Open Wide Your Hearts Also
Daily Reading: Leviticus 20, Psalm 110, 2 Corinthians 6, Proverbs 20
As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says:
“In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
2 Corinthians 6:1-13
I love Paul’s encouragement today to show up with our hearts wide open…regardless of our circumstances.
When reading through the books of Acts, combined with Paul’s letters, it is clear to see that Paul has been going through a lot! He has embraced being in prison, beaten, slandered, taken to court, almost killed multiple times, and the list could go on.
Throughout it all, he was always focused on putting “no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.”
Regardless of what was happening, Paul wanted others to be able to look at his life and see the love of Jesus reflected back, through good times and bad.
It can be incredibly challenging to keep our hearts open when it feels like nothing is going our way. Our natural instinct is to turn bitter, grow frustrated with God, and want to withdraw from those around us.
However, in these moments, we frequently have our biggest opportunities for ministry.
Paul speaks to the church at Corinth about this very topic today.
How do we show up when things are hard?
As we read today, do we stay operating from a place of: great endurance, patience and kindness, in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love, in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left, genuine, always rejoicing?
“Having nothing, and yet possessing everything.”
It can be extremely tiring keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus and your heart open when circumstances in life seem to all want to push you in the other direction.
Jesus never promised his followers that it would be easy, but he did promise that he would always be there and ready to step into the battle with you.
He did tell us:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Something we can all use more of in today’s world!
Daily Reflection & Dialogue
Where have I been tempted to close off my heart recently?
