2 Corinthians 10:10 (KJV) God Used Paul’s Pen As Much As His Voice

2 Corinthians 10:10 (KJV)

For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

There is every possibility that the charge in this text is inaccurate, and that those who despised Paul did so more for his message than for his manner of delivery. He was educated and had been elevated within the ranks of the Pharisees, which indicates a level of competence in religious instruction.

But let us, for the moment, assume that there is some merit to their accusation. It is really not that terrible a problem.

So what if he was a better writer than speaker? Are not both effective means of communication? Are not both equally essential in the dissemination of truth and understanding?

One serves to instruct an immediate audience. This is essential for imparting knowledge and truth, as well as shaping character and morality. The other serves to preserve that instruction into the future. The ability to communicate beyond the immediate moment is at least one of the differences between man and animal. We not only have the ability to learn from our own experiences, and from those of our parents and teachers, but also from theirs—and even from generations before them.

It takes little thought to see that even if Paul was not the most gifted of public speakers, God did use him in that capacity. But more than that, God continues to use him—because Paul could write.

One is not better than the other.

But I am thankful today that Paul was a writer.
And I am thankful that I am able to benefit from that writing right now.

#WeightyTruth #PowerOfTheWrittenWord #GodUsesWeakness #TruthOverPresentation #ScriptureThatEndures

God Used Paul’s Pen As Much As His Voice: Paul, Criticism, and Lasting Scripture

What do you think?
Do you believe Paul’s critics misunderstood the power of his message—or do you see a lesson here about how God uses truth beyond personality and presentation? Leave a comment below and join the conversation.

If you appreciate thoughtful, Scripture-centered reflections like this, visit marvinmckenzie.org for more Bible teaching, articles, and resources designed to strengthen faith and sharpen understanding.

Your voice matters—add it to the discussion.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 7000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
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Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
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Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

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2 Corinthians 10:10 (KJV) God Used Paul’s Pen As Much As His Voice

1 Kings 17:24 (KJV) What Truly Proves God’s Word Is True?

1 Kings 17:24 (KJV)

And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.

Elijah shows up on the biblical scene unexpectedly—and with surprising authority. Once his pronouncement of judgment is made, God sends him away, both for protection and for provision. God cares for His servants, sometimes in unexpected ways.

But the brook dries up, and the ravens stop feeding him. God then sends Elijah to a widow woman—a most unlikely source of provision. Yet by having her care for the preacher, God also cares for her and her son. The Bible does not give us an exact number of days. It simply says that they ate many days, and that God promised the barrel would not fail until the LORD sent rain again. I believe Him.

In the midst of all this, the widow’s son grows sick—so sick that he stops breathing. The Bible never explicitly says he died, but if he did not, he was certainly on the verge. Both the mother and Elijah said the boy had been slain. Scripture then says that his soul returned to him—language that plainly describes one who had died and lived again.

Elijah took the boy from her bosom, brought him to his chamber, and began to pray, stretching himself upon the child before the LORD. After a while, the boy’s soul returned, and Elijah brought him back alive to his mother.

Now we come to the point of this Daily Visit with God. It is at this moment that the widow declares, “By this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.”

The miracle of the food did not convince her. It was the resurrection of her son.

I see here a parallel—crude, perhaps, but real—to New Testament truth. Jesus performed many miracles during His earthly ministry, and so did His apostles. But miracles themselves are not the saving or convincing power of the gospel. The saving message is the resurrection of the Son of God.

We err when we focus on the miracles—the feedings, the healings, the casting out of devils. The one thing that proves the message of the Bible is the resurrection.

Jesus is alive.
Too many witnesses saw Him to deny it.

Believe Him. He is the only Saviour of the souls of men.

#ManOfGod #WordOfTheLord #GodsTruth #PowerOfResurrection #BelieveHim

What Truly Proves God’s Word Is True? The Answer Lies in Resurrection

Did this lesson help you see why the resurrection is the proof of God’s truth?
Share your thoughts in the comments below—what does “By this I know…” mean to you today?

For more Bible-centered teaching, daily devotionals, and resources grounded in the truth of God’s Word, visit marvinmckenzie.org and join me for a daily visit with God.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 7000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

1 Kings 17:24 (KJV) What Truly Proves God’s Word Is True?

2 Corinthians 8:5 Grace Isn’t Just Received

2 Corinthians 8:5

And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

To understand the full weight of this verse, it must be read in its proper setting—2 Corinthians 8:5–9. Paul is not introducing a new doctrine here; he is unfolding a principle already at work in the lives of believers.

• The subject is giving, but not merely the act of giving.
• The example is the churches of Macedonia.
• The recipients are the saints in Jerusalem.
• And the governing theme throughout the passage is grace.

We often think of grace strictly in terms of what we receive—especially salvation. And rightly so. We are saved by grace. But the grace Paul emphasizes in this passage is not grace received, but grace expressed.

The Macedonian believers had received grace from God, and that grace produced graciousness. Their giving did not begin with resources; it began with surrender. They first gave themselves to the Lord, and because of that, their generosity followed naturally.

Titus was then sent to Corinth—an act of grace in itself—not to command, but to instruct. The Corinthian believers were not lacking spiritually. They abounded in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in diligence, and in love. Paul’s appeal was simple and searching: since grace had touched every other area of their Christian life, it ought to be evident in their giving as well.

To make his point unmistakable, Paul directs their attention to Christ. Our Lord lacked nothing, yet He willingly became poor for our sakes. His grace was not theoretical; it was costly. And through His poverty, we have been made rich—rich in salvation, rich in service, and rich in the sure hope of eternity.

