We do not proclaim ourselves...

2 Corinthians 4:1  Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2  We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God's word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. 3  And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4  In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5  For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake. 6  For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The call of Jesus can sometimes cause Christian leaders to disappoint people. This was what happened to St Paul: He had disappointed the Jesus-followers of Corinth because he altered his plans to visit them, and instead had written them a “severe” letter of reprimand.  Paul writes to them and urges them to turn the focus away from him towards Jesus: “we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus”.

The core of our Christian journey is remembering that our lives are owned by Jesus. We live for the approval of God.... even when it loses us the approval of other people.    

With God in your life you are going to rearrange
Many big things are going to change
Even though your friends and enemies might think that you are strange
It is for them that the Lamb was slain

Christafari

Ordinary 29

51 Servants of Christ

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 311.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.