THE JOY IN SERVING

This is actually a post I had been meaning to write up for a quite a period of time.

It is hard to articulate through such a painful experience. I remembered trying to find the correct words in my speechlessness to produce a summation of this particular time of strife. The previous passage that I had shared with you all sometime in the end of April I believe was a passage that caught my eye as I was reading through the second letter to the Corinthian church. It was titled 'Paul's Joy' in the ESV translation and possibly something similar to this in other translations. I shared it with you all partly because it was a passage that God blessed me with as he demonstrated to me an admirable affection to achieve only through the humbling of myself before God and to his chosen people - my brothers and sisters. The other factor initiating my choice was because it was not as straightforward as the rest of the passages in 2 Corinthians, but rather more implicate and more of an in-depth study in my perspective. Therefore, I only half-understood the passage. I remember also that as I read this passage, after reflecting and taking some time to treasure this passage in thanksgiving because of the message conveyed to me, I said something along the lines of, 'oh how I wish that I understood this passage more fully.' Hah, God certainly heard both my spoken words and the desire upon my aligned heart and mind. Many passages, as we know, can be taught through a sermon and others through a devotional, but through this experience, I believe also that there are some that proves to be a daunting task if we were earnest to present it in a pastoral presentation. And perhaps, this may be one of them.

God spoke to me through my internal struggle for the next few days which was caused by a nearly ascetic way of living. Of course I cannot possibly live fully in asceticism, but as Christians, we all strive to - hopefully. Though it was not just the relational life that was driving me onto my weak knees everyday, but in further wholeness, I was being drained mentally through my rigorous academic work and overall, my busy college life. Even so mentioning, my relationships were what mainly caused me to feel the way I had felt. I believed in those whom I befriended and served. I pursued a life of holiness, aiming for the vision of 'on earth as it is in heaven' to be made more of a reality in my life so that Christ would work through my body in which I beat (1 Cor.9:26). By this, I mean that I aimed to live influentially, preaching the words given to me through the Spirit of God, letting go of a life in which I indulged in comfort, and intentionally going to places where I met my friends at where they were at, even though they did not expect me to be there. I desired to show the love, the care, and my affection and yearning for their lives that they might be the aroma of Christ (2 Cor.2:15) as was preached. I desired for us to live in fellowship with one another and desired for each of our lives to be in repentance. And a life in repentance is recognizable when perceived through a time period because transformation is progressively seen. My joy is found in the watching of this transformation in my brothers and sisters which has been manifested to me through the enlightened eyes that Christ had given to me.

What we receive at times is that living an intentional and incarnate life is draining and hard, especially when we go at it alone. I believe that this was what I was going through. 'Surely, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.'(Mark 10:38) And my flesh did become weak, physically, mentally, spiritually - 'our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn.' In a time where there was joy for one divine manifestation and simultaneously exhaustion from my fleshly limitations, I was in need of but one thing. A God-provided consolation directly from the hands of my brothers and sisters - that after I had cared and loved those the Lord surrounded me with, I would receive even greater joy and comfort when realizing that these brothers who has become fervid in their faith for Christ, has become those who also aimed to live a life filled with affection for those who had served them. That was when I realized that Paul became embraced with the package of love from the people of the Corinthian church that Titus had brought back to him which comforted him. This zeal that his people had for him renewed both him and those journeying with him. He goes on to talk about how this zeal for the shepherd of the Corinthian church had been wrought. Godly grief in repentance. But overall, an even greater joy transcended upon Paul when he finally found that his people was yearning for him and his bold life.

My friend found me that night, tired and speechless in prayer. When I spoke to him about how weary I was, I didn't want anything but the Lord to speak to me through his lips. I asked him to put his hands on me and pray for me. I heard the Lord that night when I was in a toilsome state. I finally understood this passage. My friend showed me great affection and an even greater joy was wrought from his yearning for me in my struggles. And then I was reminded, 'And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling.'(2 Cor.7:15) It was a complicated matter, but an experiential discovery that helped me to share in the joy of Paul in a much lesser extremity. In the end, what I find that I hold on to when all else had been let go, was the promise of Christ of his coming back and establishment of salvation in the day of the Lord.

