Paul the apostle
;answered the church members as to whether any, “inquire
of Titus” and
he confirmed him as, “my
partner and fellow-helper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired
of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of
Christ”,
and in chapter
eight and verse twenty-four of Second Corinthians, Paul tells the
Corinthian church members to “show”,
“proof of your love” and
“boasting on” their
“behalf”
where we read:
Wherefore
show you to them, and before the churches,
the proof
of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
The verse begins,
“Wherefore show
you to them, and before the churches, ...”
Paul began with the word, “wherefore”
which means “then, therefore, accordingly, consequently and these
things being so” “show you” which
means “demonstrate, prove, manifest and display” “to
them”
which means “to Titus and the brethren sent”, “and
before” or
“towards and in front and in the site of” “the
churches”
which refers to “companies of Christians or of those who hoping for
eternal salvation through Jesus Christ observe their own religious
rites, hold their own religious meetings and manage their own affairs
according to regulations prescribed for the body for order's sake”.
Paul wanted the church members to “demonstrate” before “Titus”,
these “brethren” and the “churches” what he is about to
declare.
The verse goes on to say,
“... the proof of your love, and of our
boasting on your behalf. Paul continued with
the words, “the proof”
which refers to “the evidence, demonstration, manifestation and
sign” “of your love”
or “of the church members' affection, goodwill, benevolence,
brotherly and unconditional love”, “and
of our boasting”
or “the act of glorying” “on your
behalf”
which refers to “for the sake of the church members”. Paul
desired for the church members to “demonstrate” their “love”
and confirm Paul's “boasting”
concerning them.
When we think through
these words of
Paul, we see how it is important that the church members “show”
their “love”
and “worth” to the “brothers” sent to them and the churches
as well. This example should be the model
for any who are sent and received within the church. Those who are
sent should have commendation by trusted references, and they should
live according to those “boastings”;
and those who receive them should demonstrate their “love”
for Jesus Christ and others. What would Jesus' church be like if
brothers and sisters in Christ sent and received each other in this
manner? May the Holy Spirit of God lead us to this type of “love”
and “boasting”.
Next
time we begin
a new chapter and see Paul
“touching”
on “the
ministering to the saints”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then,
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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