The call of chapter 5 continues in chapter 6 as Paul implores us to be thorough in our faith walk, lest our conversion prove to have been in vain. I have thought long and hard on this call from the Apostle in Chains. I can only imagine what our weak faith walk might look like to a person like Paul.
What lengths are you willing to go to to follow Jesus? I am afraid in appears we seldom endure even mild inconvenience in our journeys. Look at Paul's account of his experience in faith, "through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see--we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything." 2 Cor. 6:4b-10 NRSV.
My experience has not been nearly as dramatic, and I have made many efforts to keep it that way! How about you?
This chapter closes with a call from Paul to all believers to walk in the righteousness God provided for us in Christ. We are invited to a pure and holy walk of faith. Lord, help me to follow close and hard after my savior.
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1 comment:
Paul is so poetic - such a gifted writer - no doubt his words moved his first hearers emotionally as it moves us. I love the part about opening our hearts.
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