2 Corinthians 11:23-29:
"Are they servants of Christ? -I speak as if insane- I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from the rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?"
Second Corinthians is quickly becoming one of my favorite New Testament books for this reason: you can really see the heart of Paul for the Corinthian church. They had false teachers swooping in and trying to deceive them, discrediting Paul and promoting themselves, and Paul was pleading with them over and over that they would see these false teachers for who they really were. They were posing as servants, but were devouring as serpents. The Corinthian church was in a crisis. So Paul gave them a litmus test for the true servants of God: they will have scars.
And this rings true from personal experience. The men of God who have influenced me all have their share of scars. Two men who were serving as faithful pastors in my area were cut randomly from their church. Those who serve God in any capacity will suffer while on the battlefield. Not only that, but it seems that to the degree someone is serving God, the more scars they will have, and the deeper they will cut, until the most faithful servants of God resemble the crucified Christ. If a man claims Christ and has an easy and comfortable life, promising you the same, beware. This man is no servant of Christ.
We also see that these wounds come from various areas, even places you would least expect it. Paul endured much persecution for the faith from those obviously opposed the faith. But He was also opposed by those within the church: "dangers among false brethren." He suffered loss on a physical level, facing real threats to his life, and he constantly was concerned with those whom he loved. We too will have many things that will oppose us. While we are serving the kingdom we may suffer financial loss through a natural disaster, along with being slandered by the very brothers we are serving, and persecuted by the ones we bring the gospel. Remember what Paul said earlier in Second Corinthians when describing the hardships he faced. He was "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing."
Yet, it must be said that these trials are not self-inflicted. Surely all of humanity has trials and problems, all of them face this sin-destroyed world. The scars Paul is showing are those of one who is going against the flow of the depraved world, one who is fighting for another Kingdom. These scars are not trivial, they come from living radically for the kingdom, not for ourselves. They come from a heart that loves God and His glory more than one's own comfort. These scars don't come from the typical trials all men face, these scars come from the trials men who don't love the truth turn away from. A sane man wouldn't subject himself to the things Paul did unless he was convinced of the truth that caused it. We as Christians will face this war, "Indeed, all who desire to live holy in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (2 Timothy 3:12)
Although this may sound disheartening, take courage Christian. Know that all the trials you are going through are working for your good. As a Christian, you are a servant to Him, and you are to work for the Kingdom while on this earth. Know that you will acquire your own scars, but these will set you apart from the false teachers. You will grow stronger through your trials (1 Peter 1:7), being more and more equipped by God through them to serve Him more fully. Embrace the cross as Christ did, "who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame. (Hebrews 12:2)" Know that the trials you go through in your service aren't even worth comparing the eternal weight of glory waiting for us (2 Cor 4:17). May we all have the attitude of Paul when encouraging the Ephesian elders: "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24)"
God bless!
This is my latest blog, which can be found at:
blog.solagratia-cjthereformedpreacher.com
"Are they servants of Christ? -I speak as if insane- I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from the rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?"
Second Corinthians is quickly becoming one of my favorite New Testament books for this reason: you can really see the heart of Paul for the Corinthian church. They had false teachers swooping in and trying to deceive them, discrediting Paul and promoting themselves, and Paul was pleading with them over and over that they would see these false teachers for who they really were. They were posing as servants, but were devouring as serpents. The Corinthian church was in a crisis. So Paul gave them a litmus test for the true servants of God: they will have scars.
And this rings true from personal experience. The men of God who have influenced me all have their share of scars. Two men who were serving as faithful pastors in my area were cut randomly from their church. Those who serve God in any capacity will suffer while on the battlefield. Not only that, but it seems that to the degree someone is serving God, the more scars they will have, and the deeper they will cut, until the most faithful servants of God resemble the crucified Christ. If a man claims Christ and has an easy and comfortable life, promising you the same, beware. This man is no servant of Christ.
We also see that these wounds come from various areas, even places you would least expect it. Paul endured much persecution for the faith from those obviously opposed the faith. But He was also opposed by those within the church: "dangers among false brethren." He suffered loss on a physical level, facing real threats to his life, and he constantly was concerned with those whom he loved. We too will have many things that will oppose us. While we are serving the kingdom we may suffer financial loss through a natural disaster, along with being slandered by the very brothers we are serving, and persecuted by the ones we bring the gospel. Remember what Paul said earlier in Second Corinthians when describing the hardships he faced. He was "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing."
Yet, it must be said that these trials are not self-inflicted. Surely all of humanity has trials and problems, all of them face this sin-destroyed world. The scars Paul is showing are those of one who is going against the flow of the depraved world, one who is fighting for another Kingdom. These scars are not trivial, they come from living radically for the kingdom, not for ourselves. They come from a heart that loves God and His glory more than one's own comfort. These scars don't come from the typical trials all men face, these scars come from the trials men who don't love the truth turn away from. A sane man wouldn't subject himself to the things Paul did unless he was convinced of the truth that caused it. We as Christians will face this war, "Indeed, all who desire to live holy in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." (2 Timothy 3:12)
Although this may sound disheartening, take courage Christian. Know that all the trials you are going through are working for your good. As a Christian, you are a servant to Him, and you are to work for the Kingdom while on this earth. Know that you will acquire your own scars, but these will set you apart from the false teachers. You will grow stronger through your trials (1 Peter 1:7), being more and more equipped by God through them to serve Him more fully. Embrace the cross as Christ did, "who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame. (Hebrews 12:2)" Know that the trials you go through in your service aren't even worth comparing the eternal weight of glory waiting for us (2 Cor 4:17). May we all have the attitude of Paul when encouraging the Ephesian elders: "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24)"
God bless!
This is my latest blog, which can be found at:
blog.solagratia-cjthereformedpreacher.com
