And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. 2nd Corinthians 1:10
I have a two-year-old dog named Archie. He is the best dog, but he does have a major fault: he is easily forgetful. For example, this morning I fed him, as I usually do, and he, as he usually does, began begging for a treat about five minutes after I fed him. Even though I know he cannot understand me, I still said to him, “I just fed you!” It makes me laugh to think about Archie’s forgetfulness, but it does not make me laugh when I think about my own forgetfulness when it comes to God’s care and provision for me. You see, every day, God provides for me, from my basic needs like food and clothing, to even extra needs, like good friends, a warm cup of coffee in the morning, and so much more. As fully devoted followers of Christ, we must not be easily forgetful when it comes to God’s care and provision for us. We must remember every day how God has taken care of us in the past and how He is still taking care of us today.
The apostle Paul reflected on God’s provision for him in the book of 2nd Corinthians. In 2nd Corinthians 1, he wrote about God's past provision for him and his missionary companions. When they traveled through the province of Asia, as God directed them, they faced trials. He wrote, "We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead" (verses 8-9). Notice the verbiage Paul used here. He and his missionary companions were crushed “beyond [their] ability to endure.” The suffering they faced was absolutely devastating. Through all of that, he saw that he and his missionary companions “stopped relying on [themselves] and learned to rely only on God,” who, by the way, “raises the dead” (verse 10). Their suffering caused them to rely only on the dead-raising power of God. Through it all, Paul wrote, “He did rescue us from mortal danger” (verse 10). As Paul and his missionary companions relied on the power of God, they saw Him rescue them. Because of this, Paul had confidence that God would take care of them in the future. That is why he continued writing, “and He will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in Him, and He will continue to rescue us” (verse 10). Do not miss the magnitude of this statement. Paul had seen God deliver him and his missionary companions. He had seen God take care of him and provide again and again. Because of this, he had confidence that God would take care of him in the future. This is the hope that he, and we, have to cling to.
My friend, have you seen God deliver you? If He has provided and taken care of you in the past, and He has, then you have every reason to believe He will continue to take care of you today and in the future. Trust in His provision today, being fully devoted to following Him, the one who is providing for you and taking care of you every step of the way.
Keep a log today of all of the ways that God provides for you and takes care of you. Every single time you experience God's care and provision, in big or small ways, write it down. At the end of the day, pull out your list and thank God specifically for each way that God provided and took care of you. Let His provision today encourage your heart that He will take care of you tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, and the day after that, too.
2 Corinthians 1:1-24
1This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.
I am writing to God’s church in Corinth and to all of his holy people throughout Greece.
2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 5 For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. 6 Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. 7 We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.
8 We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. 10 And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. 11 And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.
12 We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you. 13 Our letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines and nothing you can’t understand. I hope someday you will fully understand us, 14 even if you don’t understand us now. Then on the day when the Lord Jesus returns, you will be proud of us in the same way we are proud of you.
15 Since I was so sure of your understanding and trust, I wanted to give you a double blessing by visiting you twice— 16 first on my way to Macedonia and again when I returned from Macedonia. Then you could send me on my way to Judea.
17 You may be asking why I changed my plan. Do you think I make my plans carelessly? Do you think I am like people of the world who say “Yes” when they really mean “No”? 18 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” 19 For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. 20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.
21 It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, 22 and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.
23 Now I call upon God as my witness that I am telling the truth. The reason I didn’t return to Corinth was to spare you from a severe rebuke. 24 But that does not mean we want to dominate you by telling you how to put your faith into practice. We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy, for it is by your own faith that you stand firm.
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