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 10 of 24
". . .I had no rest in my spirit."
For some, this text speaks of the humanness of Paul a man who, like Elijah, was"subject to like passions as we are" (James 5:17). There certainly is an element of truth to that. However, I choose to look at this in another way – one that does not comfort the flesh, but challenges the spirit. I see this as evidence of spiritual sensitivity. Here is a godly man who lived in such a way as to cause less than ideal circumstances to be abrasive to his inward man. This is not a commentary on the sinfulness of weakness, but upon an acute awareness of the invariably disruptive nature of life in this "present evil world."
NO REST IN MY SPIRIT
"I had no rest in my spirit . . . " Other versions read, "I still had no peace" (NIV), "I had no relief for my spirit" (ASV), "I had no relief from anxiety"(NJB), and "But I couldn't rest" (NLT).
The word "rest" is translated from a Greek word that means "a loosening, relaxing, relief from anxiety, and quiet" (THAYER), "measure of freedom, refreshment, relief from tension" (FRIBERG), "have some liberty" (UBS), and "relief as a cessation or suspension of trouble and difficulty" (LOUW- NIDA). This is not a sinful agitation, but one that, for believers, necessarily accompanies the frailty of our human constitution. Suffice it to say, this is not a frame of mind that is to be defined to the principles of psychiatry – a body of knowledge that is founded on purely speculative "science false so called" (1 Tim 6:20).
The idea here is that Paul was disappointed, and even agitated within over the circumstances he found. He acknowledges a similar reaction in the seventh chapter of this epistle: "when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest" (7:5). Here, however, we will find that the restlessness was in Paul's "spirit." That is, it was a deeper agitation – more than mere inconvenience, human opposition, and the likes. It is similar to the experience he had in Athens. He was also waiting for some of the brethren there. Of that occasion Luke wrote, "And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed. Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry" (Acts 17:15-16). Other translations of that phrase read, "his spirit was provoked with him" (NKJV), "he was greatly distressed" (NIV/NRSV), "his spirit was troubled" (BBE), "his spirit was painfully excited" (DARBY), "he grew exasperated" (NAB), and "his whole soul was revolted" (NJB). In the expressions of Acts seventeen and our text, we are being exposed to the spiritual sensitivity that accompanies a strong faith and consistent love of the truth.
There are earthly circumstances that have an adverse influence upon the sensitive spirit. Such a soul has grown to the point where the abrasiveness of an alienated world, and even the untimely conduct of good brethren, has an adverse impact upon the human spirit. Only those who are immersed in the work of the Lord, are living by faith, and walking in the Spirit experience such sensitivity. How the church needs such people!
The state of "no rest" kept Paul from settling down at this point. He was apparently so agitated within that he could not enter into the "open door" that was before him. This was not owing to any timidity or fear on his part, but because of his great care for fledgling believers in Corinth. Unless one wishes to assign some fundamental deficiency to Paul, this whole text explodes the notion that the primary work of the servant of God is to reach the lost. As this text progresses we will find Paul deferring to the care of the church.
It appears from this text that the sluggardly spirit of the Corinthians had an effect upon the ministry of Paul in Troas. He went there to preach the Gospel, the Lord opened a door for him, yet he ended up leaving that area. The entire body of Christ has been left with a desire to know more about Melchizedec because the ones to whom the epistle of Hebrews was written were not able to receive further instruction concerning him (Heb 5:11). I wonder how often this kind of thing has happened throughout the ages – where one body of people was hindered because of the slowness of another group of professed believers. We ought not be so naive as to think our status and conduct has no impingement upon others.
Paul will elaborate on this in the words that follow. Suffice it to say at this point, when those who have been taught by faithful men fail to advance as they should, it has debilitating effects upon godly and sensitive leaders. That circumstance can the spread of the Gospel, even as it did in this text. I am of the persuasion that such inhibitive influences are logged in the heavenly books, and those who caused them will be required to give an account of their conduct. That is not something to anticipate. Candidly, I will do everything in my power to avoid being in their shoes.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me grace never to be a source of agitation or concern to godly man and women.