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Word from Scotland

    by Sandy Shaw

We Are In It Together
Date Posted: October 17, 2022

II Corinthians Chapter 4 – I read this passage at a recent Fraternal. Yes, we are in it together.

“Don’t do it. Don’t do it.” That was a word given to man I was talking with some weeks ago. He almost left the ministry – he could almost take no more – he saw an advert in a magazine for a job – and when he read the job description he said, “I could do that.” “Don’t do it! Don’t do it!”

I have met many who were, or who are, on the verge of packing the whole lot in!

They find the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, almost too hard – too challenging – too demanding.

Paul is writing to disciples of Jesus – do not lose heart – verse 1 .

Now, in this section Paul is defending his ministry – but it is wider than that – and quite specific. Paul wanted the Gospel to remain clear.

He is saying – Look for the glory of what you are ministering and of what you are involved in. “Therefore” – what had gone before has helped to sustain him – Chapter 3verse 6 .

We know Paul wanted to go on to Rome to preach the Gospel to believing disciples. We all need to be reminded of the Gospel. We need the Gospel.

There is no use telling a bird with a broken wing to flap harder.

Sharing the Gospel is such a privilege. Never lose sight of that.

Look at the power of God which is able to make your ministry count.

God has given you something to do that you cannot do in your own strength. You proclaim the Gospel to blinded people. God does the rest. The task is just too big for us – on our own – thinking we can do it.

Verse 6 – God makes His light shine in our hearts and lives. Paul boasts – or rejoices – about his weaknesses – and that is why we must never try to hide behind the mask of competence. Look at the life within you – you have God in you – we have Jesus Christ with us. We have the Holy Spirit within us – and as we have been reading in the Psalm, God the Father is watching over us. This is the God who “flung stars into space” – this is Emmanuel – God with us.

In ver ses 7 to 15, Paul contrasts suffering with the life of Christ.

He writes about outwardly wasting away – and it comes across in this one chapter that his life and ministry is painful – uncomfortable – taxing – and he recognises that we may get very low at times, because it is tough – but we are not crushed. Verse 8.

We were reading about the risen Lamb of God a few weeks ago. We need this Lamb now – this Lamb who is unkillable and unstoppable. We have the risen resurrected ascended Lamb of God with us and within us – and we are reminded of that when we come to eat and drink.

Perplexed – many are perplexed – but Paul says, not in despair, because we have the resurrected Lamb – the living Jesus. The life of Jesus and all that that means is with us and in us, through the Holy Spirit.

Verses 16 to 18 – Look ahead and look up. Paul, are you not being a bit facile here – a little simplistic? You write that our troubles are light and momentary – like some morning mist that soon disappears. Remember, this is the man who arrived in Corinth in fear and trembling, battered and bruised – having come from Philippi – Thessalonica – Berea and Athens.

These very real and sore troubles do not feel like light and momentary, but he was looking up and looking ahead at what was invisible.

Can you imagine Paul saying – Oh I am too tired today – I have had too much to do – I can’t be bothered – or some other quite facile excuse.

Every personal pronoun in this passage is in the plural. Paul is not in this alone.

We are not in here or out there alone – isolated – the only Christian in our street – the only Christian in our family – not unless one chooses to be.

“WE” – we could almost miss that – like the goldfish in water – it does not know about water – or notice water – until it is no longer there!

This is not deep – not complex – but we often forget it. Remember what you are involved in. Look at the power of God and make your witness and ministry count.

Remember you have God within you. Look ahead and look up. This passage is all about “WE” – we and Jesus – we and Christ – there are times when ordinary grammatical rules.

What is important are the spiritual principles we are in it together .

“Lord God Almighty – such love – such grace – such power – such a privilege – such a high calling – we give You thanks and praise – we bow our hearts and beings in Your holy presence. Help us in these serious and critical times when so much around us appears to be in confusion and fear and darkness – help us to be the Light of Christ – and to shine when the path of others is rough and steep. Help us, O gracious God – in and through Jesus.” Amen.

"Today's Little Lift" from Jim Bullington

Mercy and not Sacrifice (Sept. 24, 2010)

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Biography Information:

Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!

Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.

Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.

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