Daily Bible Verses for 12/01/2016

Bible Verse
So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

Reading Notes
Paul is giving us a glimpse of his yearning to be home with Jesus. And like all Christians Paul’s desire is to be with the Lord, knowing that to be here is to be away from the full presence of Jesus. But Paul reminds us that we can experience some of God’s presence now through prayer, through fellowship around the study of His word and by daily submitting to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. But where does our hope come from? Where do we get this longing to be in the presence of Jesus and see Him face to face? Paul tells us, it comes from walking by faith and not by sight. And the only way we can walk by faith is to submit to the Holy Spirit’s presence and guidance in our day to day lives. This is also accompanied by our regular reading and studying of God’s word, the Bible. Why? Because it’s through the study of God’s word that the Holy Spirit helps us to grow in God’s wisdom, and a better knowledge of Jesus, who He is and what He has done for us.

The study of God’s word not only strengthens us, it prepares us for the spiritual battles we know will come and for a more effective service in the kingdom of God. But more importantly, it helps us to build our relationship with the Lord stronger than it could ever become without it! Because of Jesus our relationship with God the Father is restored through our faith in Christ. This new relationship grows through time spent with God, that means time spent in prayer and the study of His word, the Bible. Which in turn builds stronger the hope we have of things known, but not seen. And it builds stronger the faith we have in Christ Jesus our Lord. Paul ends this section of scripture with a reminder that our actions should be pleasing to the Lord. Paul is not referring to how good we are at appearing and speaking Christian, nor how often we go to church. But rather, by being well pleasing he is referring to our humble service to those in need from the love we have found in Christ. And from sharing the Gospel with others, out of the love we have for Jesus and for those who are lost, and not because we seek the recognition of men.