Author: Dwight Clough

We are … perplexed, but not in despair … 2 Corinthians 4:8It’s nice to know that life didn’t make sense sometimes even to the great apostle Paul. He was perplexed and so are we at times. "Why is this happening to me?" we ask God. And usually He doesn’t answer our question. Most of the time, we don’t have the ability to understand the answer. That understanding comes later, sometimes much later. We are perplexed, but not in despair. I remember years ago listening to the cries of a friend grieving over the suicide loss of a family member. At…

"This," said the LORD, "is so that they may believe …" Exodus 4:5Throughout Exodus chapter 3, God was commissioning Moses to lead His people to freedom. But, even though he is offered one of the greatest opportunities in history, Moses doesn’t want it. He’s been watching sheep for forty years. No, it’s not quite like living in the palace where he grew up, but now Moses is used to it — he knows his routine, he’s solidly in his comfort zone and he wants to stay there.So when chapter 4 opens, Moses starts working through his list of objections, hoping…

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. — 2 Corinthians 4:17Though I don’t travel by plane very often, I love to fly. In fact, I really am a little kid when it comes to flying — I can’t understand why anyone would want an aisle seat. It’s so much fun to look out the window and see my world from a whole different perspective. From 35,000 feet cars disappear and major roads become thin lines. Houses are nearly lost and entire farms look like postage stamps.I guess every time…

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. — 2 Corinthians 4:7Everything has a purpose — even our inadequacies.Can I provide? No. Yes, I work hard, but I’ve discovered that working hard and working smart by themselves mean nothing. Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it work in vain. (Psalm 127).Can I protect? No. Can I heal? No. So when I pray for someone and God heals their wounded heart, I know it wasn’t me. I couldn’t be me. Can I instruct or…

… the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. — 2 Corinthians 3:6As I sit here writing this, my room is illuminated by eight fluorescent tubes. But those fluorescent tubes, by themselves, don’t do anything. By themselves, they would not dispel the darkness and bring the light. Only when they are connected to electricity do they bring light.Many people handle the word of God. Cults handle it. Atheists handle it. Even Satan himself handles it (see Luke 4:9-10). Some use it to twist the truth. Some use it to injure and harm. But others open the word and bring life.…

For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. — 2 Corinthians 1:13God did not design the Bible for theologians. He designed it for regular people, for you and me. Theologians will study the Bible and never be able to plumb its depths for the same reason that scientists will study the natural order and find more questions than answers. Here’s the reason: God is there.But that same God who is beyond understanding wants to make Himself understood. So He writes chatty letters to us, tells us stories, lays out clear instructions. That is a great comfort…

Now this is our boast … — 2 Corinthians 1:12Most of us don’t want to brag. Oh, deep down inside, we probably do. But, on the surface, we’ve learned that bragging gets us into trouble. If we brag, people call us proud and inconsiderate, and they may be right.But Paul not only admits to a boast, but he seems perfectly okay with it. So, what do you think? Can Christians brag?Just to be fair, the Jubilee Bible translates the word "boast" as "rejoicing." Okay, okay, let’s call it rejoicing. What can we rejoice about?Paul gives the answer later in this…

Honor your father … — Exodus 20:12So honoring our fathers is really about honoring God — honoring His choice for our lives. For some of us it comes easy. For some of us it is an act of faith. Here, as in so many other places in life, we have rich opportunities for God – because this is a place where many of us are broken inside, and need the Lord’s touch.There was a time, to be honest with you, that I feared and hated my dad. But underneath all that fear and anger was a little boy who needed…

Honor your father … — Exodus 20:12Many of you have had fathers who were abusive, absent, unpredictable or just plain bad news. Others of you have had dads who were loving, supportive and strong. My dad meant well, I believe, but, like me, made many mistakes. I’m sure – like me – he often wished he could push the rewind button and do it over again. I remember the night before I left for college. My dad cried. I didn’t have any words to comfort him. I didn’t know why he was crying. But now I think it was because…

[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. — 2 Corinthians 1:4Comfort is contagious when it begins with God. Note that we must first be comforted by God. Why is this? Because when we are in emotional distress, we cannot find the grace we need to offer God’s comfort to others. Their pain will only add to our pain, and that is the opposite of what God intended.However, when we are comforted by God, then an amazing thing happens. We wake up to…