Go….live…share

2 Corinthians 10:7-11 Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s. 8 For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed– 9 lest I seem to terrify you by letters. 10 “For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” 11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.

The apostle Paul was an incredibly educated man. He has studied under the greatest scholars, and his knowledge of God’s Word and how to speak were likely unsurpassed. Paul could sway a crowd in any direction that he wished. His letters to the churches were many times weighty and convicting to those who read them, but when he came to town he preached the simplicity of the gospel. His preaching was being attacked by the religious of the day; they said he was hiding behind a pen and likely contemptible in some way. Paul took offense, and knew that God was doing a greater work in the sanctification process of Paul than anyone else understood. God was chipping away at Paul’s pride one big blow after another. Paul never wanted to draw any attention to himself; he had seen Jesus and understood just how little anything that was measured by earthly means meant in eternity. All that mattered to Paul was to share the good news that he had obtained; that salvation was available to everyone, and he as the chief of sinners was the proof to all that would listen.

I look back on my life, and realize how much I understand how Paul felt. I am not “edjumicated”, but I too lived a life full of sin until I saw Jesus and grasped the gospel. I did not have an experience on the road to Damascus, but I responded by accepting the free gift of grace He died for, and realizing that this life was all in preparation for the next. My heart hurts when I see so many that are wound up in the world, wound up in religion, or would up thinking that the world revolves around them. When you truly begin to understand how lost you are without Jesus as your savior and Lord of your life, you begin to live your life for the One who gives you life. You will begin to have a desire from deep within that prods you to share your faith and the gospel that saves. You will begin to realize that church is not about you, but the lost that have found their way there. You will begin to worry only what you can do for Jesus out of a response to the love He has shown you. You will begin to only give yourself to Him for the day, and to try and not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow may never come.

Paul is only worried about living his life for Christ. Paul is only worried about being the same in person as he is on paper. Are you the same person outside of the church for that hour on Sunday morning? Are you living your life with eternity in mind? Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Do that for today; live for Him today; be the person He wants you to be wherever your feet find you today. Share the Good News that Jesus Christ came for everyone; everyone that will repent and believe in him shall be saved. Go…live….share.