Day 327, or November the 23rd. Build up with
positivity. Our thoughts today come from 2 Corinthians,
chapter 4, verse 8. We are hard-pressed on every
side, but not crushed, perplexed, but not in
despair. Another big picture surrounding this
verse. The church in Corinth is still in need
of the wise advice and prophetic voice of the
apostle Paul, even though there are some amongst
them who question whether Paul is a proper apostle
or not. All the others had known Jesus face to
face, but Paul had been a latecomer after Jesus
had died, risen, and ascended back to heaven,
or so the argument went. It seems that there
were those who would home in on almost anything
to attack this first century missionary. Paul
explains that the recent danger in Asia Minor
was so intense that he and his colleagues feared
for their lives, and his initial plans to visit
Corinth had unfortunately not worked out. Instead
of sympathy, all he received from some in Corinth
was criticism and negativity. And now our action
step for today. The pressure is on for Paul.
He is under attack from the enemies of Christianity,
and there is animosity from within the fellowship
at Corinth too. Attacks from outside are to be
expected, but opposition from within your fellowship
can be below the belt sometimes. I attended a
church meeting recently and entered the room
with another retired Baptist minister. I commented
to him that these meetings were so different
to the ones when I was on the platform. I could
relax a lot more now. He just smiled, but that
smile said everything. I always make a conscious
effort to be supportive of the leadership, and
if I have any comments to make that are not obviously
positive, I would make them in the privacy of
one of the minister's studies. As a leader, there
is enough hassle to handle without getting it
from your own people. Of course, there are times
when things don't go well, but positive encouragement
is a gesture we can all make.