november 12, 2011 Be Jesus' Own

Be Jesus’ Own
Read 2 Corinthians 12 – 13

2 Corinthians 13:8-9 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 We are glad whenever we are weak, but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection.

PAUL’S letter to the church in Corinth is a relevant, contemporary letter to us today. The church was experiencing many challenges. Although they had heard the Gospel, had committed their lives to Christ, and had formed a church, they had not completely left their “old” lives behind.
Jealousy, pride, gossiping, and other sins divided the people and kept the church from living in the blessing that was available to them through Jesus Christ.
What makes it so difficult to be at peace with one another? Paul says, “We cannot oppose the truth”.
In the church in Corinth people opposed the truth. And we oppose it in the church today. We have strong desires to live in our own ways. Being a unified, joyful church is only possible when its members truly look to Jesus as Lord. To do that, we have to be “weak”, to let go of “our own” and become “Jesus’ own”.
Giving up our own way for Jesus’ way may seem weak to the world, but it takes strength of trust to faithfully follow Christ into his new way.
Paul urged the church in Corinth to give up their own strength, their old ways of living, for Christ’s strength. Then they would mature in their relationship with Christ and each other.
Give your strength to Jesus. Submit to his love and grow into a deeper, more real relationship with him. When you do, you’ll grow deeper in your love for others. And you will be at peace in your heart and in your church.


Pause and Consider: the “old way” you need to give up.