A SLICE OF APOSTOLIC LIFE -- Tomorrow:
"Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia. Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place." (2 Cor 2:12-14)
Devotion 4 of 24
"Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel . . . "
When the mind is absorbed with the things of God, and the locus of thought is Christ Himself, a certain manner characterizes one's thoughts and words. An very real association is seen in matters that appear on the surface to be wholly unrelated. Our text is a case in point. To the carnal mind, it appears as though Paul has been hop-scotching through a variety of unrelated matters. Consider the diversity of the things that he has mentioned to the Corinthians thus far. These are contained in the first and second chapters, up to the point of our text.
1. ENCOUNTERING DIFFICULTIES. He had trouble in Asia, and was pressed out of measure, above strength (1:8).
2. GREAT DELIVERANCE. He was delivered from impossible circumstances (1:9).
3. CONFIDENCE. Future deliverance would be realized through the prayers of the brethren in Corinth (1:11-12).
4. DESIRE. He had desired to come to Corinth to bring them a "second benefit" (1:15-16).
5. HIS MANNER OF PREACHING. His word to them was not "Yes" and "No," but was "yes," speaking of spiritual sureness in Christ Jesus (1:17-19).
6. THE PROMISES OF GOD. All the promises of God are "Yes" in Christ and "Amen" to the glory of God by us (1:20).
7. THE EARNEST OF THE SPIRIT. The One who establishes and anoints us is God, who has sealed us and given us the earnest of the Spirit (1:21-22).
8. AN EXPLANATION. Paul did not come to Corinth, in order that he might "spare" them, choosing not to come in harshness and constant rebukes (1:23).
9. A TECHNICAL POINT. He did not have dominion over their faith, but was a helper of their joy, for by faith they stood, and Paul refused to encroach upon that faith (1:24).
10. A DETERMINATION. He determined not to come to them with heaviness, or be a promoter of sorrow. He did not want his presence among them to be associated with trouble and difficulty (2:1-5).
11. DIRECTION. The punishment of the fornicator in their presence was sufficient (1 Cor 5:1-5), and now that the transgressor had repented, he should be received, forgiven, and comforted (2:6-10).
12. REASON FOR REBUKE. All of the rebukes Paul delivered, and the corrective teaching that he gave, was done in order that Satan might not gain an advantage over them (2:11).
All of these matters are related – even though they do not appear to be so on the surface. There is, however, a domain in which they all fit together – a blessed realm in which there is more versatility and cohesiveness in both thought and expression. Paul is, at it were, stepping through a path of thought on differing stones, yet they are all headed in the same direction. Each of these points are related to the other, tied together by certain pillars of thought.
The reason these things are so is because of the focus of all Kingdom thought. There is a centrality around which all things resolve, and a common purpose or objective that they serve. Stated in terms of a Person, the centrality is the Lord Jesus Christ. It terms of an objective, it is God's "eternal purpose" (Eph 3:11). In terms of experience, it is knowing God and Christ (John 17:2-3; 1 John 5:20; Phil 3:7-10).
PRAYER POINT; Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank you for the stabilizing power of faith, and the sanctifying power of the truth.