2 Corinthians 12:12; In All Patience
2 Corinthians 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
When the Lord brought the Apostle Paul to Corinth, the gospel was preached and the first converts were Cripus, the chief ruler of the synagogue with all his house –
KJV Acts 18:1After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; 2And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. 3And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
4And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. 5And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ. 6And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. 7And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. 8And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. 9Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: 10For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. 11And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. (Acts 18:1-11 KJV)
The Lord Himself assured his servant the gravity of the mission at hand – “for I have much people in this city.” The Lord will use His servant to minister to those whom He has in Corith. The Apostle Paul remained in Corinth for a period of one year and six months teaching the word of God to the new believers, grounding them in the faith. His stay in Corinth was amidst much opposition, with steadfast endurance on the part of God’s servant, being assured of the Lord, he persevered to serve in Corinth. Being reminded in that the believers must renew their minds in the ways of God and consecrate themselves to follow Him, the Apostle Paul impressed upon the church their duty before God – Romans 12:1-3 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what isthat good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himselfmore highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Thank God for the obedience of faith to the work of God. Amen.