Good morning,
It wasn’t that long ago that Christians were told that if we just stand together we can make real changes in the direction of our countries and our churches. It sounded good and it seemed to be working for a short while, but then the movement lost it’s direction when many of it’s leaders were more concerned for their own will and way and not willing to rely on God for the heart changes that must be central to any effective movement that is empowered by God’s Holy Spirit. Now years later, our churches and people seem to be more focused then ever on success as measured in human terms and business principles then on the obvious power of God himself. The problem isn’t new, and the Apostle Paul was facing this issue when he wrote to the church in Corinth. Paul reminded these children of God that it was weakness, not personal strength, that would be the change agent of the ministry that the Lord had given them. What the people around us need is not a better system, they need a personal relationship with God that will stand up against the powers of this world in such a way that peace and joy fills their lives no matter what they are facing.
Paul used the example of his leadership team as the guidelines for how people can change from fear to strength when they realize the importance of weakness and their dependence on God’s plan and God’s Holy Spirit. His first example was, We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed.(2Cor.4:8) The people around us are watching to see what we are made of, and when they see that when we are facing overwhelming challenges and we aren’t crushed, there has to be something or someone bigger then us that keeps us going. His next example was, We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.(v.4) Those watching us see that we don’t have all the answers, but we keep on doing what we know to be right even if we don't get the result we thought would come. The ministry that God gave them got them in all kinds of trouble but, We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God.(v.9) Being hated didn’t define them, instead they were drawn closer to the God who loved them. There were other times when everything they were doing seemed to fall apart but, We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.(v.9) We learn that what looks like defeat is still a part of God’s plan and he is not done with us yet. His final point was, Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.(v.10) They recognized that God had called them to be living examples of the only real Savior, Jesus, that was stronger than the hate and fear and sinful control that dominated their lives. Dear Lord, please help us to learn and believe and live this way as well for your glory, their freedom and our joy when we hear you say, “Well done.”
2 Corinthians 4: 8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.
Roy Wisner
