Seeking the Life in Christ

Maran Atha. Most often we now see this Aramaic phrase written as Maranatha. It is translated, ‘Our Lord, Come.’ Isn’t it interesting that Paul would inject an Aramaic phrase into a letter written in Greek. This phrase is from the earliest Christian worship and relates to the line in The Lord’s Prayer, “Thy Kingdom Come.” The phrase summed up the hope of the church and was a means to bind all of the churches together in unity, regardless of where they were or their native language.

The phrase embodies the wonderful words in the opening verse of today’s passage: “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

As Paul affirmed in the beginning of this letter some of our work for the Lord is to plant seeds of hope just as many churches do when they offer VBS. The church may never see how the Lord uses what they give the children. However, they can trust the Lord is using their labor of love and thus their labor is not in vain, it is for the Glory of the Lord.

Maran Atha. Amen

What does today's reading reveal to you about God?

What does it reveal to you about yourself?

Think about what God wants you to do or remember about this passage.

Does God want you to change anything in your life?

Reading for July 2, 2011: 2 Corinthians 1