Leviticus 24:1-25:22, Proverbs 21,
Mark 14:12-31, 2 Corinthians 6:1-13, Psalm 90: As I read the passage today I was drawn to study 2 Corinthians 6 a little deeper. It is talking about how Paul and those working with him commend themselves to those they are being a witness to asking them to come to Christ. What drew me were the lists he makes in the passage.
The first list was what they had gone through for the sake of the gospel. Verse 4-5:
by great endurance,
in afflictions,
hardships,
calamities,
beatings,
imprisonments,
riots,
labors,
sleepless nights,
hunger
Then he lists what allowed them to do these things. Verse 6-7
by purity,
knowledge,
patience,
kindness,
the Holy Spirit,
genuine love;
by truthful speech,
and the power of God;
with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;
Then the verse changes patters to a list of contrasts vs. 8-10
through honor and dishonor,
through slander and praise.
We are treated as impostors, and yet are true;
as unknown, and yet well known;
as dying, and behold, we live;
as punished, and yet not killed;
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;
as poor, yet making many rich;
as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
In the end the idea is that we did everything we knew to do to try to bring you a true witness of who Christ is and what He has done in our lives. What are we willing to do to bring those we know and care about to faith in Christ? Are we willing to be persecuted? Are we willing to live a life devoted and genuine before God and others. For all of us we will struggle and be misunderstood at times, but as we live right constantly before others, they may not want to give up their life for Him, but they will see a true picture of what a Jesus follower looks like. I pray today and especially this week as we lead up to Easter that we will die to self in order to live for Him and bring others along with us.