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1 As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says, "At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you." See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! 3 We are putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, 7 truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 11 We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. 12 There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. 13 In return—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also. (2 Corinthians 6:10-13 NRSV)
Be blessed, dear ConCafe Family on this tremendous Tuesday, is my prayer! I ask God to enlsit you fulltime in His service today in every opportunity and challenge that may come your way! Lift Him high and He will lift you up! And, speaking of lifting up, please continue to lift up the prayer requests shared with you by your church, by your soul, by the nudging of God's Holy Spirit, and by things you may see as needing your prayers! God will be glorified! Pray for the older members of this devotional family! (God knows who they (we) are! Pray for yourselves too!
Who here reading this is old enough to remember Maynard G. Kerbs? Google it, kids! Some of your younger whippersnappers may remember him as Gilliigan; but on Dobie Gillis, the TV show, he, Bob Denver, was Maynard G. Krebs. He was best friend to Dobie. And the key line was whenever somone mentioned the word work, he would almost faint as he repeated it in question mode, "Work?" *Click below to see a YouTube video on one scene of his reacttion* Well, that word, work, is a key word in this entire passage, for Paul as he writes reminds his readers, and us, that we should be working together with Jesus, and as workers we be humble and appreciative of God's grace that saved us and allowed us to be co-laborers with Him in all things. For it was at time of history, and includes us even today, God found it to be the acceptable time to respond to the human need with the gift of salvation. And Paul knew all about salvation and how important it was for him and how it is for us.
Now, some of you think the Baptists own the trademark and copyrights to the word salvation, for it is a word seldom, if ever, sadly, used in some of our churches; but no, it is a universal word and it refers to the perfect relationship God desires with us. Think back to the relationship God enjoyed with Adam and Eve in Eden and that is salvation. A walking, talking and sharing relationship with God, with God listening and speaking, and humans speaking and listening to God. Friends, that was the real paradise, not the lush vegetation that we have imagined in our thinking; add to it waterfalls, flowers, flying colorful birds, etc., and you have a limited view of paradise. My childhood friend and I would think aloud such theological things and concluded Eden had to be in Hawaii. I pray that one day he has the chance to go explore it, as I do not have the real desire to travel that far for a beach!
Paul says the way to salvation is wide open, and his ministry, as should ours, offers that open way to all people, without obstacles. By obstacles, Paul is referring to long-held traditions that were considered as prequisties but no longer qualify because they are truly obstacles; and Christ does not require those. And this, Paul continues, in spite of the obstacles and challenges they found on their journey as co-workers with Christ; afflictions, hardships, calamaties, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights (were they watching me?), and hunger; for Paul found strength and relief in these things; "purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love , truthful speech, and the power of God." And the great "weapon" of righteousness for both the right hand and the left. And when confronted by dishonor, he used honor; If ill repute was mentioned, he would offer good repute. Yet, in sptie of being treated as imposters, they knew what they offered and what they were true. Considered as "unknown," they were really, "well known." Believed to be dying, and yet, they were alive; punished yes, but still alive and not dead; Sorrowful yes, but still rejoicing; poor, yes, but working to make all rich; believed to have nothing, yet possessing all things. This was the gift of Christian perception even in the face of human resistance and perceived reality for others, especially the nonbelievers and scoffers of the faith. And Paul offered all this to the people of Corinth, along with his love. And he stressed there were no restrictions to his heart; all he asked was for them to offer their hearts 'wide open," and to offer those hearts with childlike wonder and obedience.
Wow. What a powerful and timeless message. It is offered to people of all stations and statuses; for rich and poor, for hungry and full, for lost and found, for those seeking and those content with what they already knew; God's message can find you anywhere, anytime, and all we have to do is say yes to receive it and be blessed. Yes, believers still may get beat down, but like Paul, will also be built up, and we believer stronger and better than before. So, whatever this season of life has you experiencing, know that you are not now, or ever, alone; the Lord is with you, and you will survive!
PRAYER: Awesome Father, bless this dear reader and her/his desires of the heart. May we seek Your face in all things, even the suffering, and should we experience some beating down, lift us up and build us stronger; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Help someone whom you know is down; lift them up in prayer and faith!
Receive my blessing of peace and love,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
Click here to see Maynard react to workl: https://youtu.be/pqzpQPDSr2s
