Todays reading is 2 Cor 11
In chapter 11 of 2 Corinthians, Paul is saddened and frustrated with the people of Corinth because they keep following false teachers who are distorting the truth. The false teachers were trying to put questions in the minds of the Corinthians of Paul’s authenticity. Paul spends this entire chapter making a case for his relationship with God and his calling to teach God’s truth to all he encounters. He is trying to prove to the Corinthians that he is the real deal and that he is teaching only God’s truth.
Paul says in verse 23 that he has served God far more than the other “teachers” in the community. He states that he has worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped and faced death all for teaching God’s truth. In verse 27 he says, “I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have gone without food and shivered in the cold all so I could reach more people with God’s word. Besides all of this, he says that he carries the daily burden of his concern for all of the churches. He asks, “Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger? He goes on to say in verse 30, “If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. God the Father of our Lord Jesus, is worthy of eternal praise.” Paul knows God is the One worthy of praise and the One to be followed. He wants God’s truth to prevail, and the manmade ideas to fall away. Paul suffered greatly to continue his ministry of spreading God’s truth. Nowhere in this chapter does Paul complain or feel sorry for him self for the trails he has endured for the gospel. Instead he keeps saying that he “boasts” about his hardships almost as if they were good. Go back to the beginning of this paragraph. Do you consider hard work, prison time, beatings and facing death “boast-worthy” activities? Right, neither do I. But Paul saw the good coming from the trials he faced and he understood how God was using Paul’s circumstances to further the gospel. Paul felt like his hardships made God’s message of hope more powerful, more believable and more far reaching.
I can’t help but be challenged by Paul’s attitude. I think we are soft compared to the fortitude Paul displays in this chapter. He was willing to endure anything to further the gospel. We face don’t face the hardships that he did during his ministry, yet some times we cave, sit quiet or complain about uncomfortable situations we face when we have opportunities to further the gospel. While we are still free to share God’s story in this country I see signs that it may be changing in the future. I hope we are growing in strength and fortitude to be able to speak truth when it gets harder.
Last week a friend of mine faced one of the biggest trials she will probably ever face in her lifetime. This trial was physical not brought on as consequences for sharing her faith, but I saw some parallels in her situation and 2 Cor 11 and God spoke some truths into my own heart because of watching her journey last week. God showed me that I am not grateful enough for all of the good in my life. I went for a walk outside the day that my friend started her trail and I got tears in my eyes while walking as I realized that my friend would have given anything in that moment to be outside taking a walk. Until my friend’s circumstances changed, I thought nothing of heading out for some fresh air and exercise. I am not grateful enough each day that I can complete the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other. God made it really clear to me that I take too much for granted and expect to be able to execute my to “do list” each day. When the ability to continue to function as expected changes for someone we love, it becomes a wake up call for us to appreciate the gifts we receive from God every day. Paul recognized his circumstances as a gift even when they were what we would consider to be pretty terrible circumstances. How much more grateful should we be each day for the good gifts God has given us?