2/10/26
Good morning, Friends,
2 Corinthians 5:11 - Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.
Paul is saying, “I know who God really is, and I know I’m going to stand before Him one day, so I can’t play around with life.” The fear of the Lord isn’t being scared God is out to get you. It’s knowing God is real, holy, and not to be taken lightly. When you know that, it changes how you move, how you talk, and what you stand on. Paul isn’t living reckless or fake, he’s living aware.
This hits home because most of us know what it’s like to live on alert. You watch your back, you read the room, you know the consequences of not being aware of your surroundings. Paul is saying, “Life with God is like that, but on a much deeper level.” God sees everything. Nothing is hidden. No mask, no image, no pretending. And that should challenge us, because a lot of us learned how to survive by keeping things tucked away. But God already knows, and He’s not fooled.
What’s powerful is that Paul doesn’t say, “Knowing the fear of the Lord, we judge people.” He says, “we persuade men.” That means he talks to people with purpose, with his whole being, intentional, like a man on a mission. He pleads with people. He reaches to the places people are scared to go, the people that are more challenging to talk to. And when he gets the opportunity to share Christ, He doesn’t flex on the people, he genuinely cares about where they’ll end up. When you really understand God’s holiness and God’s grace, you don’t look down on people. You want them free. You want them saved. You want them to know Jesus; there’s more to life than just surviving day to day. Eternity is at stake! 💯
Real talk, this verse pushes us to check ☑️ ourselves. Are we living like God’s opinion actually matters? Do we stay quiet about God's Word because we're scared or do we speak up because lives are on the line? The fear of the Lord isn’t meant to scare you into hiding, it’s meant to wake you up and send you out. When you know who God is, you stop playing small, stop pretending, and start living in obedience, with purpose, truth, and courage.
Challenge: Share Christ with someone TODAY!!! (Not with yourself in the mirror, with REAL people 👀😉)
Maranatha (The Lord is coming)
Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)
- Grace & Peace
Pastor Trent
Amen
ReplyDeleteAmen!
ReplyDeleteHalleluyah!
ReplyDeleteThis is so deep and real. Thanking God for Paul and the words he shared.
ReplyDelete