{{2015_03_03_t1.jpg}} {{2015_03_03_t2.jpg}} {{2015_03_03_t3.jpg}} [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/de/doku.php/jn_de_2015_03_03|Deutsche Version]] [[Start|| Wiki Start]] [[topics_collection_vii|| Topics Collection vii ]] ======How to live as servants of the Lord? ...====== Tuesday, March 3, 2015. Is there any chance to get things right in this world? Is there a chance to behave as it is good? Is there a chance to live in a way which is full of peace, but at the same time successfull? What is our situation? Christian faith sets a challenge for us - a fantastic and rewarding challenge! {{2015_03_03.jpg }} **Facing Reality ...** This world has a lot of problems. Even in countries which are very well today, as for example Germany, Japan, the UK, the US and many more, you are faced with many challenges. But how to live in the middle of it, how to realize faith, how to be both full of truth and full of kindness? Reading in the 2nd letter of Paul to the Corinthians, we find the following breathtaking words: 3 We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. (2 Corinthians 6, 3-10) How do you like this text? How do you understand it? Without the miracle of God, it is impossible to get access to these words. Without the miracle of him being there, helping! God himself is a reward which is difficult to grasp with our mind and our heart. How can you, if you have nothing, make many rich? {{ 2015_03_03_2.jpg}} **Make many rich! ...** Of course, Paul is playing here with words. Having nothing refers to the worldly possessions. Possessing everything refers to the special state as children of God, who own his kingdom, and with his kingdom everything! As people of faith we are between his new world and the old world as we face it still today. Jesus has told his disciples, that loosing their life for his sake will mean to gain life, but gaining life (in this world) means to loose one's life! Paul here argues on a similar level. The apostles have been treated as criminals. They have been thrown into prison. They were nothing. Yet, they had the gospel in their heart and in their mind. They owned everything. They were the princes and kings of a new time, an eternal kingdom! They were princes by being children of the most high, by being trusted the kingdom of purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, genuine love. They were filled with the Holy Spirit! Paul is challenges us to live as servants of the Lord, to live fully filled with the Holy Spirit! Even this "being a servant" is a deep mystery. It is part of the wisdom of God, who himself is the first servant. Being a servant is a part of genuine love. It brings both together, serving and being served, being king and being slave - and being fully free! With him we get into an adventure which is hard to describe, you have to experience it! We are invited to his kingdom, what a value we find here, what a priviledge to be with him! (RWEP) [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/en/doku.php/topics_collection_vii|... more texts]]