The Body of Christ living in the Last Days.
This week we continue our series in 2 Corinthians which among all of the Apostle Paul’s letters, reveals his heart for those to whom he had preached the gospel to and had received Christ under his ministry, more than any other letter
Paul made this amazing statement in this letter as to how he wrote this last letter to the church in Corinth that had accused him of not caring….Paul wrote, 2Co 2:4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.
Paul, was called to the ministry by Jesus Christ Himself on the road to Damascus. You will remember he was blinded by a great light, and for three days sat in a house unable to see.
The Holy Spirit sent a man by the name of Ananias to go and pray for Saul, who was to become Paul, which Ananias did bravely! As Ananias prayed for Paul, it was as if scales fell off of Paul’s eyes and he could now see things, I think as Jesus sees them, including people!
But along with this prayer from Ananias, Paul was told by Ananias of what would be his ministry in serving God…For I will show him (Paul) how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake – Acts 9:16.
The most difficult challenge we all face as believers is not persecution in my opinion.
But it is what Paul and Jesus Himself, both endured that broke their hearts more than anything else. That being the giving of their love to people and it being rejected, ignored and cast aside.
But, when this occurs, as it did often to Paul and especially to Jesus, we are to seek God at those times like no other and ask for the Lord’s mercy and help in this the most difficult time of need.
When the Prodigal son left the farm and his father saw him walk away knowing he was going to go through difficult times ahead, how this must have broken the father’s heart.
It is only by going to Jesus Christ, by kneeling at His feet once again, can we shield ourselves from any root of bitterness when one’s love is rejected. Instead, we pray and pray and look to the Lord for His will to be done.
We find ourselves living in the most difficult of times, a period that the Bible calls the Last Days, and now more than ever, as the writer of Hebrews encourages us – 10:24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
I pray the Lord be with you and keep you as we serve Him and continue in fellowship around His precious Word. More and more in these days do I look forward to the times of fellowship we have available here at CCSH, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays and at each gathering of such, the presence of God, by our worship of Him and the teaching of His precious Word – the Bible.
I pray that you will take every opportunity to become a living stone, an active part of the body of Christ here at CCSH.
Let us be about God’s business until He comes.