“…but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything. We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. In return—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also.” 2 Corinthians 6:4-13

{My brother Jim was hired by a government agency and assigned to a small office cubicle in a large area. At the end of his first day, he realized he had no idea how to get out. He wandered around, lost in the maze of cubicles and corridors. Just as panic began to set in, he came upon another employee in a cubicle. “How do you get out of here?” Jim asked.The fellow smiled and said, “No cheese for you.”}
(Christine Probasco)

Paul writes: “…as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;” Paul’s hardships were many, we know this to be true. His life as a disciple of Jesus took him to many places, enduring many hardships, and suffering often. I do want to warn you that G-d does not ask us to create our own suffering for G-d’s sake — but if we encounter such suffering in the name of Jesus, then we are encouraged to persevere. For Paul will also say that “…suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character….”

Has your faith life felt like you have been trapped in a maze – looking for a path, trying to find answers, hoping to find a way to “Jesus of Nazareth”? Remember, faith is not trying to climb the ladder to G-d – G-d has descended to us in the person of Jesus. If we want to know what the kingdom of G-d is like, I can tell you that, as Lutherans, we encounter a glimpse of the Kingdom every Sunday – in the feast of bread and wine – in the words of forgiveness – in the gathering of the faithful worshipping G-d.

There is no need to be wandering around, hoping to find G-d. G-d has come near – Jesus promises to be with us every time we gather in his name – every time we celebrate Holy Communion – every time we offer forgiveness to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Come to the table my friends: we do not have cheese, but we do have bread and wine, the body and blood of Christ.

Pastor Dave