“Open your hearts to us..” -2 Cor 7:2
Relationships are built on trust. Every relationship out there requires some degree of it; A wife trusts that her husband will provide for her and remain faithful to her, an employer trusts that his employees will show up to work on time, and sinners trust Christ for their salvation. We shouldn’t be surprised that trust is essential to relationships among believers.
The Corinthians were withholding trust in Paul for no good reason other than some false accusations against him. Paul pleads with these Christians to trust in him – to open their hearts to him, literally to leave space, and to make room for him in their hearts. Normally if I feel someone doesn’t trust me I don’t try to go after them to convince them to. But Paul knew the importance of Christian fellowship, he valued relationships among believers as a prized possession. Afterall if Christ died to have a relationship with us naturally it should be seen within the Christian community.
Here are 3 things we must do to value trust in our lives; We must value relationships with other believers, this involves fellowship and hospitality. Secondly we must trust others by making room in our hearts for other Christians. That is we should make space for new Christian friends in our lives. Part of being loving is to “believe all things” – not be gullible but give people the benefit of the doubt. (1 Cor 13:7) And Lastly we ourselves must seek to be open and transparent with others not giving people reason to believe that we are anything but honest and genuine.
The Corinthians were withholding trust in Paul for no good reason other than some false accusations against him. Paul pleads with these Christians to trust in him – to open their hearts to him, literally to leave space, and to make room for him in their hearts. Normally if I feel someone doesn’t trust me I don’t try to go after them to convince them to. But Paul knew the importance of Christian fellowship, he valued relationships among believers as a prized possession. Afterall if Christ died to have a relationship with us naturally it should be seen within the Christian community.
Here are 3 things we must do to value trust in our lives; We must value relationships with other believers, this involves fellowship and hospitality. Secondly we must trust others by making room in our hearts for other Christians. That is we should make space for new Christian friends in our lives. Part of being loving is to “believe all things” – not be gullible but give people the benefit of the doubt. (1 Cor 13:7) And Lastly we ourselves must seek to be open and transparent with others not giving people reason to believe that we are anything but honest and genuine.
- WHY IS IT HARD TO OPEN UP TO OTHER BELIEVERS? HOW CAN YOU BE MORE OPEN THIS WEEK?
- “The word hospitality in the New Testament comes from two greek words. The first word means ‘love’ and the second means ‘strangers’. It’s a word that means love strangers.” - Nancy Leigh DeMoss