[15] because i was sure of this, i wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace. [2 corinthians 1:15]
paul originally desires to visit corinth again so that they would have a second experience of grace. there’s some debate about exactly what that experience of grace is that he’s referring to, but regardless of what it is, the point is that paul intended his visit to be a blessing to the corinthians in some way.
how much of your life is structured to be a blessing to others?
not just begrudgingly, but paul desires to bring this grace to corinth. how much of your life is driven by a genuine desire to bless others? your time, money, trips, home? i don’t ask this to bring guilt. i ask it to bring us to this thought – in Christ, we have been blessed to be a blessing. but if our hearts do not desire to bless others, that likely is the case because we don’t fully understand how we have been blessed in Christ.
[1] may God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, [2] that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. [psalm 67:1–2]
so as you examine this area of your life, and you find a consistent heart posture of selfishness or an inability to find joy in other’s blessings and not just your own, i would encourage you to spend time asking the Lord to remind you of your blessings in Christ. and, i don’t mean your house and your bank account, not even your job or your family. i mean your identity and inheritance in Christ. that’s why the rest of our lives can be poured out for others – because Christ is worth more than anything else, and as his followers he has guaranteed that blessing to us!
so take time and sit in the presence of God and let him remind you of who Christ is and who you are in him. read through this passage from ephesians and re-experience the love of God poured out for you in Christ Jesus.
[3] blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, [4] even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. in love [5] he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, [6] to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the beloved. [7] in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, [8] which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight [9] making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ [10] as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
[11] in him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, [12] so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. [13] in him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, [14] who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. [ephesians 1:13-14]
~ keith kozlowski