2 Corinthians 5:13 Insanity?

I was looking through my old notes in 2 Cor 5 when i noticed I wrote something in pencil. It was really hard to read, but it was long. I decided to rewrite it in pen and what I saw a gem of conviction. It’s crazy how I ended up writing this and never had too much thought about it. The notes are so good that I’ll just write it straight from it (with a little additions and clarifications).

2 Cor 5:13
If we are out of out mind (insane), it is for the sake of God; if we are in the right mind, it is for you.

People call Paul mad or insane. Acts 26:24, he was called insane for Christ, doing His will, even in the midst of crap (2 Cor 4:7-12) and always referencing his mind on Christ and God (Acts 26:22). In reality, if you live a life that’s not insane, are you really with Christ? Think about it, you’re in a relationship with a guy whose sole purpose was to serve, never thinking of Himself (Phil 2:6-8). If you had an inkling of Christ, wouldn’t your life seem “insane” to those outside of Him? Would a “sane” person give up all he has to follow Christ (Matt 16:24)? Would a “sane” person give up making his life work for the sake Christ and others (Matt 16:25)? That’s insane…but that’s who Christ is and that’s what He wants. This is why (1 Cor 1:18-21) it’s foolish to the world…  Are you, in the eyes of the “sane,” insane in what you do for the sake of Christ? If not…there might be something wrong with your faith…….

Ouch..

It’s like God spoke to me….

Acts 28:3-6

3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

This was preached at our church today and it hit me hard. This morning wasn’t the greatest morning for me and I didn’t completely hold back in showing it. The idea of this passage is this: In the midst of Paul helping/serving, he goes through a trial (snake bites him). However, he didn’t let it affect him. You see that he shakes it off and suffers no ill effects. In reality, if I got bit, I would go nuts, freaking out. Even the native islanders we’re waiting for a reaction towards the trial, and yet they see nothing. They see Paul’s stable character and change their perception of him. It makes sense too. If you see someone always in joy, even in the midst of trial, wouldn’t you see it as amazing?

…Now, why does he not react? What is he focusing on? Could it be the passage beforehand in Acts 23:11 where God tells him that he is going to Rome???? God tells him he’s going so he knows this trial isn’t going to affect him too badly, if at all.

So what do we focus on? The light and momentary troubles (2 Cor4:17) or do we look upon God and His word?