Week 15, Day 2: Examine Yourselves

Today’s Reading:  1 Thessalonians 1:1-2:20

Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…

Paul told the Corinthians that they needed to examine themselves to see if they were in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5).  This is something that we probably do not do often enough, and it may very well be one of the short falls that leads to one falling away from Christ.  There is a need for constant vigilance, so that we know whether we are a part of the Lord’s body of saved people.  We must constantly be examining ourselves to see if we are truly being faithful.

It is important for us to always be honest with our evaluation.  If we are examining ourselves with some kind of blinders on, we will never identify those areas that we need to improve in.  If we cannot identify those areas that we need to improve (or grow) in, then we will start regressing, rather than progressing.  Instead of just saying that we are doing fine, we need to scrutinize our own service to God and see where we have shortfalls (for we all do!).  Only when we are honest with ourselves will we truly make the changes that are necessary to be pleasing to God.

We also have to use the right measuring stick when we are examining ourselves.  Earlier in the book, Paul commented on those who used the wrong standard to measure themselves (2 Corinthians 10:12).  I attended a gospel meeting just last night in which the speaker (Greg Gwin) commented on this passage, and made the observation that we can all compare ourselves to others and declare that we are better than someone.  Theoretically, there is only one person on the face of the earth that cannot say he is better than someone else–the absolutely worst person on the earth!  The rest of us can always say we are doing better than at least one person.  But, there should be no comfort in that.  You see, we are using the wrong standard!  We need to use the standard of the word of God, since that is what He will be using to judge us in the end (John 12:47-48).

Self examination also has to be something that is done on a constant basis.  It is not something that we can do one time, and be done with it.  Every day we have to remind ourselves that we are going to be faithful to God.  Every day we have to check ourselves to make sure that we are remaining in the faith that was once delivered to the saints (Jude 3).  This passage indicates more than just making sure we live morally.  We have to have the right doctrine as well.  There are a lot of people who are good moral people who are not in “the faith”.  The only way to know if we are continuing in the doctrine delivered in the first century is to constantly study the word of God.  We must be honest enough to recognize when we are not faithful to those teachings and make changes to our own beliefs and practices so that we can be the true children of God!

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Week 15, Day 1: Simplicity in Christ

Today’s Reading:  2 Corinthians 12:1-13:14

Some thoughts from Friday’s reading…

Paul wrote to the brethren at Corinth that he was afraid for them that they might be deceived by Satan and their minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3).  Surely this is still a danger in the world today!  Think of how many people are trying to find the truth of the gospel message, but allow themselves to be deceived by Satan into believing that they have to do things in a much more difficult manner.  Sometimes, people are confused by all of the various teachings in the world concerning the Bible.  It is certainly not God who is propagating such confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), but rather it is Satan at work!

I am afraid that many of us are susceptible to the dangers that Paul warned of in this verse.  Many people are constantly looking for some new thing to teach from the scriptures.  If we come up with something new, 2000 years after the revelation of Christ was completed, then we most likely are adding to the scriptures.  There is nothing new to be found, and nothing new to be taught.  We need to stay with the simple message of Christ, and teach that same doctrine as what was taught in the first century.  We have no need to prove our intellectualism, or our scholarly abilities.  We should be content to go forth with the same message as those apostles of old!

If we teach the same message, then we will be the same kind of bride that Paul sought to deliver to Christ with the church in Corinth.  We will be a part of that bride that will be presented as chaste and pure, without spot or any such thing!  if we are not a part of that church, founded on the simplicity of the message of Christ, then we will not have a place in Heaven!

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Week 14, Day 5: Generosity of the Saints

Today’s Reading:  2 Corinthians 10:1-11:33

Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…

Often, 2 Corinthians 9 is read just before the collection of the saints is taken up on a Sunday morning.  I think that the applications to that setting are very good, and very appropriate.  However, I think that the principles established in this chapter are far deeper, and more important than just how much money a person decides to put into the collection plate.

Paul speaks in this chapter about our generosity.  In 2 Corinthians 9:6 he tells us that those who sow sparingly will also reap sparingly.  It is certainly not uncommon for Paul to use a gardening example in his teaching.  Here, the example is of one who spreads seed.  The one who is greedy with his seed, striving to save all that he can and not scattering it in the field, will have a much lower yield than the one who is generous with his seed.  The same application can be made to us as Christians.  If we are greedy with our money, then we will “reap” sparingly.  We will be far more blessed by being generous than by being greedy.  But, we do need to remember that what comes back to us (that which we reap) is not necessarily financial prosperity as so many denominations teach.

