Numbers
9:8
Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the LORD commands concerning you.”
Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the LORD commands concerning you.”
Psalm
27:14T
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Some
amount of strength is required for waiting, isn’t it? Sometimes God says, “Be
still”, and it’s all we can do to be still. It takes every bit of strength we
have to do nothing except …pray. Paul had been still. God was his witness. He
had not wanted to return to Corinth to confront them again for their
disobedience. I can relate. Confrontation is hard. The outcomes can have long
lasting effects on relationships. Paul had caused enough hurt. He wanted
healing for all parties. He wanted forgiveness from every quarter.
Mark
11:25
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Matthew
6:14
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Sometimes it takes some distance for forgiveness to bubble to the surface.
After all, words hurt, even when they are the right words, even when they are
inspired words. The distance that separated Paul from the believers allowed the
church at Corinth the time to heal. Healing would provide the strength to
forgive. Forgiveness would work toward the reconciliation and restoration of
the church to Paul and, more importantly to God.
John
12:24
Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
John
15:13
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Ephesians
4:11-12
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip He his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up….
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip He his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up….
Finally, Paul closes with this thought: “I lead by example.” Throughout
this letter to Corinth, and in many of his other letters, Paul encourages his
readers by sharing his feelings of empathy with them. He can empathize with
whatever it is they are going through. Empathy, rather than sympathy because
Paul, himself suffers mightily for the sake of Christ. Beaten, shipwrecked,
stoned and left for dead. A pariah to those whose religious views he formerly
shared, Paul had seen his share of suffering. What he consistently communicated
to his readers was that his suffering was for their benefit. Ultimately, God’s
grace is made perfect in our weakness. That’s true for every believer, “♪..we
are weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes… ♪”.
Beloved, the Bible is God’s witness to us of His love for us That great
love will carry us through any and every trial we encounter in life. While the
outcomes won’t always seem to favor us, the certainty that God is with us will
comfort us and undergird us in our weakest moments. And when those time come,
and they will, His grace will be sufficient.
Blessings…
.wb
2
Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
See the video at: http://youtu.be/IL-tZjnkbX8?list=UUUg4PiFZaHV3h4tK084kxgQ
No comments:
Post a Comment