2 Corinthians 11:1-21
Wednesday, 31 August 2022
“…for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”- 2 Corinthians 11:2-3
The key verse points to the heart cry of any true shepherd of our Lord’s flock causing them to travail in the Spirit until Christ is formed in each of us. Such was his love for God’s people that in this whole chapter Paul defends his stewardship of the grace that was given to him to preach the Gospel. One by one he brings up his rightful qualifications for preaching a pure Gospel. Though they may consider him foolish, he was unlike the false greedy preachers who in eloquence and boldness were preaching the false doctrine, which the carnal Corinthians were so eagerly receiving and being deceived.
So let us take a look at why we drift away in spite of hearing the pure word:
Our adversary the devil is clever, subtle, crafty, deceptive (1Peter 5:8). Satan knows our weaknesses and exploits them against us. Even though he is a defeated foe he doesn’t give up, striving to the best of his abilities to drag even the most elite of God’s children to the pit. So, we should be careful to put up a good fight of faith to take hold of our eternal life (1Tim 6:12).
Let us try to understand why we drift away:
Not having the Word richly abiding in us
Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom ......” How will know the truth unless His word is in you. See the example of Berean believers “Now the Berean Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all readiness of mind every day examining the Scriptures whether those things were so.“ (Acts 17:11)
Meditating (thinking) on the wrong things
- instead of on the word of God. Psalm 1:2: “but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and he meditates on HIS law day and night.” Sit at the feet of the Lord to read, meditate and hear what He has to say about our issues.
Not walking by faith but by sight
Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Getting disappointed when troubles prolong and seeking the easy way out, makes you fall prey to false doctrine and crafty preachers.
Being anxious about every little thing
Will lead you to seek quick fixes. Philippians 4:6 says that we are not called to be anxious but to carry everything to God in prayer. We are called to “cast our anxiety onto Him for He cares for us” (1 Peter 5:7).
Division among us
Unnecessary conflicts causes divisions and drifting away. Be careful to love one another by discerning what the body of Christ is. Eph.4:15-16 “we are --- Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.” If one part suffers, share the pain; forgive hurts and move on, not move away. There is no perfect man on earth so how can there be a perfect church?
So dear fellow believers let us obey our Heavenly Father by submitting to the rightful spiritual authority, and obey the pure Word of God that is being fed to us Be warned as Jude wrote in 1:16 & 18 that in the end times (now) there will be grumblers, fault finders, followers after their own lusts; arrogant speakers flattering people for their gain, mockers, division makers, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit. Let us desire the pure word of God!
To Act on: “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.” (Hebrews 13:17)
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