Langley Presbyterian Church

Prayer for Illumination
Gracious God, great Teacher, Bearer of peace, we seek Your wisdom.
Open our hearts and minds to Your word and possibilities yet unseen. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Last March, when we were preparing to rent out the basement hall to daycare, we had to make several decisions and faced some challenges. One of the challenges was where to locate the playground. The original plan was to place the playground on the west side of the lawn area, near the fence next to the neighbor.

To install the playground in the right and safe place, Graeme and the Ladybug daycare owner, Harj, inspected the backyard thoroughly and worked hard. And one day, we received an email from a neighbor.

He expressed his concern for the location of the playground. But instead of showing his and other neighbors’ concern in a friendly way, he wrote a complaining letter, which was, more like a warning or threat.

Our intention was not to cause any inconvenience or to harm our neighbors, and what we were trying to do was not against the law, but it didn’t please some of our neighbors.

As Christians and as a church, we certainly didn’t want to create any trouble or place obstacles in anyone’s way, especially our neighbors. We are grateful that in the end, it all worked out well.

In today’s text, Paul asserts that he and his co-workers put “no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found” with their ministry.

In this letter, 2 Corinthians, Paul is trying to defend his ministry as an apostle and strengthen his relationship with the Corinthian congregation as their founding minister.

In today’s passage, Paul reveals his heart honestly assuring the Corinthian believers of their concerns, and shows his genuine love and care for them. It is a very personal and heart-to-heart appeal.

Paul claims that he works together with God as God’s co-workers, not against God. Do you remember Paul used to work against Jesus Christ persecuting Christians? But after encountering Jesus on the road to Damascus, his life was devoted to proclaiming the Gospel, working together, with God as His fellow worker.

That applies to us as well. We are God’s co-workers. What a privilege it is to be called God’s fellow workers. As believers, we have not only experienced salvation but we are also used as God’s instruments to bring others to faith in Christ as well as to help others grow as disciples of Christ.

Then Paul urges his readers not to receive God’s grace in vain. The previous chapter ended with Paul begging his readers, on behalf of Christ, to be reconciled to God. The final verse made it abundantly clear that this does not happen through human effort. It is a gift of God’s grace.

Then what does ‘do not accept the grace of God in vain’ mean since God’s grace is a gift?

Titus 2:11-13 says that God’s grace offers salvation to all people, and “it teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

God’s grace, God’s forgiveness, is given to us as a gift so that we are reconciled to God and go to heaven. That’s true. But that’s not all. As new creations, as forgiven and born-again Christians, our lives should be changed. Our lives should reflect the transforming power of God’s grace.

So that we do not live in sin but live in holiness. So that we live God-filled, God-honoring, self-controlled lives. We turn around from our old lifestyle and live a Christ-like life.

Paul appeals to the Corinthian congregation not to cling to the old lifestyle but instead to live like those who have received God’s grace of forgiveness. Like… If you still worship the man-made gods, turn away from idol worship.

If you still try to earn God’s favor by keeping the 613 commandments (Mitzvot), then know the freedom in Christ. You are saved not because of your effort and amount of animals you sacrificed but through faith in Christ.

Do not accept the grace of God in vain. Do not make Christ’s death meaningless. Do not take God’s gift of salvation lightly. Take the grace of God seriously and live a Spirit-led life.

If you have not decided yet, now is the time. Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. God never speaks to someone to be saved “someday” or “at your most convenient time” but to turn to Christ right now.

Paul does not want his readers to hesitate to put their full faith in Christ for salvation. Not every time or every day will be open for salvation. Mostly, that’s because nobody knows how many days they have left in life.

Then, Paul states that he and his co-workers have placed no obstacle in the way of anyone who would come to faith in Christ.

Paul was indeed willing to do almost anything to make sure he gave no offense in anything.

He was willing to allow others to be more prominent. He was willing to work hard and endure hardship. He was not afraid to offend anyone over the gospel of Jesus Christ, but he would not allow his style of ministry to offend anyone.

In his previous letter, 1 Corinthians Ch 9, Paul declared, “Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law, I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.

