envelop spinner search close plus arrow-right arrow-left facebook twitter

2 Corinthians 1:1 –3:6 Keeping It Real

by fol CHURCH on February 19, 2020

The first thing that struck me when I read these chapters was how unlike “Sunday Christianity” Paul’s faith is. For too many Christians, their walk with God consists of a short excursion to church once a week, a smile firmly in place and “I’m fine” tripping off their lips. Not so for Paul.

His faith and understanding of who God is and how He works is birthed in the harsh realities of life. Even the opening verses, which put a glow in our hearts at the thought of receiving comfort from “one who has been there” more than hint at the troubles that he had experienced. We know from other passages that Paul was shipwrecked, pelted with stones, assaulted, hauled into court. He really knew what he was talking about here!

Paul was constantly in the spotlight. If he were alive today, I have no doubt he would be the target of Twitter trolls, the topic of gossip pages. Time and again we see him having to defend himself and his actions (and, all too often, his critics were fellow Christians). He calls God as his witness (v23), fearing his explanations would not be sufficient, but this is no self-centred standpoint. No one can doubt his commitment to those in his care:

“I planned to visit you….” (v15)

“[understand] that in him it has always been ‘yes.’” (v19)

“…it was in order to spare you…” (v23)

Paul’s heart is transparent here. He longs for all believers to experience the joy of forgiveness, the peace of receiving comfort and hope. He wants them to know that even though he has experienced hardship and trial, God has rescued him from it all – and has brought good out of his suffering.

You see, if he had started with the inspiring declaration of v14 –15, it might have been easy to dismiss it as a nice soundbite of theology. But it is against the backdrop of all he has pointed out that he is still able to say (and I imagine his voice to be strong, cutting through the hubbub of other messages): “Thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.  For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”

The Christian life is challenging, risky, uncomfortable. But what a mighty God we serve.

 

***

 

Jesus, I want the kind of “rubber hits the road” faith that Paul had. Lead me into adventures, hold my hand tightly, and let me show You to those watching.

return to Through The Bible