6:1 As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the
grace of God in vain.
6:2 For he says, "At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and
on a day of salvation I have helped you." See, now is the acceptable
time; see, now is the day of salvation!
6:3 We are putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may
be found with our ministry,
6:4 but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way:
through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,
6:5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights,
hunger;
6:6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit,
genuine love,
6:7 truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of
righteousness for the right hand and for the left;
6:8 in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are
treated as impostors, and yet are true;
6:9 as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see--we are
alive; as punished, and yet not killed;
6:10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many
rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
6:11 We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide
open to you.
6:12 There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours.
6:13 In return--I speak as to children--open wide your hearts also.
As I look at it I see the unbelievers of today and the witnesses
that try to share the good news with them. But above all I see an
apostle with strong faith willing to face the challenge.
Challenge is almost viewed as a dirty word these days. Comfort seems
to be the choice of most Christians today. When I look out at my
congregation from the pulpit there are more blank faces than ones
excited about their call to share the good news of Jesus. It's very
disturbing to me to know we have an army of believers but very few
who will fight to save the lost. Corinth was a city full of selfish
idle worshipers. They were people who were comfortable with the way
things were and upon hearing the good news they began a smear
champaign to try and silence the apostle, to silence the church. I
see the same thing in our world today. The ACLU claims to be for
human rights but smears the Christian Church when ever it can. The
government acts like it is trying to ride the fence but time and
again publically slams the faith in favor of political correctness.
hmmm and the last statistics I saw 94% of the US believed in God.
This passage is a prophetic word for me. It is an insight to what we
will face today as we give our testimony. This passage gives me
strength to press on with dilligent patience knowing that some will
not be blinded but will see the truth and know salvation because I
placed all my faith and effort into answering the call Jesus expects
from us all.
KB in Kansas
This is a quote from Quaker, Thomas R. Kelly's Testament of
Devotion, page 3: (re: the Mark 4:35- lection) "Here is the
Slumbering Christ stirring to be awakened, to become the soul we
clothe in earthly form and action. And He is within us all."
Paul writes of the great hardships and calamities that he has faced,
yet he is able to rejoice because what appears to be loss is great
gain.
The words that leap out at me are "Now is the day of salvation." So
often, people look into the distant future for salvation, from this
world full of sin. Instead, we should be striving to bring the word
of salvation to people who need it now. We need to bring love to an
abused child (or adult). We need to bring hope to the hopeless. We
need to bring God to the godless, not just huddle in our own misery
and wait for God to take us away. Now is the day of salvation, with
our hearts wide open, let us share it.
Michelle
While the first comment is old, it seems to still be true. People
seem to resonate more with the story of Jesus stilling the storm.
I'm feeling the weight of the world's issues. Can the storm imagery
speak beyond personal problems. I guess that's why I keep coming
back to this second lesson....especially the parts about now being
the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation, and "open wide
your hearts also". But nothing's taking shape yet. JT/MI
"Now is the day of salvation" this is followed by a long list of
trials that have come about from being "saved" and following the
Lord. Doesn't look like pie in the sky after all.
I like Eugene Peterson's paraphrase of verses 3 and 4
3 Don't put it off; don't frustrate God's work by showing up late,
throwing a question mark over everything we're doing. 4 Our work as
God's servants gets validated—or not—in the details. People are
watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in
hard times, tough times, bad times;
Perhaps the greatest witness we have is showing the validity and
strength of our faith during the rough times. These are the times
our witness seems to be authentic, and this is something that
post-moderns crave...authenticity, a Jesus for the real world.
John near Pitts.
Found this prayer of St. Augustine. Don't know where he wrote it
though.
God of our life, there are days when the burdens we carry chafe our
shoulders and weigh us down; when the road seems dreary and endless,
the skies grey and threatening; when our lives have no music in
them, and our hearts are lonely, and our souls have lost their
courage. Flood the path with light, run our eyes to where the skies
are full of promise; tune our hearts to brave music; give us the
sense of comradeship with heroes and saints of every age; and so
quicken our spirits that we may be able to encourage the souls of
all who journey with us on the road of life, to Your honour and
glory. --. Augustine
John near Pitts.
John -- Thanks for sharing the prayer by Augustine. And I too had
looked at Peterson's translation. I think you're on to something!
Thanks...JT/MI
