As such, they failed to draw strength from the Lord to overcome their pressures. When did they experience the presence of the Lord? It was when they returned to Jerusalem, they learned to depend on God to face the pressures of life and became great witnesses for the Lord.   No matter what circumstances you are in, do not forget that we have a treasure in in jars of clay. God is with you and me. Just rely on Him and you will find tremendous strength to turn your pressures into a driving force.         Pray with Pastor Tong Liu          Lord, once again we come before you and we acknowledge that we are but jars of clay. By faith we proclaim before you that you alone are our strength and hope. You are our source of life. May your spirit once again lift us up so that we may understand that you are always with us. May we declare your victory before the enemy each day. We thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

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