Reflections: Wisdom is a funny concept. It is a bit like humility. The more one claims to have it, the less likely it is that they do! Yet in 2 Corinthians 4 Paul has given us a model of how to interact with the downs (and ups) of life that is not only based upon but made effective by Jesus. He sums up the consequence of this sort of life neatly in our final verses with the contrast between temporary and eternal. Paul has grasped hold of a way of living that is able to navigate setbacks, disappointments, physical challenges and even (if we read other parts of his writing) great joys because
he has found the route to eternity. The amazing thing is that in pursuing eternity he discovers all sorts of benefits now, the liveliness of eternity becomes a lived experience even amid trying times. In a very real sense, Paul’s attachment to Jesus in his dying and then his living makes him wise. He can see behind what seems to be true to discover what is real. He becomes wise like Christ. And friends, he does this so that we might be wise like Christ too.
Questions: Do an ‘activity audit’. Where do you expend your energy – day-by-day, week-by-week, year-by-year? How do you decide where your energy goes?
Prayer: Dear Lord, you knit me together in my mother’s womb. You have known each part of me and all
my steps from before I was born. May what I do and think and say reflect Jesus’ dependence upon you, his trust in your provision, and evidence of the life given in his name. Amen.
We have been reading the Bible with Matt Brain. Tomorrow we begin a new series, “Signposts”, with Jacqueline Grey.