Scripture: 2nd Corinthians 10:8-9
Now, even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it. I do not want to seem as though I am trying to frighten you with my letters.
Thought for the Day: This whole early Christianity thing was complicated! As faithful and committed as Paul and others were, they were still trying to figure out exactly who this Jesus was and what it meant to follow him in daily life. There is the old adage that something sure looked easy in theory, but in the case of Christianity, it didn’t look easy in theory…and it was even more difficult in the day to day grind. Paul found this to be true as he worked with faith communities, including Corinth. And of course, when you are writing letters to people, something you say can be taken out of context or misinterpreted. This clearly occurred on more than one occasion, yet Paul pushed ahead with his goal of communicating the Good News of God’s grace revealed in Jesus Christ. At times, he sounded a little arrogant and people took offense. Other times, they simply misunderstood him. And still other moments, people were hurt by his confrontational words that were intended to call people to repentance. Even to this day, Christianity remains difficult in theory and even more challenging in the day to day grind. Just remember, it is nothing new…and the best you can do is continue to share the Good News of God’s grace revealed in Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Be gracious with me, Lord, when I fall short of the ministry to which I have been called. Help me as I continue to grow in faith, and among those many moments of failure, be patient and kind. I’m trying…I really am. Amen.
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