God’s Gifts of Love

I was intrigued Sunday, September 15, 2024, when Pastor brought to our attention how 2 Corinthians was one of the most passionate letters Paul had written. Therefore, on my walk on Tuesday morning, I set out to listen to the reading of this book. Yes, it was, indeed, an amazing letter to the body of Christ. There were some compelling principles shared, such as, the privilege it is to share in Christ’s sufferings; how we who are in Christ possess the gifts of the Holy Spirit; that we are to focus on things that cannot be seen vs what we see around us; we are people who possess the great treasure of Christ; how godly sorrow leads to repentance; and how we have no business connecting ourselves with unbelievers. So much to digest, right?

Yes, but there was one passage that I know I have read before, but it hit me differently. It is the passage, 2 Corinthians 11 &12, Paul mentions his boldness for the cause of the Gospel message. He implied his gratefulness for his hardships, sufferings, his testimony of love to the body (see the verse above). In 2 Corinthians 12:15, Paul stated, he was “spent” for the body. Well, I had to hear this passage again. Sure, I am familiar with the countless of verses where God proclaims His love for us; and how we should identify with Him. I mentioned above only, Jeremiah 31:3, John 13:35, as well as with I John 3:1. However, God decided to give the churches the Apostle Paul. We are able to understand why Paul said he was spent for the body. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-33, we read of his near death experiences to spread the gospel message. He was a witness of a life devoted to Christ. It grabbed me how God gave us not only God the Son, our Savior and Lord, but He gave clouds of witnesses (mere men), such as Paul.

Should Paul’s example of passion for Christ be ours? Are we even able to practice the love of Paul? I began to think how we allow such frivolousness, like jealousy, envy, arrogance to deter our love for one another. Our lives haven’t even been threatened for the cause of Christ; and we hardly practice the passion of Paul. Forgive us, Lord! We are overly consumed with such matters as, careers, possessions, dreams, and goals. We lack passion to identify and share Christ’s kind of love. We have a manual beyond any other in the Word of God (the Holy Bible). Yes, it shows us how Christ has lavished upon us so that we could become His peculiar people. We are not to look or love like the evil systems of this world. In Romans 5:8, Paul gave us the reason why we should side with Christ: In that while we were God’s enemies, He was spent to the intense point of dying for us so that we could gain relationship and live reconciled to the Father. So marvelous!

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for Your gifts of love. Father, You have loved us with an everlasting love; and You have given us examples of our ability through Your Spirit to love others as You love. Help us to walk in all You have given us. Forgive us for hiding behind our conceit, superiority, pure arrogance. Let it not be that we are characterized by the sin (of pride) that so easily besets us. Always remind us that anything and all we may possess (that is worth boasting about) comes from You. Lead us to walk humbly, graciously in this life with You. Oh, Lord, help us to have a heightened awareness of our role to compel and encourage the body; that we would choose to grasp a heart to grow Your kingdom. In Jesus’ Name-Amen!
Sis. Lisa Williams