21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.

22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Paul begins to list pieces of evidence of their integrity. The implied question is, “Why would we go through all of this if our motives weren’t pure?” Paul states that he and his team have shown great endurance, meaning they have not given up or turned back in the face of suffering. That suffering has included afflictions, hardships, and calamities.

Even in the midst of “beatings, imprisonments, riots, labours, sleepless nights, and hunger” because of the Gospel, because of the ministry of reconciliation, they proved themselves by their “purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and the left.”

Paul says, When we are blamed, slandered, or even honored, we are true to our word. Sometimes we are distrusted and ignored by the world, but we know that we are well-known and recognized by God.

We seem like we’re suffering and dying, but look at us, we are terrifically alive! Though rumored to be dead or beaten within an inch of our lives, yet look at us, we are not killed.

We are immersed in tears because of you and our spiritual children, yet the Spirit of God always fills us with deep joy and turns our mourning into dancing.

We are poor yet we enrich many people in Christ. From a worldly view, we may not possess a lot. When truly, we have nothing, yet we have it all.

Paul encourages us to embrace the challenges and paradoxical nature of the Christian life with faith, patience, and endurance, not losing heart amid trials and frustrations, but continuing to serve as fellow workers of God with integrity and grace.

Paul inspires us that genuine ministry comes not from the absence of struggle and difficulties, but from enduring and overcoming such challenges through the power and grace of God.

Paul then professes his sincere love and care for the Corinthian church. “We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. In return—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also.”

Despite any conflict with the Corinthian congregation, Paul and his co-workers’ hearts are wide open. As described here, their affection for the Corinthians is as full and deep as it has ever been.

In short, Paul loves them as much as he ever has. The commentators say that the fact that Paul calls them by name, ‘Corinthians’, is evidence of his great affection for them.

Paul now urges them to widen their hearts to him, as well. Paul says he speaks as to children, meaning he considers the Corinthian believers as his spiritual children. He wants to have a close, honest, and loving relationship with them as a good father does with his kids.

As a church, when we try to do something new, it is inevitable to face challenges internally and externally. But, we must be mindful that whatever we do, we try not to put any obstacle in anyone’s way, but do it in grace.

Renting out our facility to daycare is not just to generate revenue but to engage with our neighbors and provide any means of support with our resources. We consider it as an opportunity to reach out to young parents and our community.

Two weeks ago, our session got together to explore different opportunities to reach out to our community. We were excited to imagine those possibilities. In the fall, we are planning to have a congregational visioning meeting to prayerfully examine some clearer goals and visions of our church.

We may be small in number, but we are big in hearts. We may be old in number, but we are young in our hearts. We may seem poor, but we have plenty stored in God’s bank to share with our neighbors so that they can taste the goodness and grace of God. We may seem weak, but we are mighty, having the Almighty God as our Father and co-worker.

At the same time, we need to be reminded that each of us – everyone has been called to be fellow workers of Christ. As you spread the aroma of Christ; as you speak the word of truth and life; as you serve God’s church wholeheartedly; you will be questioned, resisted, ridiculed, or disapproved of by your own family, your neighbors, or even by other church-going friends.

Even if we encounter opposition, conflicts, or any other challenges, we pray that we respond with purity, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God.

Friends, what do you think God is calling you to be or do in your life now? Do not withhold. Rather, open wide your hearts to God and the power of the Gospel.

The other day, I was talking to a member of our church. He shared that when he was younger, he wanted to become an overseas missionary. Despite his dream, he couldn’t go to a foreign country to share the Gospel. But he’s never stopped serving God and his church faithfully. Even now, his heart is beating fast when he thinks about the Gospel and its power to transform people.

What makes your heart beat fast? Now is the time of God’s favor; now is the day of salvation! Take every available opportunity to share God’s love and spread Christ’s aroma.

Let us pray.

God of Grace, help us open wide our hearts to receive the gift of grace through Jesus Christ. Help us share the gift, the most precious gift with those who don’t know You. In the powerful name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.