The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Corinthians 2:3-4,
"I wrote as I did so that when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you."
In reference to an earlier letter that dealt with an issue of discipline within the church at Corinth, Paul's heart is on display. He speaks of writing as he did earlier to turn distress into joy. He speaks of his "great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears" as he wrote his earlier letter. His motive in the earlier letter was to reveal to them the depth of his love for the Corinthian believers.
But this same person is the one who, as a young man, offered his services as a witness to the first death of a martyr in the church, Stephen, giving approval to his death. This is the same man who was "breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples". He had the early believers imprisoned, searching them out and persecuting them. By his own admission he confessed he was the worst of sinners, "I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man." 1 Timothy 1:13.
But something happened to this young man. Having a confrontation with the Lord himself on his way to Damascus to persecute believers there, he came to know the Lord. As all believers he became a changed man from within! The Holy Spirit came to make his abode within him making a new creation of him. As much a wonderful man Paul became, the big story here is not what Paul did, but what the Lord made of Paul. Once a violent man he now has a wonderful heart of love as demonstrated in this passage here.
Such is the impact God has on us when we come to know him. Surely, when God takes up residence in someone we would expect just this kind of change!
He still does so today!
In reference to an earlier letter that dealt with an issue of discipline within the church at Corinth, Paul's heart is on display. He speaks of writing as he did earlier to turn distress into joy. He speaks of his "great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears" as he wrote his earlier letter. His motive in the earlier letter was to reveal to them the depth of his love for the Corinthian believers.
But this same person is the one who, as a young man, offered his services as a witness to the first death of a martyr in the church, Stephen, giving approval to his death. This is the same man who was "breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples". He had the early believers imprisoned, searching them out and persecuting them. By his own admission he confessed he was the worst of sinners, "I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man." 1 Timothy 1:13.
But something happened to this young man. Having a confrontation with the Lord himself on his way to Damascus to persecute believers there, he came to know the Lord. As all believers he became a changed man from within! The Holy Spirit came to make his abode within him making a new creation of him. As much a wonderful man Paul became, the big story here is not what Paul did, but what the Lord made of Paul. Once a violent man he now has a wonderful heart of love as demonstrated in this passage here.
Such is the impact God has on us when we come to know him. Surely, when God takes up residence in someone we would expect just this kind of change!
He still does so today!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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