We are statistically right at a third of the way through our reading today. Yeah! This is significant and I am so glad to have arrived at this place. But there is still two thirds more to go. I think we can make; let’s not give up.
Today’s reading has us taking on the whole book of 2 Corinthians. I took a class in graduate school (Seminary) on 1 and 2 Corinthians. To be honest, 2 Corinthians had less impact on me than 1 Corinthians back then. Since that time, a lot of water has gone under the proverbial bridge and 2 Corinthians has gained a much more important place in my life and ministry understanding. For those reasons, I looked forward to my reading it again in this unique format. I hope you did also.
Here is my impression on what I read today.
Paul says, “Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others.” This statement comes on the heels of Paul’s declaration that every one of us must appear before the judgement seat of Christ and experience what is due us. As my friend Phil Markley says, “Yikes!”
The first thing I know about the “fear of God” is that people don’t like the concept. No fear, baby! That’s what we want in our experience here on the earth. Yet if we are honest, we are full of general fear and specific fears. Will my retirement be sufficient (that’s what I am starting to think now)? Will my kids be safe? Will terrorism effect me? Will my house sell? Will I be able to work in a good environment? Will my spouse continue to love me? Is Jesus real? And on and on. We are full of fear.
According to Paul, this fear leads to an extraordinary response. He says that because of it, he tried to persuade others about Jesus. Why? Was he so in the grip of fear, paralyzed beyond any self-driven response, to do anything but share Jesus? Or was his response in sharing Jesus based on what He knew about God in His ultimate role as judge?
In fact what he goes on to say in that exact passage is that “if he is out of [his] mind” it is because of God and His great love for the population of the earth. It is God’s great love for mankind that compels Paul to this end. It compels him to persuade others to know Christ, because of what he knows about God. What he fearfully and lovingly knows about God.
For God so loved the world…that He provided Jesus to deal with our sin and in dealing with our sin He shows His love; even though as ultimate Judge, He will pronounce His legal decision over all the earth. That decision aught to be seen as awful from our perspective, but a righteous thing from God’s perspective. This terrible thing is in fact the very reason for God making a way for all humanity, because without His injection into the mix through His Son Jesus, the Messiah, we have no recourse but to find ourselves condemned. And this condemnation is for all eternity.
Paul knew this terrible consequence without the loving act of Christ and it is what compelled him to proclaim, unreservedly, the good news of Jesus, the Savior. He knew this fear (and God’s provision of love through Christ) and for the neediness of others, he proclaimed this truth.
This is where my experience comes in. As a pastor, sometimes my folks don’t see the great love that I have for them and the desire that I have for them to be right with God (I have the same desire for myself). Sometimes they see other agendas at work in my comportment. And to be honest, I am still very human. But my relationship with my church’s membership is really based on the same effect that Paul knew. I am compelled by God’s great love to share with those who find themselves under my influence. It is, like Paul, not about my attaining a higher pay grade, position or greater influence for me; rather, it is knowing who I am (nothing) and how I have been called (by God) in effecting the work God has called me to do the best way I know how in honesty with the truth.
Some days, I feel out of my mind. I would rather go fishing, play soccer, watch a movie, hangout with my wife or enjoy any other thing, than to deal with Christians or other people…but Christ’s love compels me. Crazy, hunh?
Until tomorrow. Blessings!
Leave a Reply