We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” [Isaiah 49:8] Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (II Corinthians 6:1-2)
What a beautiful and sincere plea! Vain means not yielding the desired outcome, fruitless, producing no result, useless. When we accept salvation through faith in Christ Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we are supposed to have a spiritual change that produces visible changes. Paul said, as workers together with Him; therefore, when we receive the grace of God, we are to also become workers with Him. And as Paul stated previously, the work we're supposed to do is the ministry of preaching the gospel of Christ Jesus (II Corinthians 4:1-6) and the ministry of reconciliation by the forgiving of sins through Christ Jesus (II Corinthians 5:17-21).
We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. (II Corinthians 6:3-10)
Wow, what a job description! Who would willing choose to become a part of the ministry of Christ Jesus, knowing we'd have to endure so much? Honestly, most won't. But for the few of us who have, we can rest assured that we, through the love of God, we will be able to bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things. Love never fails. (I Corinthians 13:7-8) But we can't do it by merely thinking we can or trying to. That's why God, in His grace and mercy and love, empowered us through the Helper, the Holy Spirit to be able to do and deal with all that Paul described. He is that Spirit change on the inside of us that produces a visible change.
O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open. (II Corinthians 6:11-13) What love Paul had for the church in Corinth, and what love God has for all of us, especially us who are saved. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. (III John 1:4) That sentiment is true for most parents, and it's definitely true about God towards us. Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. (Ecclesiastes 6:9) We have to keep our own affections in check, and submit to the power of the Holy Spirit, working in us to make us the opposite of vain, but to become fruitful, useful, producing good results, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:21)
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” [Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27] Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” [Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:34, 41] “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” [II Samuel 7:14] (II Corinthians 6:14-18)
Yoke is to couple or attach with. We are supposed to be light and salt in this world. (Matthew 5:13-16) We're supposed to be a vessel used by God to expel "darkness" and change the "flavor" of the world. We're not supposed to act like everyone else and do what everyone else does, and then hope we'll be able to change them. How can we lead them to the path of righteousness, to Christ Jesus if we're "yoked" to them and traveling the same path their traveling? Paul previously taught about navigating the fact of "being in this world but not of it"; For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. (I Corinthians 9:19-23)
Paul was very careful not to behave like the world did, but to put himself in a position to understand where they "come from" so that he could relate to them, that he might by all means save some. But he was very clear when he spoke to the church in the region of Galatia, Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. (Galatians 6:1) And we can be in this world but not behave like it because Jesus prayed for us, "I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one." (John 17:15) Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (II Corinthians 7:1) AMEN!
No comments:
Post a Comment