Due to the effects of the time change, I do not have much interrupted time to write. Both kids are upstairs yelling ‘mom!’ They know nothing of the extra hour of sleep they could be taking advantage of. In the short time that remains I will briefly share what spoke to me in this chapter.
What stands out most to me is the grace of the Lord. It
continually surprises me. My favorite verse in this chapter is when the Lord
speaks to Paul in a vision and says “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and
do not be silent, for I am with you,
and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are
my people.” This is astonishing. Corinth was a city characterized by rampant
immorality. There were multiple temples to pagan gods….one temple dedicated to Aphrodite,
the goddess of love, had worshipers that practiced religious prostitution
(seriously, 1000 prostitutes served roaming the city at night in the name of their ‘religion’).
This was the place that God called Paul to stay in. God had many that He had chosen out of this city to be His. This is a reminder to me of how God reaches into the darkest of places to bring His salvation. It makes me think of the sexual immorality and gender confusion in our culture. I am confident that God wants to reach into the dark and enslaving places of pornography and sexual immorality and save a people for Himself. He rescues people out of bondage and into the light of His Kingdom. He forgives sins and also empowers believers to live holy lives. As a personal trainer trains clients in healthy living, the grace of God actually trains us in righteousness. Listen to Paul in Titus 2:11-14
This was the place that God called Paul to stay in. God had many that He had chosen out of this city to be His. This is a reminder to me of how God reaches into the darkest of places to bring His salvation. It makes me think of the sexual immorality and gender confusion in our culture. I am confident that God wants to reach into the dark and enslaving places of pornography and sexual immorality and save a people for Himself. He rescues people out of bondage and into the light of His Kingdom. He forgives sins and also empowers believers to live holy lives. As a personal trainer trains clients in healthy living, the grace of God actually trains us in righteousness. Listen to Paul in Titus 2:11-14
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”
I am reminded of the letter to the Corinthian church. It was
obviously a very messy church. This is where God works…in the mess. So the next
time you see someone walk into your church doors that looks less than
appropriate, remember, God is choosing people from your city and plucking them out
of the darkness. Sanctification is a
process. Just read through the letter to the Corinthians.
Our God has grace. In fact His kindness leads us to
repentance (Romans 2:4). His kindness leads us into Holy living.
Let’s join Him in the
mess and see the gospel bear fruit as it restores broken lives and delivers people
from the kingdom of darkness & judgment to the Kingdom of light and eternal
life.
This was a real encouragement to read today. I needed a reminder of God's hope and redemptive plan in the lost, in the darkness and in the mess. God's words to Paul reflect hope and purpose in spite of the visible darkness in the city: "I have many in this city who are my people" (18:11).
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