I have found great help from two truths God gave me at a time in my life when I was bombarded with a series of unexpected and unfair blows (from my perspective). In my darkest hours, these principles become my anchor of stability, my only means of survival. Afflicted, confused, persecuted, and rejected in that situation, I claimed these two truths and held on to them like wild waves, strong winds, and pounding rain grabbing hold of the mast of a ship at sea.
Read MoreTag Archives: Second Corinthians
Par for the Servanthood Course
Paul was no criminal. The man was innocent of wrong . . . yet he was misunderstood, mistreated, hunted like a wounded deer, and hated by those who once respected him. In 2 Corinthians 4:9, Paul states we are “struck down.” And then to illustrate just how close he came to death itself, he mentions . . .
Read MoreDealing with Physical and Emotional Pain
It’s hard for me to read Paul’s words without wincing, “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.” (2 Corinthians 11:24–25)
Read MorePaul Was Normal, Like Us
Funny, we seldom think that a great apostle like Paul ever suffered from insomnia, but he did. He couldn’t sleep sometimes because of acute deprivations, like hunger, cold, and exposure . . . and sometimes because of his concern for the many ministries to which he had given himself. “Daily pressure,” he calls it.
Read MoreIllustrating the Consequences of Serving God
It is an inescapable fact. If you get serious about being shaped into Christ’s image, you’ll have to learn to cope with the consequences of being a servant of God. Those who serve will suffer.
Read MoreDealing with Rejection
If you enjoy watching and playing the game of football (I certainly do), you have observed a curious activity called a “spike.” It’s rather unusual. A team fights its way toward the goal line yard by yard. Minutes seem like hours as the offensive team plods along. Suddenly, it happens.
Read MoreOur Common Struggles: Affliction, Confusion, Persecution
In yesterday’s post, we were introduced to four common struggles all servants of God deal with. Really, they’re consequences. In 2 Corinthians 4:8–9 we read them: afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, struck down.
Read MoreThe Dark Side of Serving Others
We Christians have received a priceless treasure (the glorious gospel) in a very frail and perishable container (our weak bodies). There is a reason. So nobody will have any question about the source of power, it must be of God and not of any human origin.
Read MoreSome Common Misconceptions, Part 2
Yesterday, we learned that God’s servants have no special powers in themselves. Thinking they do is our first misconception. Our adequacy comes from God alone. Another misconception is that servants don’t struggle with everyday problems.
Read MoreSome Common Misconceptions, Part 1
Does it surprise you that being a servant of God is perilous? To some folks, serving others sounds as safe and harmless as a poached egg on a plate. What could possibly be perilous about it? Plenty. As we examine Paul’s words in the fourth chapter of 2 Corinthians, I’d like to suggest several familiar misconceptions regarding servanthood.
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