Paul also speaks of our attitudes.  In 2 Corinthians 9:7 he tells us that God loves a cheerful giver.  God does not want His people despising the money (or anything else) that they give in service to Him.  It seems like there are many Christians who do give in a begrudging way.  They put their money in, but they are going to complain about it.  Maybe they will not complain when they give it, but they will complain if it is not spent just the way they want it to be spent.  Or perhaps they will begin to withhold their money if they don’t like something that the church has done.  Either way, this can be a sign of a deeper attitude problem that reflects greediness on our part!  Notice that Paul also addresses the idea that we shouldn’t give “out of necessity.”  That is, we shouldn’t think of our giving as something that we have to do just because God told us to do it.  It should be something we want to do.  It should be something that we GET to do!

Finally, realize that Paul also addresses what this money that is collected is to be used for.  In 2 Corinthians 9:8, he tells us that by being generous there would be enough money to always have what was needed to do perform the work of the Lord, and even have “an abundance for every good work.”  Of course, “every good work” is defined by God’s own word–not by the desires of mankind (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  We need to use the money that is collected according to what God has commanded.  To be wasteful, or to use it in manners that are not approved of by God constitutes stealing from God Himself.  This was one of the problems faced by the Children of Israel by the close of the Old Testament.  Malachi specifically addresses those who would be so presumptuous as to steal from God (Malachi 3:8-12).

We typically get very sensitive when it comes to “our money.”  But, let us always remember that what we have is a gift from God.  He provides for us, and we should always remember to be gracious and generous with what He has provided.  Let us give to the work of His church, and let us be generous with others whenever the opportunity arises.

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Week 14, Day 4: Come Out and Be Separate

Today’s Reading:  1 Corinthians 8:1-9:15

Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…

Perhaps one of the most difficult tasks that a Christian has is to figure out how to properly apply Paul’s instructions as found in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.  We certainly face the challenge of learning how to live in a sinful world, but not be a part of the sinful world around us.  In one sense, we are forced to live among those who are wicked, and yet in another sense we are commanded to have no part with them!  How do we put these instructions into practice?

I am sure you can probably figure out that I cannot give you all the answers as it pertains to this question.  But, I would like us to think about the attitude that we present when we think about this topic.  Many use the fact that we have to live among ungodly people as an excuse to become a part of their practices.  And, even those who are successful in keeping themselves pure, often put themselves in such close proximity to the ungodliness that they endanger their family’s spiritual well-being.  I cannot help but think about Lot as he separated himself from Abraham.  He was sure that he wanted the good land, even though it meant camping toward the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.  Lot is called a righteous man in the New Testament (2 Peter 2:7), but he ended up losing his whole family, presumably to the wicked influence of these wicked cities.

When we are considering what it means to “come out from among them and be separate,” we have to consider what our attitude is.  Are we trying to be like Lot and get just as close to worldliness as we can get without getting any of it on us?  Or do we have the attitude that says that we are truly going to be separate from the worldliness.  Abraham continued to live in the land, but he didn’t allow himself to be influenced by the wickedness of the people around him as Lot did.  That needs to be our attitude.

In practice, what does this mean?  Paul clearly tells us in 2 Corinthians 6:14 that we are not to be “unequally yoked together with unbelievers.”  Why would we join ourselves in any kind of venture with a person who is not a Christian?  Doing so is just exactly like Lot pitching his tent toward Sodom.  We are opening ourselves up to being influenced by those who will cause us severe spiritual harm.  We should think about this when we choose people to be our friends.  Why would we make our closest friends those who would be a constant temptation to us?  We should think about this when we are dating, or choosing a mate.  Why would a Christian ever choose one who is not a Christian to be their life long companion?  There is no other earthly relationship that can be more detrimental if we are “unequally yoked together” with one who is not a believer.  We should consider this principle when we enter into business agreements with others.  I realize we have to do business with non-Christians.  But, why would we choose to enter into some business partnership (such as to run a small business) with one who does not share the same faith that we have.  We expose ourselves to situations where we will be tempted to do things that are simply not ethical or moral.

This is just a short list of possible applications to Paul’s instructions.  We can try to make excuse for why it is OK for us to go down these roads, or to ignore Paul’s instructions, but it will end in spiritual heartache.  Lot ended up losing all of his family.  Are we willing to take that kind of risk?  I surely hope not!

