Standing Firm in a world of Influencers

Standing Firm in a World of Influencers

Day 53 of of 90 days Thru the New Testament 

Daily Reading 2 Corinthians 10-13

    2 Corinthians 10-13 reads like Paul saying, Alright, let’s talk for real now. And I love it!

There's something so raw, so honest, so unfiltered in these chapters. Paul isn't trying to impress anyone he's trying to protect the people he loves and guard the calling God placed inside him.

   Chapter 10 is actually the moment I realized just how much I love and relate to Paul.

The way he defends his calling with truth, humility, and lets just be real a little sarcasm 🙄 of course I'd relate to him, right... He's bold, he's real, and he's not afraid to say the hard things when the Church needs it. That's what I want to be.

   Paul was dealing with the influencers of his day. Those super-apostles had charisma, a platform and zero depth.They looked the part, talked the part, and impressed all the crowds but they weren't carrying the heart of Christ.

Isn't that still a major issue today?

  People flock to the loudest voices, the prettiest feeds, the most polished platforms and sometimes miss the ones who carry actual spiritual authority. The ones who are building, serving, bleeding, praying, sacrificing, not performing.

  There have been seasons where people judged my calling by what they thought they saw, my appearance, my past, my gender, my tone anything but the actual fruit God was producing. And like Paul, I've had to learn that it's okay to defend your calling.Not to prove yourself, but to protect what God entrusted to you.

    Paul reminds us that the real battles aren't fought with clever words or impressive titles. They're fought in the unseen places. In prayer, surrender and obedience. Storms, struggle, and yes our weaknesses.And then Paul says the thing my heart clings too....

  Gods strength shows up most clearly in our weakness.

Not when we look strong but when we're leaning on his everlasting arms.

Ministry isn't built on perfection.

It's built on trusting God when the loud voices say you don't belong.

You don't have to compete.

You don't have to perform.

You don't have to outshine the "influencers."

But you can defend your God given calling.

Love Pastor Mandy 

Ark of Hope Ministry