Sometimes I’m in a meeting listening to a presenter take a long, circuitous route to get to the point. I want to hollar out from the back (where I prefer to sit), just bottom line this for me—stop beating around the bush!

The apostle Paul often took an opposite approach, depending on his audience. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul felt church members needed the bottom line:

We do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God…What we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

Paul didn’t dilute the message about Jesus. He didn’t allude to secret knowledge only available for special people. He tricked no one, nor shamed anyone into following Jesus. Paul removed religious hurdles. Instead, he asked folks point blank to make a decision about Jesus.

Paul sat the truth on the table. Jesus Christ is Lord. I and my people serve him—how about you?

Nothing hidden in Corinth, and nothing hidden today. No ticket needed for entry. Jesus Christ is Lord—do we follow or turn away?

2 Corinthians 4 in reading the Bible in 2023

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