“On frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers;” – 2 Corinthians 11:26

Paul’s spiritual biography is certainly quite dramatic. Everywhere he went he risked opposition and persecution. His calling was dangerous and his impact was enormous. Most Christians in this part of the world aren’t called to make such sacrifices for Jesus. But we could be! We might be! Are you prepared?

Jesus gave everything on the cross for your salvation. In turn, He calls His followers to take up their cross daily. What does that look like? What risks and sacrifices are you embracing to obey Jesus in all things? What risks and sacrifices should you be embracing to obey Jesus in all things? What will it cost for you to have a greater impact for Jesus? Time? Talent? Treasure? Health? Wealth? Comfort? Pain? Loneliness? Rejection? Suffering?

Jesus seldom calls His followers into greater comfort, wealth, convenience, comfort, or popularity. Salvation is free but there is generally going to be a cost to truly following Him. What does that cost look like for you and are you paying it gladly? #FollowJesus

“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” – 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Every person enters this world in conflict with God. We are naturally selfish creatures, battling for control of our lives while demanding that our needs and wants be satisfied. We are rebels by nature against God’s authority. We chafe at the idea that He should have authority over every single aspect of our lives. Our rebellion against God keeps us in a state of warfare against Him that we can’t end. No matter how hard we try to “be good” we just can’t help ourselves. No matter how hard we work, our secret thoughts, words, or actions nonetheless reflect our rebellion.

However, God took action to end the war. He did what it took to create peace and offer reconciliation to everyone who is in rebellion against Him. He sent His Son Jesus into the world to live a perfect life of obedience to Him and to sacrifice Himself to create peace. Jesus went to the cross, suffered, died, and rose from the dead to pay the penalty for our sins. Through faith in Jesus, the power of His death and resurrection makes every believer a new creation. Our debt of sin has been paid. Our rebellion has been punished on the cross. We don’t need to be at war with God any longer.

If Jesus is your Lord, then through faith in Him, God has reconciled you to Himself. You are at peace with God. You are embraced by Him as His beloved child. You are welcomed into His presence to pray, worship, and fellowship with the Creator of the Universe. AND…

God has entrusted you with the ministry of reconciliation! He has entrusted you with the message of reconciliation through faith in Jesus Christ. You’re now responsible for sharing this message and offering reconciliation to others. All around you are people who are still battling God. Some know it because they hate God or are angry for the pain in their life. Others don’t realize it because they think they’re good enough or their religious rituals are sufficient to make peace on their own terms. All of them need the reconciling message of grace through faith in Jesus!

Will you be God’s ambassador to those at war with Him? Will you be a channel of peace and reconciliation to everyone in your life who needs to know Jesus? If you won’t, who do you think will??? #FollowJesus

“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