The Bishop’s Mind: Christian Wisdom, Daily Devotionals & Empowering Messages for Kingdom Living

  You Don’t Know Me Like That “So, from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.” — 2 Corinthians 5:16 In today's text, 2 Corinthians 5:16, Paul challenges the church at Corinth to change their perspective — to shift their point of view. He says, "Look at no one from a worldly perspective." Paul reminds them that they once viewed Jesus this way, but they no longer do. As long as we see people through a worldly lens, we remain limited. We fail to recognize the full essence of who people are and the divine potential they possess. Viewing others through an earthly, human, natural perspective keeps us from truly seeing them. Paul explains that many people once looked at Jesus this way. They could not receive Him as the Messiah because they only saw Him as Mary’s son — Joseph’s son, the carpenter’s son. Many could not recognize His purpose, redemption, reconciliation, or the restoration He brough...

  A Kingdom Perspective on Growth, Grace, and Accountability ( 2 Corinthians 5:10 ) “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”        In his second letter to the church at Corinth, Paul introduces the concept of the Judgment Seat of Christ. In chapter five, he expands on this idea—but for many of us, the notion of judgment and God can feel unsettling. The thought of being judged by God often stirs fear and discomfort.      Let’s take a fresh look at the Judgment Seat of Christ from a kingdom perspective. Growing up in church, I was taught that the saints would go before the Judgment Seat of Christ, while the world would appear before the Great White Throne Judgment. If you made it to the Judgment Seat of Christ, you at least knew you were going to heaven. That judgment, I was told, determined the crowns you would receive ...

Faith Is Now: Walk By It (2 Corinthians 5:7) "For we live by faith, not by sight."      Today, I asked people to rate their faith on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest. The responses varied—some rated themselves at a 5, while others felt they were at a 10. Faith is something we can reflect on and evaluate to better understand where we are in our spiritual journey and walk with God.      So today, I invite you to examine your faith. Where are you with your faith in God? How strong is your hope in Him? How deep is your trust? How consistent is your dependence on God? Are you leaning on Him and trusting in His truth?      Faith is about making divine transactions. In the heavenly realm, your good is already done. Faith is the ability to move that good from the spiritual realm into the physical one. As the Scripture says, “The just shall live by faith,” and “The steps of a good person are ordered by the Lord.” ...