2 Corinthians 1:16
I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on to Judea.
Devotion
We cannot know how exactly the Apostle Paul would travel from Corinth to Macedonia and back, and then on to Judea. Perhaps by some cart pulled by a four-legged creature, perhaps by boat for part of the way. No doubt there was quite a bit of walking involved. Becoming an apostle apparently took time.
I am as guilty as the next person for living into this data-driven, lightning-fast communication, time-efficient age o’ humanity. I seldom write the words “I love you” to my wife or children anymore. It’s “luvu” or better, emoji red heart. How clever! How proficient! How…?
Today’s scripture passages feature many long words like “steadfast” and “endure,” with the longest words being, of course, “faith,” “hope,” and “love.” These are words that absorb time, that even go beyond time. It must have seemed to Jesus Christ that the time he hung on the cross was an eternity. And indeed it was.
There is not, I think, nor should there be an emoji for “apostleship.” On Sunday we review the design, we re-chalk the line, we plumb and level. On Monday, or Tuesday we lay the brick.* Brick-by-brick, day-by-day, step-by-step. Becoming an apostle is inefficient, time-consuming, frustrating, and… rich, reflective, joyful.
“Take it easy but take it.”
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for this day. Thank you for this time together. And please Lord, remind me sometime today that we’re still together. A short text or email will do. Amen.
David Morrison