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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Thursday, 4 July 2024:
2 Corinthians 10:1 — I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ.
Do you challenge others confidently with meekness, gentleness, and humility? This takes faith in God and belief that He is who He says He is, you are who He says you are, and He will do what He said He is going to do, He loves you as much as He says He does, He loves others as much as He says He does, He wants you to love others the way He does, and His will prevails. In no way do you need to sin to get a more preferred outcome than God can and will provide. God’s perfect providence, the Kingdom, is experienced through confident, joyful, thankful obedience.
2 Corinthians 10:2-4 – I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
Your enemy is not the offensive sinner you may be dealing with but rather the evil powers imprisoning and controlling that sinner – never forget that.
- Luke 23:34 — And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
2 Corinthians 10:4 — For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
We are fighting a spiritual battle with Holy Spirit power, not through human abilities. We are fighting an insurgency to conquer the kingdoms around us, one heart at a time. At the commencement of his earthly ministry, Jesus proclaimed that the Kingdom was at hand, and the Bible calls us a “kingdom of priests” or “priestly kingdom.” Daniel told king Nebuchadnezzar, “In the time of those kings, the God of Heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.” (Daniel 22:45) Daniel would later proclaim, “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations, and men of every language worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed…. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High.” (Daniel 7:13, 14, 27) Note that when Jesus gave the Great Commission, he started with this proclamation: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me,” and he ends with this: “and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20) King Jesus called his subjects to spread throughout the world as Ambassadors of his Kingdom and to advance the Kingdom of God from within the worldly kingdoms. As Micah prophesied, “The remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the Lord, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for man or linger for mankind. The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which mauls and mangles as it goes, and no one can rescue. Your hand will be lifted up in triumph over your enemies, and all your foes will be destroyed.” (Micah 5:7-9) The physical Kingdom will not be fully established on a newly restored earth until the return of Jesus Christ, but the spiritual kingdom is already established, Jesus Christ is King, and you, Christian, are His ambassador, and priest on earth, preparing others for His return. Is that your focus today? Is your allegiance to the Kingdom of God? Are you fulfilling your role in the Kingdom? Are you focused on advancing the Kingdom? Are you united with fellow subjects on the Kingdom’s agenda? Do you have unity of effort with the other subjects around you? Will you live intentionally, faithfully, loyally, and courageously today? Are you preparing yourself to be worthy to reign with the Lord when He returns? How should the reality of who you are in Christ change your outlook today and your approach the world? Jonathans, get your armor bearers and advance boldly! Armor-bearers: find your Jonathans and join in the fight boldly with all your heart and soul! (See 1 Samuel 14) “’The time has come,’” he said. ‘The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!’” (Mark 1:15)
- 1 Samuel 14:6 – Jonathan said, to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”
2 Corinthians 10:5 – We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ….
Are your thoughts captive to Christ?
2 Corinthians 10:7-10 – Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we. For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed. I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters. For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.”
We are not empowered by the strength of our personalities or human abilities but rather by the power and authority of Jesus Christ. This is power far beyond anyone’s perceptions or imaginations.
2 Corinthians 10:12 — But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.
How foolish is it for us to judge our own “goodness” based on what we see in others, by comparing ourselves to the “goodness” of other sinners? This is like one mass murderer who has ruthlessly killed ninety-nine people feeling more righteous than the one who has killed one hundred people. This is like two infants arguing over who is the most grown up. We are all sinners, equally unworthy. Our example with which to compare ourselves is Jesus Christ. Fortunately, our salvation does not depend on our righteousness but rather the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ. But God calls us to pursue righteousness and holiness under, through, and by His grace which He as already given us (2 Peter 1:3). It makes no difference what we think of ourselves or what others think of us. All that matters is how God sees us. For those who have been born again, God sees us cloaked in the righteousness of His One and Only Son. Boast in the Lord!
2 Corinthians 10:17, 18 — “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
It is a shameful, idolatrous, and sinful thing for a Christian to pridefully boast of their own abilities rather than giving all glory to God. God shares credit with no one, and we are nothing of ourselves. All glory goes to God. It’s not about you. Do not draw attention to yourself, only to Jesus. Do not praise yourself, only Jesus. Examine yourself every time you say “I” or “me” to be sure you are not boasting. Every time you are tempted to boast, replace those personal pronouns with “Jesus Christ.” When you proclaim only Jesus, you might be viewed by others as fanatical and might lose friends and opportunities. However, you will be on a new, much greater path.
From Henry T. Blackaby: “It is common for us all to seek approval for our actions…. Paul said that he was not striving to obtain the approval of people. Some of his critics thought their criticisms could determine what he did. Yet these same people were praising themselves for their own opinions and behavior. They were seeking the approval of others, and they were receiving it. Jesus said that those who seek to gain the approval of others ‘have their own reward’ (Matt. 6:2–5). Paul, too, realized that achieving the praise of others is not difficult, but earning God’s approval is a far greater accomplishment. The affirmation ‘Well done!’ that Jesus received from the Father became Paul’s goal as well (2 Tim. 2:3–5). Paul knew that self-approval is not hard to attain. Paul himself had once been pleased with his own life, until he came to realize that the righteousness he was so proud of was mere rubbish in the kingdom of God (Phil. 3:8). After his conversion, Paul understood that God’s evaluation of his actions was what mattered, not his own opinion of himself. Whose opinion matters most to you? Have you become complacent, enjoying the approval of those around you? Have you become satisfied with your estimation of the way you are living? The commendation that matters most is the one that comes from God. The pleasure that your life gives to God should be your motivation to live righteously.”
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 4 July 2024: See if you can avoid talking about yourself or taking credit for anything today. Watch your use of the words “I” or “me” in conversation and catch yourself boasting or making yourself the center of attention rather than Jesus and others. Instead of talking about yourself, talk about Jesus. (2 Corinthians 10:17, 18) Also, focus on being a reconciler today. Remember, God has given you the message of reconciliation. (2 Cor 5:16-31) Don’t look at others from a human perspective but rather from a spiritual point of view, understanding that their attitude problems are spiritual problems. Remember, you are engaged in a spiritual battle. The person who offends you is not the enemy but rather the objective, someone who is trapped in sin and suffering. Work through the Spirit to lead that person towards Jesus, regardless of how they treat you. Be a reconciler. (2 Cor 10:4)
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 