Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: 2 Corinthians 6 and Psalm 124

Yesterday, in 2 Corinthians 5, we saw how Paul exhorted his readers to live for the ultimate aim of pleasing the Lord. In today’s chapter we realise that this exhortation was not coming from an ivory tower of theoretical Christianity. Paul lists some of the emotional, spiritual and physical consequences he himself endured in his pursuit of pleasing the Lord.

Some of these were internal stresses and strains, which I imagine came upon him as he wrestled with temptations. Some were physical hardships resulting from his own choices – like hard work, sleepless nights and hunger. Others were the result of the resistance of sinful humanity – like beatings, imprisonment and riots. But, through it all, regardless of the cost, he persisted in the pursuit of pleasing the Lord by striving to live a Spirit-led life of purity, understanding, patience, kindness, love and truthfulness.

In his book, The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer famously wrote: “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” This was clearly Paul’s understanding too. He was striving to die to every other priority but that of pleasing his Lord, no matter the cost. I find that to be equal parts inspiring and terrifying. How about you?

Let’s read it again in his own words:

⁴ Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; ⁵ in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; ⁶ in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; ⁷ in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; ⁸ through glory and dishonour, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; ⁹ known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Life application: These verses are a reality check about the cost of discipleship in a fallen world. But let’s join Paul anyway and set our hearts on the ultimate goal of commending ourselves to Christ through lives of faithfulness in the pursuit of pleasing Him.