#GraceThatGives #GenerousGrace #BiblicalGiving #ChristianStewardship #GraceInAction

Grace Isn’t Just Received—It’s Meant to Be Given

If this passage challenged the way you think about grace and giving, leave a comment below and share what stood out to you. I read the comments, and thoughtful interaction helps this teaching reach others who need it.

For more Bible-centered teaching, lesson resources, and encouragement rooted in Scripture, visit marvinmckenzie.org. You’ll find studies, articles, and videos designed to help believers grow strong in faith and grounded in truth.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 7000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

2 Corinthians 8:5 Grace Isn’t Just Received

2 Corinthians 7:3 (KJV) Strong Preaching Is Not Abuse—And Never Was

2 Corinthians 7:3 (KJV)

I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.

It may have always been the case, but it is certainly the case today that there are considerable attacks on preachers in my Independent Baptist circles for being harsh, unloving, and the like. There are movements such as the “XIFB” and the “Recovering IFB,” and likely others as well. I see social media groups intended to allow former students of Independent Baptist colleges to “debrief” and support one another, often as if these churches, pastors, and colleges were guilty of spiritual abuse—if not emotional, mental, and some would even suggest physical abuse (they received demerits and had to do yard work).

In my forty-two years of ministry, I have become aware of some churches, pastors, and even colleges that were over the line in certain matters. No doubt, there have been bad actors who found in the pulpit a platform to work evil. Those should be exposed and, in cases such as sexual predators, judged and jailed. Never should such people be protected or hidden.

However, it is my firm conviction that such cases within Independent Baptist churches are—the exception rather than the rule. It is a bald-faced lie, propagated by the devil, that Independent Baptist churches as a whole are prone to such evil. Far from it. These are the very churches where souls are most likely to be rescued from the sins of both flesh and spirit.

Here is the truth of the matter. When a preacher—such as Paul—speaks the Word of God with boldness, he does not do so to judge, condemn, or express hatred. The very people to whom he preaches are those he would gladly claim as his family in the faith—those with whom he would live and die.

There are individuals today who will have nothing to do with me because they took offense at messages I preached or decisions I believed were necessary. Yet even now, I would gladly receive them and fellowship with them for the rest of my life.

Paul’s rebuke of Corinth was not abuse—it was love expressed through truth. He did not speak to condemn, but to restore. That same spirit still marks faithful preaching today. Those who confuse correction with cruelty have misunderstood both the gospel and the pastor’s calling. A shepherd who truly loves his people is willing to walk with them through discomfort, for he has already given them his heart—to live and die with them.

#PreachInLove #HeartsToLiveAndDie #TruthWithGrace #BiblicalBoldness #FaithfulShepherds

Strong Preaching Is Not Abuse—And Never Was: A Pastor’s Heart in an Age of Offense

If this spoke to you—whether you agree or disagree—I’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts. Thoughtful conversation sharpens understanding, and Scripture welcomes honest engagement. Leave a comment below and share how you’ve seen the balance between truth and love lived out in real ministry.

For deeper Bible teaching, pastoral perspective, and resources grounded in Scripture, I invite you to visit marvinmckenzie.org. You’ll find articles, videos, and studies designed to strengthen faith and encourage discernment.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 7000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

2 Corinthians 7:3 (KJV) Strong Preaching Is Not Abuse—And Never Was

1 Kings 14:5 (KJV) Did God Really Say That?

1 Kings 14:5 (KJV)

And the LORD said unto Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam cometh to ask a thing of thee for her son; for he is sick: thus and thus shalt thou say unto her: for it shall be, when she cometh in, that she shall feign herself to be another woman.

Thus and thus…

Jeroboam knew why his son was sick. He had already heard from God, knew what God expected of him, and had been rebuked by a man of God. Now he sends his wife to “secretly” find out whether God would heal his son or take his life.

Though Jeroboam’s wife attempted to conceal her identity from the prophet, no one hides anything from God. Before she ever arrived, God had already spoken to Ahijah.

The message God had for her was heavy. The details of that message are recorded as Ahijah delivered them to Jeroboam’s wife, but they are summarized in our text simply as “thus and thus.” We are left to trust that the prophet faithfully told her exactly what God had told him—because all we are told is that God said, “thus and thus.”

Unbelievers have spent thousands of years developing arguments against God and His Word. Not much has changed. Their arguments haven’t really improved, but one question remains common: “How can you be sure that’s what God actually said?”

How can we be sure the Bible contains exactly what God said—that the writers didn’t change or add to it, that copyists didn’t corrupt it, or that so-called holy men didn’t simply make it all up?

The fact is, at some point everything comes down to faith.

God’s Word says:

2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV)
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

And again:

2 Peter 1:21 (KJV)
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Either God said what He said—or there is no God at all. Either way, we are going to hold our position by faith. The Bible gives ample reason to believe it is true, that God is, and that there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.

#ThusAndThus #NothingHiddenFromGod #GodSpokeFirst #FaithInGodsWord #ScriptureIsTrue

Did God Really Say That? The Answer Hidden in ‘Thus and Thus’

If this lesson stirred a question, challenged an assumption, or strengthened your confidence in God’s Word, join the conversation below. I’d like to hear your thoughts—leave a comment and let others know where you stand on trusting what God has said.

For more Bible teaching, study resources, and encouragement grounded in Scripture, visit 👉 marvinmckenzie.org. You’ll find lessons, videos, and books designed to help you think clearly, believe confidently, and stay anchored in the truth of God’s Word.

👉 Comment below
👉 Visit marvinmckenzie.org

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 7000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

1 Kings 14:5 (KJV) Did God Really Say That?