by Susan Barnes | 9 Sep 2022 | Devotions
This week I was reading about leadership: “Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task” 1 Timothy 3:1 NIV). Paul is about to outline the qualifications for leadership in our churches and begins by emphasising that what he is...
by Susan Barnes | 13 Jun 2022 | Short Devotion
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ … each one should carry their own load.” Galatians 6:2, 5 Helping people effectively is a tricky business and Paul’s instructions may sound contradictory. We want to avoid neglecting...
by Susan Barnes | 15 May 2022 | Short Devotion
“For before certain men came from James, he (Peter) used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.” Galatians 2:12 Peter still...
by Susan Barnes | 1 May 2022 | Short Devotion
“Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed.” 2 Corinthians 13:7 Paul didn’t feel the need to vindicate himself or prove...
by Susan Barnes | 24 Apr 2022 | Short Devotion
“I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows—was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.” 2 Corinthians 12:3-4 There’s much we don’t know about the heavenly realm,...
by Susan Barnes | 17 Apr 2022 | Short Devotion
“And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.” 2 Corinthians 11:9 Paul accepted...
by Susan Barnes | 10 Apr 2022 | Short Devotion
“By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you … I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.” 2 Corinthians 10:1-2 Paul’s first response is to imitate...
by Susan Barnes | 20 Mar 2022 | Short Devotion
“So even though I wrote to you, it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. By all this we are encouraged.” 2 Corinthians 7:12-13 Paul...