Have you ever wondered what made St Paul tick? What was it that drove him to achieve so much for Jesus? He was a man with great passion and energy, but these were only secondary to his real power, because he thought himself to be rather ordinary. He was much like a ‘clay pot’ or a take away coffee cup. Paul saw that his power came from a treasure within. It gave him resilience, grace and winsomeness. While on the outside he may be fragile, inside he was being renewed each day…becoming like Christ. And the great news is that he expected that this would be our experience too!
Today we start a new series, Wise Like Christ, which has been prepared by Matt Brain. Matt is a Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Bendigo.
Reflections: Even the strongest of us will tend to lose heart. In some ways we are never more like our fellow human beings than when we are disappointed. But we do not want to stay disheartened. We all expend so much energy (and ironically disagreement) in trying to lift ourselves out of disappointment.
It requires great wisdom to navigate the journey from ‘down’ to ‘up’ productively. Paul knew this journey. He had trodden its paths many times, and in 2 Corinthians 4 we see him setting out once more to cover the familiar ground. But it is interesting. Paul may not yet know the destination, but he knows where he is starting.
Questions: What is Paul meaning by ‘engaging in this ministry’ (hint see chapter 3)? What has God mercifully given you to be doing?
Prayer: Dear Lord, even though we do not deserve them you delight to give us good gifts. May I so delight in what you have given me that I do not become down-of-heart today. Amen.