Ease the Pressure

If you weren’t a Roman, living in the Roman Empire was very stressful. Paul the apostle lived there his whole life so he should know. From time to time he tried to paint a picture of his travails. It wasn’t until after he converted to Christianity from Judaism that most of his troubles surfaced. The Romans thought nothing of beating someone or throwing them into prison if they upset the natural of things. The Romans liked things to run according to their rules and regulations, and if they didn’t, well, they could persuade you.

Paul wrote several letters to various churches, but it was the second letter addressed to those in the church of Corinth that Paul found necessary to pen. Writing from Macedonia Paul followed it up with a final visit there. In the letter Paul had told them of his troubles before he arrived.

“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we have suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure,far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.”

2 Corinthians 1:8

Paul wrote telling them that just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives; our comfort also overflows through Christ. Paul writes that his own personal sufferings are identified as Christ’s sufferings. What Paul suffered was intended to encourage others. Since Paul doesn’t offer many details, the church was probably already aware of the pressure he faced. He does write that they felt that they were going to die, and realized that they could do nothing to help themselves—they simply had to rely on God.

One thing about the apostle Paul, no matter what hardships he faced and he faced plenty (see 2 Cor. 11:23-27) he showed gratitude to God for the goodness God showed him. Can we admit to such? Paul was trying to relieve the pressure the early church faced. Paul repeatedly assured them that God was a God of grace, mercy, and comfort, and that He was faithful and His power was available to them. Paul desperately tried to ease the pressure assuring them that Christ makes men new creatures.

New creatures! Refreshing. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 God gives us a fresh new start. The Holy Spirit can transform us. Let’s remember that we did not receive a spirit that makes us a slave again to fear, but, “…the Spirit of sonship.” Romans 8:15