Embrace is a gift that we have physically and a great gift that we should use indeed. For some do not hold this particular gift of embrace from their brothers and sisters, and for the least of these, we shall treasure this gift of embrace. What I've also found is that I need to yearn for my brothers and sisters. The moment that we begin to be able to declare wholeheartedly that we yearn for one another, will be when being sons of God as peacemakers will truly flesh out.

Father, speak to us as your word is made into flesh. But I ask that you don't always give us revelation, lest we enter into a trial with a hard heart, therefore neglecting the divine manifestation of your Spirit. Instead, would you surprise us in our times and seasons of suffering that we might reap the fruit of your harvest in its intended abundance. In all situations, let thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. I ask for our desire to embrace and our desire to yearn for your people to continually increase that we might be vessels of your truth in the gospel.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
Amen

THE AFFECTION OF A MAN OF GOD

2 Corinthians 7:2-16

Paul's Joy
2 Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. 8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.

10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. 12 So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God. 13 Therefore we are comforted.

And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For whatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you was true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true. 15 And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice, because I have perfect confidence in you.

May our joy overcome that which overwhelm us in anguish and that our affection for our brethen through Christ be the source of our joy. Might we sacrifice in order that the lives of our brethen may become transformed through repentance. And might our affection for one another be defined far beyond just our proximity. Would you help us find communion even as we are physically distant; for we know that communion comes through our knowledge that we are serving the Lord with oneness of heart.

WHO IS HE WHO REGARDS?

Psalm 144

My Rock and My Fortress

1 Blessed be the Lord, my rock,
who trains my hands for war,
and my fingers for battle;
2 he is my steadfast love and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield and he in whom I take refuge,
who subdues peoples under me.

3 O Lord, what is man that you regard him,
or the son of man that you think of him?
4 Man is like a breath;
his days are like a passing shadow.

5 Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down!
Touch the mountains so that they smoke!
6 Flash forth the lightning and scatter them;
send out your arrows and rout them!
7 Stretch out your hand from on high;
rescue me and deliver me from the many waters,
from the hand of foreigners,
8 whose mouths speak lies
and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

9 I will sing a new song to you, O God;
upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you,
10 who gives victory to kings,
who rescues David his servant from the cruel sword.
11 Rescue me and deliver me
from the hand of foreigners,
whose mouths speak lies
and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

12 May our sons in their youth
be like plants full grown,
our daughters like corner pillars
cut for the structure of a palace;
13 may our granaries be full,
providing all kinds of produce;
may our sheep bring forth thousands
and ten thousands in our fields;
14 may our cattle be heavy with young,
suffering no mishap or failure in bearing;
may there be no cry of distress in our streets!
15 Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall!
Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!

This convicts me to realize the truth of what it means for God to be our Rock, our Fortress. As much as the emphasis in this passage can zoom in to how petite we are, it cohesively emphasizes on how astronomical our God is. Blessed are those who look upon him who infinitely humbles himself to his people. And I ask, who are we not to be people who regard?

THE RIGHT IDEA ON LIVING

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

The Advance of the Gospel

12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

To Live Is Christ

Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

May this passage teach in the full length of its glory, in the boldness of the spirit of this passage; but only that boldness would be achieved through lowliness and gentleness in heart as Christ invites.

REJOICING

Habakkuk 3:17-19

17 Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
19 God, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer's;
he makes me tread on my high places.

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.

Destruction is inevitable; yet Habakkuk waits quietly for the 'day of trouble' from a good and just God. Habakkuk rejoices in the Lord even so knowing and accepting of past prosperity and future suffering.

STORY OF A WATCHMAN

Ezekiel 33:1-9

The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, 3 and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand.

7 “So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 8 If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.

And definitely consider what this means for us.

TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD

I probably won't be writing anytime soon, but until then, I'll post up some of my favorite scripture passages that we can all ponder about together.

Psalm 34

Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.

34 I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

11 Come, O children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.
14 Turn away from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
and his ears toward their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
21 Affliction will slay the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.