Learning Through Study

It’s amazing what a little study can do.  Imagine that, some growth, where have you heard that before? Oh yeah, the first talk on Saturday morning on the Walk to Emmaus!

 I don’t remember why I picked 2^nd Corinthians to dive into, but I purchased a commentary on the book that works with my iPad.  Digital reading has so many options these days! But to get back on track, Paul is talking to the church people in Corinth about one of their members that was shooting off about something he shouldn’t have to the point where they threw him out of their fellowship.  Tough love. 

It must have been enough to cause him to see the errors of his ways, because Paul heard that he was sorrowful and wanting to repent.  But there were some members of the congregation holding on tightly to banishment, not wanting to forget let alone forgive. 

Paul writes to them, instructing them to reach out and "reaffirm your love for him", bring him back in to the fold.  And one of the words, love, is “agap” or as we know it agape.  He’s what John MacArthur say’s about the subject that made me think of the Emmaus weekends:

"Agap? (love) is the love of choice, of will, of humble service to others. It is the love not of sentimental feelings but of action (cf. 1 Cor. 13:4- 7). Love is essential in the life of the church. On the night before His death Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34- 35). Paul commanded the Ephesians, “Be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Eph. 5:1- 2)." ~ Pastor John MacArthur ~ New Testament Commentary ~ 2 Corinthians

Many times when people are asked what they remember most about the weekend, the answer comes back as the “over whelming feeling of love.”  Even the inexpensive little pillow and table gifts from around the community.  Come on! How can a stone with a bible verse touch someone?  I don’t know but it has and does on the weekend. 

Maybe it’s the conditioning of the mind from all the talks and bonding with those at the table, or just maybe the Holy Spirit is allowed to move in our lives for those few hours because we allow ourselves to be open to the Spirit?  But whatever it is, it works, even for those short 72 hours called the Walk to Emmaus.

God Loves You And So Do I ~ Rocky