Paul was the first mission developer. Commissioned by Jesus and the Holy Spirit to be an apostle to the nations, or at least the cities all along the Mediterranean. They make for nice cruise destinations now, but in the 1st Century, it presented an awesome challenge to spread the Gospel to. It could be downright miserable, even life-threatening.

The congregation Paul founded in Corinth questioned his methods, his motives, his very ministry. Paul never gave up on those exasperating Corinthians, even though his heart was in great distress over them. He was not proclaiming himself but Jesus Christ as Lord. The light shone out of the darkness, and Paul became a slave to that light, that person.

Even with the sometimes chaos of our own lives, we can see the glory of God in the face of Jesus – and in faith of our brothers and sisters. To quote Paul in 2 Corinthians, “we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed but not driven to despair; struck down but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in us”.

It is on the basis of patience and hope that we endure. We have long memories, which is a good thing in this case. The exasperating Corinthians rarely gave any outward sign that God’s Spirit was alive in them, even though Paul insisted it was. Friends in Christ, don’t bash yourself for not being constantly aware of this either. The Spirit’s seal is indelible, and our holy immune system is sufficient. The other 90 percent is God’s grace, God’s unconditional love.

Pastor Art