I've known few ministers and...
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I've known few ministers and even fewer churches that join Paul in the emphasis he
stressed in this text. Have you met many who eagerly seek Christ's resurrection power? I
know some that want to have a strong influence in their communities. I know others that
love to display their oratorical skills and their divinity degrees. Others like to brag about
their organists, choirs, and praise teams.
None of that meant anything to Paul. He would have quickly jettisoned the "gifts extraordinaire" in which most of us like to glory. He understood that all of the above will one day be of no consequence. Only Christ and the power of his resurrection can get us past the day of judgment. Only they can even get us to the day of the Lord. Are you focused on that or on the matters that will soon decay and eventually be defunct? Is your hope in the permanent things of God?
None of that meant anything to Paul. He would have quickly jettisoned the "gifts extraordinaire" in which most of us like to glory. He understood that all of the above will one day be of no consequence. Only Christ and the power of his resurrection can get us past the day of judgment. Only they can even get us to the day of the Lord. Are you focused on that or on the matters that will soon decay and eventually be defunct? Is your hope in the permanent things of God?
