Daily Devotion for Lent 2021 - Day 37

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 11

Paul is expressing his tension in dealing with other apostles who are opposing his teaching.  He is a little disgruntled with the Corinthians in that he accuses them of wavering back and forth in verse four.  In their defense, it would be difficult for them to know who is legitimate and who is false.  Both groups were likely very sincere in their beliefs.  

It seems to come down to an age-old issue theologically: as followers of Jesus, are we more concerned primarily about purifying ourselves before God or are we more concerned primarily about being a light to the nations?  You can have a primary focus and still include the other so they are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

But for Paul, if our primary concern is light to the nations, we are trying to reach mostly Gentiles.  Some of their cultural differences make it important to jettison circumcision and dietary laws.  Those who are interested in purity state that anyone coming to faith in Christ must follow these important rites and practices.  There is something about the discipline of behavior that can help us spiritually.

But if these rites and practices become a stumbling block for people to hear the good news, Paul is ready to set them aside.  This is what lessens him in the eyes of so many of the faithful.  When he mentions that he has "received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one" it is a referenced to Deuteronomy 25:3 which prescribes the maximum number of lashes:

Forty lashes may be given but not more; if more lashes than these are given, your neighbor will be degraded in your sight.

We endure what it takes
for those we love.

So Paul got whipped with forty lashes minus one so that the person administering the punishment doesn't accidently lose count and go against the law!  I'm sure Paul would have told them, if you forego the lashes altogether, this would absolutely make sure you didn't break this law.  Paul writes that at the time he was penning this, he had already been given this five times!

He lists a litany of things that he has already endured for the sake of the gospel.  As we move later into Holy Week, we are reminded of the suffering of Jesus.  Paul's imitation of Christ makes for a good résumé that would be hard for the "super-apostles" to match.  Paul seems to be saying that this is how you should be able to tell the difference in authenticity! 

People come to know the good news in a variety of ways.  There are ways that each of us are especially suited to share.  Is there a particular way for you to share the love of Christ with the world that you wouldn't care what you had to endure to share it?

Prayer for the day:

Gracious God, we confess that suffering is not something we would ever seek out.  In fact, when we are honest, suffering often works as a deterrent for lots of our behaviors.  When it comes to the important work in the world, we ask that you would give us courage.  Let us stand up for those who can't stand on their own.  Let us be the voice for the voiceless.  We pray these things in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Photo by United Nations Photo via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

All scripture quoted is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Daily Devotion for Lent 2021 - Day 33

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 6

Paul is pushing on toward salvation in Christ for the Corinthians.  He quotes from Isaiah 49:8 which reads in its entirety:

Thus says the Lord: In a time of favor I have answered you, on a day of salvation I have helped you; I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages;

The idea of God giving Israel as a covenant to the people is a strong theme in Isaiah and also becomes the narrative for the people following Christ.

I've always found going uphill 
is easier with friends.

Paul holds onto this mission as he lists all of the things he has endured through verses 4 and 5.  Many of that day might look at all of these things and ask, "Are you sure that you are doing God's will?"  

Paul's faith is an optimism that allows for suffering in the world and may even expect it.  But Paul's faith transforms suffering.  Paul sees hardships through the lens of faith in Christ as opportunities to show others how they too can overcome suffering.  

The challenge for us comes when Paul speaks of his love being wide open without restriction for the Corinthians.  But he also acknowledges that this affection may not be reciprocated.  

Have you ever loved a child that was angry with you?  In our most immature moments, we may yell back if they have hurt our feelings with a particularly effective barb.   But at our finest, we don't regress to that level and continue to remain calm and offer love and guidance.  Paul references this image as he states, "I speak as to children" and implores them to "open wide your hearts also."

It is important for us to remain open hearted to those who may not be at the same place.  This is a characteristic of Christians and our interactions may give us our own list of hardships and endurances!  

Paul's letter takes a turn here to speak of marriage with a non-Christian through 7:1.  Then it picks back up where verse 13 left off in 7:2.  Some scholars think that this was a fragment from another letter that was inserted here.  It seems to refute what he said to them earlier in 1 Corinthians 7:14: 

For the unbelieving husband is made holy through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy through her husband.

Paul finishes with words from the Hebrew Bible.  The material seems to be a mashup of Leviticus 26:12, Ezekiel 37:27, Isaiah 52:11 and 2 Samuel 7:14.  

Why the seeming switch in thought?  Possibly, the community during his earlier letter was not large enough for marrying within the congregation.  As the church began to branch out, it also might be difficult for a fledgling faith to hold onto its identity if there was a lot of pagan thought influencing the church through multiple spouses that believed otherwise.

Today, we do not prohibit marriage with non-Christians.  For this we tend to rely on the earlier thought of Paul rather than the latter!  Maybe this is the way that we are opening wide our hearts today!

Prayer for the day:

Blessed God, we give thanks that you live in us and walk among us.  You are our God and we are your people.  Help us to remain faithful to you no matter the hardship.  May our suffering be transformed so as to remove any obstacles that would cause someone to stumble.  Amen.

Photo by Gordon Bell via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.

All scripture quoted is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.