Not Losing Heart

Scripture verses that caught my attention today: 2 Corinthians 3:2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all; AND 2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.

Observation: Paul understood that the greatest test of Christian leadership is the extent to which the body of Christ actually reflects the one in whose name it gathers. Based on the ills addressed in his first letter to the Corinthians and also his letter to the Galatians, it’s clear that, at times, Paul wasn’t doing so well in that regard. Still, as expressed in the second verse listed above, Paul nevertheless understood that it was by God’s mercy that he was engaged in the ministry and that, therefore, he did not “lose heart.” He felt so strongly about that, in fact, that he repeated the phrase “we do not lose heart” in 4:16. Maybe he was just trying to convince himself, but somehow I think he actually meant it.

Application: It’s pretty easy to lose heart. I’ve noticed that—even with physical ailments. Small pains fester and it’s easy to let them take over our view of the world. The ‘woe is me’ syndrome is akin to junk mail—it’s there just about every time we open our box or inbox.

The most profound opportunities to lose heart are when the very basics of what we’re trying to accomplish seem to be a failure. That’s when we’re tempted through up our hands and ask, “why am I even doing this?”

Sometimes this is actually a good question. Sometimes, as people of faith, our priorities and/or attitudes are askew and need to be re-evaluated. And sometimes, if we’re willing, the rest of the Christian community can lovingly help us with this re-evaluation.

But there are other times when there is every good reason to hang in there.

As I reflect back on my ministry thus far, I’m wondering to what extent the congregations I have served/serve reflect the one in whose name we gather. To what extent are their lives an example of a letter to God?

It’s a humbling thought. I’d like to think that they often reflect the essence of Christ quite well…and often that’s true. But every pastor knows that that certainly isn’t always the case. And sometimes even we pastors don’t reflect the essence of Christ very well! What then?

That’s when it’s important to remember that it is “by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry.” In other words, it’s possible that God loves us enough to put us in the position we’re in. Maybe we can really make a difference through it or maybe we can really learn something through it or, more likely, both. Either way it’s by God’s mercy.

Now, it might not always seem like the most merciful thing God has ever done. But if it really is by God’s mercy, we need not lose heart. We’re in the process of becoming and inspiring a letter of God “to be known and read by all.”

Prayer: Lord, I’m not sure why this devotion took such an incredibly long time to write. Still, I give you thanks once again for helping me see yet another glimpse of what our role in this world is all about. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(2 Corinthians 3-6)