Reading though chapter 11 of 2 Corinthians is a challenge for me. I am a Pastor, I grew up in a Christian home and asked Jesus to rule my life when I was 5. I served in the youth group, went on mission trips, and taught younger children, all before I was 18. Then when I got married I served in many different ways in the church, including church board, trustee, men’s ministry, preaching and teaching, Sunday School, usher, sound team, and small groups. Yet 2 Corinthians 11 shows me, that all means nothing and in fact, it shows that I can do all of that and still be destined for Hell. That line of Paul, “masquerading as servants of righteousness”, scares the crap out of me. There are many lines in God’s Holy Word that scare me to death and that line is one of them. What I do means nothing in the eternal saving of my soul. In fact, what I do could and might stand in the way of my own salvation. I can look good, doing great things for God, and still be totally destined for destruction. That is why Paul says we should only ever boast in the Cross. Paul was so much better of a “man of God” than I am, yet he only ever talked about the Cross and what that means. That is the same for me. I can only boast in the Cross. That is all I should talk about. That is all I should tell others about. That is all that matters. Now the Cross should motivate me to do things, but that is the Cross at work in my life and the Cross that matters. Let this chapter soak deep into your soul and then let it explode out with an exclamation point of the Cross of Christ. Tomorrow, celebrate and be grateful for the one things that matters, the Cross of Christ.
3 Comments
Tammy
11/25/2015 10:24:32 am
Always wonder why people put so much effort into serving the Lord if their heart is not in it. Why waste all that time If Jesus isn't the focus. Comes down yet again to a heart issue and whether we are a fan or a follower.
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Bruce
11/25/2015 01:32:54 pm
Wow!!!! I am behind in my reading, but just posted a comment from the last chapters. I have not read these chapters yet, so this is coming with no foreknowledge at all. My last comments were about sacrificing of my time and being uncomfortable with certain situations that God may put me in. Then i read this blog and these comments. What a foolish person i am. Worrying about what i do or may be doing, and not worrying about how i should be loving people and praising God through the cross. I even had a conversation about this last night and yet it still did not see that i need my heart to right and be right with the cross and stop worrying about stupid things like being uncomfortable.. I have so far to go with getting myself right with Jesus....
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Tammy
11/25/2015 06:55:40 pm
We all have so far to go but remember how far you've come. Esther always told me that the Christian life is a growing process. When she first started studying with me Nick was just a baby. She told me that he's not an infant one day and driving a car the next. There are steps to growing and maturing as a human and as a christian. Remember where you came from and strive for where God wants you to be.
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