Scripture:
2 Corinthians 11:2 – 4 – For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 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.
Observation –
When we accept the love and grace of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are united to Christ as he is our bridegroom. This is the greatest demonstration of the love of God to reconcile sinners to Him through Jesus. Paul is concerned that the Corinthians are listening to false apostles and causing their thoughts and thereby their focus to stray from devotion to Christ. This would be analogous to committing spiritual adultery against Jesus.
Application –
The same struggles the Corinthians faced with false teaching in the first century are just as relevant today. The gospel that Paul taught to the Corinthians is the same gospel today. I (we) have a sin problem that we can not fix on our own and God loved us so much that aHe sent Jesus to pay for our sins so we can have a relationship with Him. I must remember this and never get over that love or make it anything different. I can do this by being in the word and prayer daily. Sometimes, even subtly, I can stray from a pure devotion and turn it into ritual. When the economy of the world is mixed in the equation with money, success or whatever else is added or omitted, it lessens the gospel. Only the love of the gospel has the transformative power to change lives and hearts.
Prayer –
Father,
Thank you for your love and grace in sending Jesus to pay for our sins so we can have a relationship with you. Help me to stay focused on the true gospel and devotion to you. Give me wisdom and discernment to see false teaching and confront it.