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- Apr 25, 2006
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12 July 2008
Word on the Web
2 Corinthians 6:3-13
We do not want anyone to find fault with our work, so nothing we do will be a problem for anyone. But in every way we show we are servants of God: in accepting many hard things, in troubles, in difficulties, and in great problems. We are beaten and thrown into prison. We meet those who become upset with us and start riots. We work hard, and sometimes we get no sleep or food. We show we are servants of God by our pure lives, our understanding, patience, and kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by true love, by speaking the truth, and by God's power. We use our right living to defend ourselves against everything. Some people honour us, but others blame us. Some people say evil things about us, but others say good things. Some people say we are liars, but we speak the truth. We are not known, but we are well known. We seem to be dying, but we continue to live. We are punished, but we are not killed. We have much sadness, but we are always rejoicing. We are poor, but we are making many people rich in faith. We have nothing, but really we have everything.
We have spoken freely to you in Corinth and have opened our hearts to you. Our feelings of love for you have not stopped, but you have stopped your feelings of love for us. I speak to you as if you were my children. Do to us as we have done-open your hearts to us.
Whenever I travel on the tube in London I am always struck by the sound advice given over the tannoy ... Mind the Gap. This is not just good advice for London travellers but also for all Christians. What we say carries no weight unless it is lived out. When asked what his message was Ghandi simply replied: "my life is my message". In this passage Paul states that they show they are God's servants by accepting many hard things willingly, by the purity of their lives, by their love and by the power of the Holy Spirit. A life lived in complete submission to Christ is the most powerful tool of evangelism; as St. Francis of Assisi is reputed to have said; "Preach the Gospel and use words if you have to".
Though it sounds hard actually Paul's way of sacrificial living is the most liberating way to live. It means that nothing can ever beat us. Even when he was seemingly beaten the life of Christ within him meant that he was a winner and though much of the time it appeared he had nothing in Christ he had everything. The result was that though he was poor, everywhere he went people became rich in faith. Now that has got to be worth a bit of hardship, surely.
Dear Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
Please fill me with your Holy Spirit that I might live as your servant.
Today help me to live in purity with understanding, patience and kindness.
And as I live for you help me make the people I meet today rich in faith.
Amen
Written by Mike Gilbert
Word on the Web
2 Corinthians 6:3-13
We do not want anyone to find fault with our work, so nothing we do will be a problem for anyone. But in every way we show we are servants of God: in accepting many hard things, in troubles, in difficulties, and in great problems. We are beaten and thrown into prison. We meet those who become upset with us and start riots. We work hard, and sometimes we get no sleep or food. We show we are servants of God by our pure lives, our understanding, patience, and kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by true love, by speaking the truth, and by God's power. We use our right living to defend ourselves against everything. Some people honour us, but others blame us. Some people say evil things about us, but others say good things. Some people say we are liars, but we speak the truth. We are not known, but we are well known. We seem to be dying, but we continue to live. We are punished, but we are not killed. We have much sadness, but we are always rejoicing. We are poor, but we are making many people rich in faith. We have nothing, but really we have everything.
We have spoken freely to you in Corinth and have opened our hearts to you. Our feelings of love for you have not stopped, but you have stopped your feelings of love for us. I speak to you as if you were my children. Do to us as we have done-open your hearts to us.
Whenever I travel on the tube in London I am always struck by the sound advice given over the tannoy ... Mind the Gap. This is not just good advice for London travellers but also for all Christians. What we say carries no weight unless it is lived out. When asked what his message was Ghandi simply replied: "my life is my message". In this passage Paul states that they show they are God's servants by accepting many hard things willingly, by the purity of their lives, by their love and by the power of the Holy Spirit. A life lived in complete submission to Christ is the most powerful tool of evangelism; as St. Francis of Assisi is reputed to have said; "Preach the Gospel and use words if you have to".
Though it sounds hard actually Paul's way of sacrificial living is the most liberating way to live. It means that nothing can ever beat us. Even when he was seemingly beaten the life of Christ within him meant that he was a winner and though much of the time it appeared he had nothing in Christ he had everything. The result was that though he was poor, everywhere he went people became rich in faith. Now that has got to be worth a bit of hardship, surely.
Dear Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
Please fill me with your Holy Spirit that I might live as your servant.
Today help me to live in purity with understanding, patience and kindness.
And as I live for you help me make the people I meet today rich in faith.
Amen
Written by Mike Gilbert
