Scripture Focus: 2 Corinthians 1:12 - 2:17.Key Verse: "For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ" (2 Cor. 2:17).
Summary: Some members of the church at Corinth disputed Paul's claim to be an apostle. We examined Paul's claim to sincerely be an apostle of Jesus Christ on behalf of the Corinthian believers.
Theme: A godly life is the best answer to criticism.
Challenge to believers: Live sincerely in the sight of God. Say what you mean and mean what you say.
To ensure that you are living in God's eyes and not in the eyes of others:
- Ask God to examine your heart
- Deal with sins of the heart
- Patiently endure criticism
- Do not seek man's opinion as a stamp of approval
Is the Word of God enough for you? Is His grace sufficient for you?
Hold eternity's view before your eyes.
6 comments:
I've really been challenged with the question of whether the Word of God is enough for us or whether we are simply "going through the motions" as American Christians. This challenge arose from a book I recently finished on Chinese Christians and continued through this morning's Sunday school lesson. I'll continue to ponder that question this week.
After pondering this question, I believe the answer is having a ministry where we are, whether that's in affluent America or a third world country. We ought to be deliberate with our our time in church, and perhaps more importantly, outside of church.
As Christians, we need to share the gospel of Christ with those who are spiritually needy and be willing to reach out to others for the glory of God.
I was reading Job this morning. Do you realize the comments he must have gotten when he finally reached heaven. "We were watching you!" "Wow, was Satan put down by your reactions!" "God knew he could count on you!" I'm sure it wasn't just from humans, but from angels, too. Both good and bad!
WE are being watched, not just by friends, family, co-workers, etc., but by the spiritual world as well. Puts a little different spin on things, doesn't it! Will we bring glory to God by our actions even when we don't understand what God is doing? Will we pass the test coming forth as gold?
I've asked the Lord to help me be an example that would bring Him glory, whatever test may come. Sometimes it is only that aggravating phone that never stops ringing! How about "interuptions" from our children when we are in the middle of something "important". Maybe the loss of a job or the loss of a loved one. Been through both of those! Sometimes it is easier to trust God when big trials happen than the little everyday things that annoy us.
May we keep God's glory as our focus, remembering that others are watching.
"Anonymous," your comments are quite insightful and a blessing to me.
I am reminded of Philippians 1:21, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." It is a rebuke to me to realize my life is often filled with things that don't really matter in light of eternal values.
May God help me to always keep Christ as the focus of my life. As the Psalmist writes, "One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple" (Psalm 27:4).
I was challenged by the your comments on how to reach others especially those who have fallen away from the Lord. To keep reaching out to them to bring them back is a very challenging and sometimes exhausting activity. Especially when they are blinded by satan's worldly allures. My question is do we keep trying when they obvious have no interest or remorse or do we hand it over to the Lord and let him do his work?As he promised, he will complete his work for his glory. Letting God be in control is a whole lot easier and brings his peace and even joy in the midst of trials. (It took me a long time to learn that!).
The Corithian church was a good example of confronting the sin, but also when there was true repentance they welcomed him back in true fellowship which Paul commended them for. I just wonder how long they prayed, and minister to this man before he repented? Maybe it is not a question of how long but how faithful and patient you are in ministering.
Thanks for making me think.
Thank you, Wildflower, for your reflective insights.
Church discipline is one of the most difficult aspects within the Christian community; however, to avoid it is to have a disregard for God's holiness and grace. I do not know how long the Corinthian church took to bring about restoration to the wayward believer. We simply know there was church discipline, sincere repentance and then reconciliation.
Praise the Lord for His longsuffering with us because it might take a long time for some of us to come back in fellowship with the Savior.
If we really care about some one's spiritual health, we need to be willing to confront them in love. When we join the local church, we made a covenant with one another to strengthen and protect each other in the spiritual war. The covenant is broken when either we do not work to restore a member of the church family or simply ignore his/her sin.
One of the greatest gifts anyone can give is to lead some one to (or back to) Christ. It is God's work through the restoration process that epitomizes Christ's work on the cross.
Let us have the courage to love in the true meaning of the word and dedicate ourselves to always view life, people, and circumstances through the lenses of Scripture.
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