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Week 14, Day 3: Looking to Eternity

Today’s Reading:  2 Corinthians 6:1-7:16

Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…

Paul writes about the need for us to have the right focus in part of the context from yesterday’s reading.  He tells us that we should not lose heart seeing that the outer man is decaying, but be encouraged because the inner man is being renewed day by day.  Paul is more specific on this “renewing” in chapter 5, which we will take a look at in a moment.  First, notice that Paul encourages the Corinthian brethren to bear up under the “light affliction” that was coming their way.  It is interesting that Paul uses this phrase, considering the afflictions that he withstood.  In fact, in just a few chapters, he will list out what he had to endure as a Christian (2 Corinthians 11:23-30).  It is quite significant to see Paul refer to the “light afflictions” suffered by Christians, when we would think of these as terrible and great afflictions.  This tells us that Paul had the right perspective.  He went on in 2 Corinthians 4:17 to explain that the afflictions of this life pale in comparison to the eternal weight of glory.  No matter what afflictions are faced in this life, we have eternity to look forward to, and it will be far greater in reward than whatever problems, or tribulations we face in this life.  Heaven will surely be worth it all!

Paul continues this thought as chapter 5 starts.  He addresses the idea of us looking forward to the eternal dwelling, the house not made with hands.  It is a far greater dwelling than the “earthly tent” we currently have!  Paul says that we “groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven.”  We are earnestly seeking for it, and longing for it.  We are striving to reach that point, where we are fully clothed with the eternal tent.  We long for the time of eternal covering.

But, until that time, God has given us a “down payment”.  God has given us the Holy Spirit to dwell in us.  With Him, we are “partially clothed”, but will not realize our full inheritance until we reach Heaven.  It should be a great comfort to the Christian to know that God has given us His Spirit to dwell within us.  It should also encourage us to avoid those things that are temptations (see 1 Corinthians 6:16-20).  It is through the Holy Spirit that we are “renewed day by day”, so that while the physical man decays away and dies, the inner man grows stronger and stronger.

Paul ended chapter 4 by saying,”…while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”  Our focus should be on those things that are eternal.  If we are obedient to the will of God, we are preparing for the time when we shall receive the reward of eternal life.  God has given us His Spirit, showing that He is looking toward that time of eternal reward for us.  We need to live in such a way as to show that we are looking for the time of eternal reward!

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Week 14, Day 2: Dealing with the Penitent Sinner

Today’s Reading:  2 Corinthians 4:1-5:21

Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…

Paul addresses a subject in 2 Corinthians 2 that seems to be very difficult for many Christians to put into application.  In 2 Corinthians 2:6-11, Paul writes about the response of those who had been rebuked in his first letter.  He had written to the church, and had demanded that they deal with one who was living in adultery (1 Corinthians 5), giving very specific instructions as to a plan of action.  It seems, from reading this chapter, that the church had done what Paul demanded, and their actions had brought the sinner to repentance.  The problem in this chapter is that there were some who were not accepting him back, and were treating him in a way that was not appropriate.

Paul gives instructions in these verses pertaining to the church’s responsibilities when one repents.  Their discipline had worked, and now the sinner was trying to be a part of their work once again.  Paul told the Corinthians that they were to forgive and comfort this one, lest he be swallowed up in too much sorrow.  He told them that they were to reaffirm their love for him.

There are many Christians that just do not seem capable of forgiveness.  They will hold a sin over a brother or sister’s head forever.  They simply will not accept repentance.  But, that is not the way that we are to be.  Our responsibility (and it should be our loving concern) is to forgive those who repent of wrongdoing, and accept them back into the number of the saints.  Far too often, churches put further requirements or punishments on those who sin than what God requires!

The church has been given the role of keeping itself pure.  If sin is in its midst, then it must be dealt with.  Sometimes that means that the church must inflict the unpleasant task of disciplining an errant saint.  But, if the actions revealed in scripture work to return the sinner to the fold of God, then we have no further obligations to impose further judgment against them.  In fact, the contrary is true.  Paul said to forgive and comfort.  The returning sinner is in a weakened state, and will need support and encouragement.  Rather than “piling on” more guilt, we should be conscious of what we can do to help build such a one up.

Interestingly enough, if Paul is indeed discussing the situation that he first wrote of in 1 Corinthians 5, it is interesting to note how he speaks of it in this chapter.  He is intentionally (it seems) vague on the details of the one he is writing about.  He was not going to call him out, causing him even more harm, and perhaps causing him to be separated even further from his brethren in Corinth.  Paul was not going to join in the rejection of this man by emphasizing his sin (which was forgiven) once again.  We should learn from Paul.  We need to be an encouragement to those who confess their sins, and build them up.  If we did this more often, perhaps the idea of confessing sins one to another would not bear such a negative connotation.  We would begin to see it as a method of gaining support during our times of struggles.  And, we all have times of struggles!

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