“It is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come… We work with you for your joy” (2 Cor.1:21-22, 24).
Heavenly Father, like an old song asks, “How can we keep from singing?” How can we possibly remain praise-less song-less, dance-less, joy-less—in response to all the good news contained in this portion of your Word?
You bought us with the currency of grace. Make us stand firm in Christ all the way till he returns. Anointed us with your Spirit and left him in our hearts as a permanent resident, foretaste, and guarantee of a future beyond our ability to imagine. Nothing legally defines us more than the Gospel. Nothing should inform, enflame, and transform our lives more than the Gospel.
And nothing should reorient the way we relate to each other more than the Gospel. Paul’s words are stunning and revolutionary: “We work with you for your joy.” Not to change each other, or feed the “approval-suck” inside each of us, or have mere people “fill us up”—but we are to work for each other’s joy.
Father, by the riches of your grace and the power of your Spirit, make our ingrown, concave hearts convex. Turn us “innies” into “outies”—living less self-absorbed, self-centered, self-preoccupied lives. Through Jesus, you have done everything to give us your joy. May we live and love to see your joy capture and fill the hearts of others. So Very Amen.