Pastor Joynt's Devotionals

Belong & Become, Week 5, Day 33

2 CORINTHIANS 4:7-11 | ⁷ But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. ⁸ We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰ always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. ¹¹ For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh.

Notice the pronouns in Paul’s honest reflection on suffering. We are afflicted, we are perplexed, we are persecuted, we are stricken down. We! Together then we are not crushed, not driven to despair, not forsaken, not destroyed.

We may carry the death of Jesus in our bodies and hearts, but only so that we may also display his life, like a light shining in a dusty, cracked piece of pottery.

“We” brings security, and together we can display a death—conquering life in the midst of trouble.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer, emphasizing the 3rd person plurals.

Do the same with our passage.

Belong & Become, Week 5, Day 32

MARK 14:32-34 | ³² They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³ He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. ³⁴ And he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.”

Jesus knew all this was coming, and he did not want to face it alone. A huge benefit of belonging is the security of not facing our traumas alone. Jesus summoned Peter, James, and John to stay near him and keep awake in the long night. He did not want to face the coming storm alone.

Mountain climbers, yoked together by ropes have a trained response for the moment one person slips and falls. They yell “Down” and fall on their faces. As the ropes grow taut, they carry the weight of their fallen friend. This is the way life works in the church. We are meant to be roped in so when we slip others will help us not to fall toward injury, but to be caught up by a circle of people pulling for our safety and security.

Do you have anyone you could call in the middle of the night?

Are you roped in?