Jump Start  # 705

2 Corinthians 7:5 “For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side; conflicts without and fears within.”

I don’t know how this makes you feel, but reading these words of Paul, makes me hurt within. It also makes one look deep within and wonder if we complain too often and do too little.

This passage is not the way that we’d expect things to be:

First, we’d expect God to make the preaching journeys of Paul pleasurable. They weren’t. They were tough. There was a lot of opposition and resistance. Paul was run out of town. He was beaten. It our world today, we’d be concerned that Paul would write some bad reviews about his trip and those negative comments would keep any other people from going. This is enough for a person to look deep within their faith and have second thoughts. We’d tend to think that God would smooth things out. Paul was the first in these areas and it seems that God would work things so that it would be an enjoyable and successful trip. God did not do that. Jesus had warned the disciples that they would be hated because of Him. Some obeyed. Churches were established. And slowly the gospel progressed through the pagan hearts, but it wasn’t easy.

Secondly, a scared apostle is not the way we’d expect things to be. Fears within…a few verses later, he reveals that he needed comfort and was depressed. Paul seems more like an Indiana Jones in our minds. Running from the opposition, withstanding the greatest attacks, fearless, tough, confident and ready to spit in the eye of the opposition. Fears within doesn’t fit that image. Fears within makes Paul more like us. That’s how we would be. Fears within would be enough for most to quit. It’s not worth it…it’s more trouble than success…I’m not getting any good from this—those would be our words.

Thirdly, the fears within did not stop Paul. He kept going. He was on a mission and would not allow personal feelings to stop him. Jesus went to the cross for his sins. That journey was tough. Jesus went through with it. Paul was going to do the same. I wonder if we put our feelings before our duty. If we don’t feel like it, we stop. If we are not up to it, we stop. If the conditions aren’t four star, we complain. We want to be paid, pampered and treated well. The message was more important than the messenger. When we get that, going overseas will not be a problem. When we get that, working with difficult circumstances will be acceptable. When we get that, the size of the audience will not matter to us.

Fourth, God did not abandon Paul. The following verses tell of Paul’s comfort that came from God. He was never alone. He was never on his own. God was with him. The comfort came in the form of Titus. He renewed and refreshed Paul’s spirit. We expect God to comfort Paul by giving him a weekend at a resort. That’s not how God comforts.

I like that expression, “Refreshed.” It makes the tired spirit alive and new. It brings hope and sunshine to a dark day.

So, what about us? Do you have fears within? Are they crippling and dominating you to the point that you cannot continue what God wants? Take a serious look at Paul’s life. Do you feel alone in your work? Take a look at Paul. Are you waiting for that comfort, it may have already arrived in the form of a person and you were looking for something else.

We need tough hearted brethren who will lay aside personal comfort and feelings for the sake of the kingdom. We need folks who will endure afflictions, conflicts and even fears, for the purpose of teaching God’s word.

These verses sure make us look in the mirror, don’t they?

Roger