Hello church family,
As Paul addresses his audience in Corinth, and all the people of God in Achaia, he pushes on the prevailing narrative for their life at the time, which was power and prestige (sound familiar to our culture?). They had a hard time with his suffering and weakness, so much so, that Paul takes it head on in the last few chapters of the letter in 2 Corinthians (10-12). The narrative that Paul would like for us is to revel in the gift of the Spirit, which right under our noses, is where real strength and power reside.
This is why Paul can survive, and withstand the hardships of life, because the age of the Spirit has come. Our own brokenness cured by the Spirit, by becoming new creatures (5:17), through being linked with Jesus, and hope of a new world as well. All of this, is fragile as can be now, a treasure that we hold in jars of clay, as Paul puts it (4:7). However, we have no fear to hold on to it, because the fullness of God kindness and grace has been given to us.
If God has given us everything we need, and all promises are ‘yes’ and ‘amen’ in Jesus (1:20), we can behave in the world with “simplicity” and “godly sincerity” (1:12) and courage. A life that isn’t strategizing to gain by manipulating or attaining in any improper way, because we have “gained” and been given everything from Jesus. If a new world order has been inaugurated, how should we live? How are you living? Are you ambassadors as Paul puts it, or ministers of reconciliation, and open letters to which people can read? A life of simplicity and godly sincerity?
He Has Done Great Things!
-It was great to be at the talent show that JAM put on recently as we celebrated all who were baptized. Lots of talented kids and adults. Enjoyed the humor, the dancing, the singing, and of course, anything I will enjoy with the amazing amounts of food! Thank you all for participating, and thank you to all the hands that went into making something like this possible.
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