Good weekend to you my “Walking with Jesus” friends,
Have you noticed our world has a fascination with both credentials and endorsements? When you are searching for help from a particular professional, such as a doctor or dentist or even a car mechanic or home builder, which is more important to you… the framed credentials and certificates hanging on their walls or referrals from a well satisfied customer? It’s one thing to recommend a car mechanic because your car is running well, it’s another thing to hear a person point to another person saying “she saved my life”!
Have you ever thought about the credibility challenge which faced the disciples in those years after Jesus left, returning to heaven? John was probably given the greatest credibility, after all he was the only one of the disciples who stood at the cross of Jesus while the others ran to hide, and John was the disciple Jesus asked to care for His mother Mary. (John 19:15,16) John was called by many ‘the beloved disciple’, sitting next to Jesus in the upper room that Passover evening. (John 13:23)
Peter had some credibility of course because he was perhaps the boldest of the disciples who had been with Jesus those many months, and Peter had actually walked on the water with Jesus that stormy night, remember? (Matt. 14:22-31) But Peter had a credibility problem with some because Peter denied not once but three times that he even knew Jesus, only hours after their Passover evening together. (Matt. 26:69-75)
The apostle Paul had serious credibility problems with many people. Paul had not been among the 12 disciples selected by Jesus. In fact Paul had been angry ‘Saul the Pharisee’, totally opposed to Jesus and leading the persecution against all who were the first followers of Jesus. (Acts 8:1-3) So several times Paul had to face credibility questions and in Paul’s letter to the Christians in Corinth, Paul addressed this issue head on in an unusual way. Paul wrote: “Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent by God.” (2 Cor. 2:17)
As Paul had begun this letter, again here Paul declares that he was selected and sent by God Himself, to proclaim the truth about Jesus Christ with sincerity, clarity and integrity. Unlike many traveling orators in those days, Paul had not taken his three missionary journeys to build a personal fan base, nor a financial empire.
Paul’s motives were simple and clear…
First… Obedience to God who selected and commissioned him and led him on these Gospel preaching journeys by the power of the Holy Spirit, (Acts 13:2,3)
Second… Clarity in the spiritual truthfulness of the Gospel Paul proclaimed to all and consistency in helping the responsive people experience the life transforming power of Jesus Christ in their lives.
That is why Paul continued with this great statement: “Do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Jesus Christ, the result of our ministry, not written with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts.” (2 Cor. 3:1-3) Oh my, that is so profound, do you agree?
Yesterday this powerful statement came alive right in front of my eyes!
I was visiting a dear friend who has been released from 9 weeks in the hospital and 3 back surgeries. She is not able to live alone yet without constant assistance, so a friend of hers came several hundred miles to live with her and help her in her recovery. As I met that visitor she pointed at my friend and said, “I am alive because of her, that’s why I’ve come to serve her. Years ago I was at the bottom, near death. I was far from God with no hope. I had made a mess of my life with many very wrong decisions. But she cared. She showed me the love of God and helped me understand how Jesus could change my life. I trusted her, and invited Jesus to save me. He did! I am a totally different person now and I’m thrilled to come and serve the woman who saved my life!”
Pause and ponder that for a moment. What Paul wrote was celebrating that his Christian friends in crazy, wild Corinth were living advertisements for Jesus Christ and the total life change He can accomplish in ANYONE, no matter their desperate condition! Paul had shared the Gospel of Jesus with Corinth and these who believed Paul and trusted Jesus with their lives, were totally different people because of all Jesus had accomplished in them. Everyone who knew them had watched the radical transformation. Paul celebrated that he could receive NO greater confirmation or credibility than transformed lives of people who believe the Gospel of Jesus which Paul preached!
That calls us to consider if we are a walking advertisement for Jesus and how our lives affect other people, doesn’t it? The “lessons learned” study notes will be very helpful if you’ll prayerfully read through them, and the worship song will draw you to praising Jesus! Who I hope has done a great work in your life.
And I hope you have a wonderful weekend and I look forward to meeting you here Monday as we continue in 2 Corinthians.
Today’s Scripture: 2 Corinthians 2:17-3:3.
Choose below to read or listen.
 |  |
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)
Archived back issues of “Walking with Jesus” and other resources are available by clicking here to open our ‘home page’ (or go to HOME at upper right of this page).
Share with friends. Subscribe below for daily “Walking with Jesus”.