MANIFEST!

We’ve all spent time preaching and studying our brother Paul’s comment about the fact that we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ in 2 Corinthians 5:10. 

As well, we’ve felt the weight of the statement in the first part of verse 11 where he reminds us that we do what we do because we understand the “fear of the Lord.”

I’m wondering on this Sunday night, how much thought we’ve given to our brother’s statement in the second part of verse 11. “We are made manifest to God, and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.”

The connection between “the fear of the Lord,” and “we are made manifest to God,” is the reason we do what we do. Another reason we do what we do is our “hope that we are made manifest,” in the consciences of others.

Perhaps one reason we struggle with stress and burnout is the tension between being made manifest to God and being made manifest in the consciences of others.

At times, we forget the order. Maybe it’s the immediacy of daily life and church life, that causes us to focus more on being made manifest in the consciences of others. It could be our desire or need to be heard, to be known or to be liked that we think first about being made manifest in others.

Paul gets in right on two fronts. God must be first. We must be first and foremost concerned about being manifest to God. He will finally be the judge to whom we must answer. Our desire to be manifest to others must take a back seat to being manifest to God.

Also, notice Paul’s language, “we ARE made manifest to God;” “we HOPE we are made manifest in others.” When we understand the statement and get the order right, we will be less likely to burnout or quit. May God bless you this week, dear brothers as you are made manifest to God!