Good morning my “Walking with Jesus” friends,
Have you ever come to the end of yourself with absolutely nothing left? In that place of desperation were you thinking your life might be over? Did you know there are at least TWO famous Bible heroes who came to that place? The great prophet Elijah, as he ran from Queen Jezebel who threatened to kill him, cried out to God: “I have had enough, LORD. Take my life…” (1 Kings 19:4)
The other Bible hero who thought the end might be near was the apostle Paul, did you know that? These days we’re looking at another of Paul’s great letters to the Corinthian Christians. In 2 Corinthians 1:8 Paul wrote: “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death.”
Paul is writing this in about 56ad in the middle of his THIRD missionary journey, perhaps from the city of Philippi. In that very town, several years before, Paul had been severely beaten with rods and imprisoned with Silas. (Acts 16:22-24) Before that, Paul had been stoned and left for dead in Lystra. (Acts 14:19,20) In nearly every town, all across Asia, Macedonia and Greece, where Paul had visited and proclaimed the wonderful HOPE found in Jesus Christ, the response included strong opposition, sometimes near-death persecution.
While we don’t know exactly what experiences pushed Paul to THIS point of near despair, we are grateful the Holy Spirit led Paul to be honest and transparent about his despair. Why? Because every day since that day, somewhere in the world, people are just as desperate, having lost all hope! That’s why what Paul wrote next is so important: “But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us again…” (2 Cor. 1:9,10) Where does that strength of character and depth of confident HOPE come from, my friends?
Do Paul’s words bring another Old Testament story to your mind? 3 Hebrew men standing before King Nebuchadnezzar who demanded they bow and worship before his golden statue or be thrown into a blazing furnace? Do you remember what they said to the King as soldiers made the fire hotter?
“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it...but even if he does not, we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up!” (Daniel 3:16-23) And do you remember what happened to them? Yes, they were thrown alive into the fire, but they were not burned! And very soon a fourth person joined them in the fire! That, we believe, was an Old Testament appearance of God the Son, Jesus Christ, rescuing them from the fire. (Daniel 3:23-27)
Paul knew that story very well, and dozens, perhaps hundreds of other similar stories which frame the legacy of God’s protection and deliverance of His people over the centuries, as recorded in the Bible. Those great heroes of God’s people, many of whom are listed in Hebrews 11, were for Paul what Heb. 12:1,2 proclaims: “Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Paul’s ability to withstand outrageous opposition, persecution, torture and abandonment was BOTH the examples of others who had great faith in God, but also the never fading memory of his personal encounter with the risen Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, and several subsequent times when Paul received messages from Jesus to ‘stay the course’, ‘hang in there’, remain faithful and courageous, because the powerful Holy Spirit of God was vibrantly alive in Paul! (Acts 18:9-11)
So an important question for you and me: ‘what sustains us, what gives you and me such courage in the face of fierce opposition’?
Paul concludes his declaration in the face of despair: “On Him we set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.” (2 Cor. 1:10,11)
Oh my, what a powerful and victorious declaration! Have you noticed how many such encouraging statements are written in the New Testament about standing firm in great courage in the face of trouble or problems or persecution or even despair? James, John and Peter all join with Paul in very similar declarations found in James 1:2-6; 1 Peter 1:3-7; 1 John 5:1-5.
And did you notice Paul assuring the Corinthian Christians that their prayers for Paul were heard by God and God’s work of sustaining Paul in his persecution was in part God’s response to those prayers! What about you and me, my friends? Do you have friends or family who pray faithfully for you?
Can we stand with these great men who suffered much, and echo their declarations of confidence in God’s Sovereignty over all things, including our pain? Can we celebrate our victorious, reigning Jesus Christ and our indwelling, powerful Counselor God’s Holy Spirit?
The ‘lessons learned’ study notes will be very helpful to you today as you consider this powerful word from Paul in the face of discouragement or despair. A wonderful worship song will lift your heart in worship and I’ll be here, ready to continue with you, tomorrow.
Today’s Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:8-11.
Choose below to read or listen.
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Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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