Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

February 24
Wednesday


BEING REAL

READ:
2 Corinthians 6:3-11
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In all things we
commend ourselves
as ministers of God:
in much patience, in
tribulations, in needs,
in distresses.
__2 Corinthians 6:4
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An antique dealer thought the wrinkled old baseball card she found might be worth $10. After posting it on eBay, she began to wonder if it might be more valuable than she had thought. She removed the posting and consulted a professional evaluator who confirmed that the photo on the 1869 card showed the Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first professional baseball team in the US. The card sold for more than $75,000.

Mike Osegueda's article in The Fresno Bee said that even though the card was creased and discolored, the most important thing was its authenticity--it was real.

Paul and his companions suffered greatly while spreading the gospel. In 2 Corinthians 6, he listed their outward trials, their inward traits, and their spiritual resources (vv.4-7). Try to imagine the circumstances in which all these things interacted--beatings, patience, prison, kindness, distresses, love. Although broken physically, depleted emotionally, and tested spiritually, the authenticity of their faith in Christ clearly shone through. "As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things" (v.10).

In our walk with Christ, there's no substitute for spiritual authenticity--being real. __David McCasland
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``````````````````O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee,````````````
``````````````````Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;````````````
``````````````Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;`````````
```````````Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart. __Chisholm````
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There's no substitute for being real.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ 2 Corinthians 6:3-11*********

3 We give no offense in
anything, that our ministry
may not be blamed. 4 But in
all things we commend
ourselves as ministers of
God; in much patience, in
tribulations, in needs, in
distresses, 5 in stripes, in
imprisonments, in tumults,
in labors, in sleeplessness,
in fastings; 6 by purity, by
knowledge, by
longsuffering, by kindness,
by the Holy Spirit, by
sincere love, 7 by the word
of truth, by the power of
God, by the armor of
righteousness on the right
hand and on the left, 8 by
honor and dishonor, by evil
report and good report; as
deceivers, and yet true; 9 as
unknown; as dying, and
behold we live; as
chastened, and yet not
killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet
always rejoicing; as poor,
yet making many rich; as
having nothing, and yet
possessing all things.

11 O Corinthians! We have
spoken openly to you, our
heart is wide open.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Paul says that every believer is an ambassador for Christ (2 Cor.
5:20). As ambassadors, we are God's fellow workers (6:1) and God's
ministers or servants (v.4), representing Christ to a nonbelieving
world. Paul speaks of how (differently from the unbelievers) we
ought to respond to the pressures and pains of life by living holy
lives, and by patiently enduring hardships and sufferings in a
Christlike manner and in the power of the Holy Spirit (cc.6-7).
Then we won't hinder anyone from believing because of our bad
testimony (v.3). __SIM KAY TEE