Scripture:
“But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed OR if you receive a different spirit from the one you received OR if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted—you put up with it readily enough.” 2 Cor 11:3-4
Observation:
My goodness—what a denunciation; a shot across the bow; a punch in the chops: “…you put up with it readily enough.” Where are the noble brothers of Berea when you need them?
Application:
This snuck up on me today.
I am looking in 2 Cor 11 for something to write on and this popped out. I continued to look through Chapter 11 and this phrase keeps pounding in my noggin, echoing between my ears.
Paul concerning the Corinth’s church’s discernment: “…you put up with it readily enough.”
That is not a complement.
What a slap to the Corinth church! I think that basically Paul is saying that the Corinth church welcomes all thought in the Name of Jesus; doesn’t matter who is speaking, doesn’t matter what credentials they bring…”Welcome, dear sir. What message have you from Christ today?” And then the Corinthians file it as one more learning not realizing that the little errors here and there presented are leading folks away from “a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”
I admit that I have a conflict. What about receiving the Word with Joy verses going home and studying to see if the Word given was true (remember the noble Bereans). I don’t want to cause dissention and division but I also want the unstained Word of God.
What I am left with is “Who am I, O Lord?”
Paul writes to Timothy: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” (2 Tim 2:15)
Therefore: Nose to the grindstone, surrender to the Holy Spirit, pray for myself and for others to be enlightened through the Word of God and study (especially myself so that the Log comes out first), learn to be gracious, practice mercy to those that I believe I need to speak to, trust God in all things because no matter what happens, He is totally Sovereign, Omniscient, and Eternal.
Prayer:
O God, I don’t know where I fit past the doors of my home; maybe nowhere. Please, please, please make me calm in the storm of my own pride and refine Your Word within me. AMEN