“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;” – 2 Corinthians 4:7-9

Is your body creaking and aching at times? Is it slowing down or acting up? Is it growing weak and unreliable? Do you find yourself moaning or groaning from time to time because it isn’t what it once was or won’t do what it used to do? If so, that’s OK – that actually helps accomplish God’s good purpose for your life!

As Paul wrestled with his own experience of bodily weakness, he helps us understand the glorious dynamic of having God’s glory stored up in our fragile, aging bodies. He compares our body to the ordinary clay jars that were widely used to store food and drink in those days. Such jars were inexpensive, nothing special, fairly breakable, and easily discarded. Likewise, our bodies are nothing special in the grand scheme of things. They break down over time. But for Christians, what’s inside us is pure gold!!!

As a follower of Jesus, you are new creation. The Holy Spirit lives in you. Your body is a temple of God. You are in union with Jesus Christ. You are a royal ambassador of heaven! And yet, your body will inevitably break down. You may struggle with age, fatigue, illness, or disability. It’s OK! The stark contrast of the extraordinary stored in the ordinary, the unbreakable stored in the fragile reveals God’s infinite power. Because our bodies are weak, the power of God within us shines more clearly to the watching, unbelieving world. Our physical breakdown is a testimony to the Gospel! Embrace any bodily weakness and let it tell the world about God’s strength!

When you experience affliction, turn to God for the strength to keep going and keep sharing the treasure of the Gospel. When you’re confused about what’s going wrong with your body, turn to God for the strength to keep going and keep sharing the treasure of the Gospel. When you’re physically persecuted, don’t give up and don’t fight back. Turn to God for the strength to keep going and keep sharing the treasure of the Gospel. When you’re knocked down, turn to God for the strength to get up, keep going, and keep sharing the treasure of the Gospel. #FollowJesus

“For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.” – 1 Corinthians 9:19

Paul understood that he was completely free in Jesus Christ. He’d spent years contemplating the Scriptures and the power of the Gospel in his own life. Faith in Jesus had set him free from sin, from death, and from legalism. He also understood that his freedom in Christ was a blessing he must use to reach more people who needed Jesus. He knew the world was full of Jews and Gentiles who needed to believe the good news that Jesus came, lived, died, and rose from the dead so their sins could be forgiven. They needed to hear. They needed to listen. So that they would have a chance to believe.

He used his freedom not to indulge himself but to serve those who didn’t yet believe in the Lord. He poured out his life, his energy, his time, and his resources to reach anyone he possibly could reach with the gospel. He became like them so they would listen to him. He immersed himself into every place he went in the desperate desire to preach the gospel to as many people as he possibly could, so that some would respond and believe.

We’re told in Scripture to imitate his example. If Jesus is your Lord, then you are also free. Free to live forever. Free as a child of the One True King. Free to serve anyone and everyone who doesn’t yet know Jesus. Are you serving them? Are you devastated by the thought that most people you encounter will spend eternity separated from God? What are you willing to do to reach them? Are you willing to freely let go of your preferences, comforts, and conveniences to help other people LIVE? Are you pouring out your time, talent, and treasure so that others will join you in God’s eternal presence? #FollowJesus

“So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come.” – John 7:30

No matter how much people hated Jesus they couldn’t thwart His perfect timing. When the time was right, He would go to the cross as a sacrifice to take away the sins of the world. But not a moment sooner. Jesus understood this perfectly and walked freely about. He knew that however evil the intentions of men might be, they couldn’t overcome the sovereign will of God.

This should be of comfort to you as well. If you’re on God’s disciple making mission, then Jesus is always with you and you are in God’s will. Nobody can short-circuit your efforts. You may be persecuted. You may suffer. You may even die. But it won’t happen before it should. It won’t happen before God has accomplished His purpose through your efforts.

There are no promises about the earthly outcome of our Kingdom efforts. But be confident in the Lord! Be bold in the Lord! If it’s His will, He will make a way. In all things, His will will be done. Don’t worry, just make disciples. #FollowJesus

“For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their craftiness’” – 1 Corinthians 3:19

Education, study, learning, and research are all important and excellent endeavors. The ability to learn, reason, and pursue the sciences is a gift of God. He is the father of science because He created an orderly universe that holds together with consistency and because He created us in His image with the ability to think. It’s good for Christians to pursue these areas of study.

However, we should also understand their limits. The study of nature and reasoning of mankind can’t explain the supernatural or limit the divine. When the world’s knowledge and wisdom tries to dictate what God can and can’t do, it’s crossed over from wisdom into foolishness. When finite human thinking starts sitting in judgment on the infinite mind of God, it’s crossed over from wisdom into foolishness. When scientific inquiry into “how” becomes speculation into “why”, it’s crossed over from wisdom into foolishness.

A healthy human wisdom understands its strengths and limitations. It understands how far it can draw useful conclusions and the point beyond which the conclusions will simply be a joke in God’s eyes. Appreciate human knowledge and wisdom but also appreciate its limits. Develop your mind but stay humble before the Lord. Avoid saying what God can and can’t do. Recognize that God has primarily revealed Himself through His Son and His Word and only secondarily through His creation and our ability to reason and study. Don’t become trapped in self-delight about your knowledge and insight. Develop your mind but always #FollowJesus

“He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.” – Acts 18:26

Don’t be afraid to help a Christian grow through loving correction. Conversely, recognize that someone correcting you may well be trying to help you grow!

We live in a time and place in which people are increasingly afraid to correct others. Everyone is thin-skinned and easily offended. Christians are often among the worst! Our culture tells us that people who disagree with us hate us and that people who try to correct us think they’re better than us. What demonic nonsense! Correcting each other is actually a biblical mandate!

We are blessed with Scripture for learning and correction but we’re also blessed with other Christians who care enough to help us grow. Apollos was a fervent and accomplished speaker who was doing good things for the Lord. He was also incomplete in his knowledge. So a godly couple took him aside and gave him further theological education. It wasn’t humiliating, denigrating, or debilitating. It was empowering! They weren’t cutting him down, they were building him up. With this correction, Apollos was then blessed and sent throughout Greece to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.

We MUST change our culture within Christianity. We must learn that correction isn’t attack. We must learn to crave godly correction. We should welcome the attention of those who see our potential and want to increase it with discipleship. Ultimately, correction isn’t about us, it’s about what’s best for God’s Kingdom. So, don’t hate correction. Likewise, don’t be afraid to offer loving correction in God’s Word. If a person won’t accept it, that’s on them, not on you. We must build each other up, but not with participation trophies, with the correct understanding of God’s Word. #FollowJesus