5Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? 6And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. 7Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. 8For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection. 10This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
I once had a boss who most of my co-workers didn’t like. But, he was one of those bosses who didn’t really care if we liked him or not. He was one who wasn’t afraid to be tough on you or yell at you when you were screwing up. He could be a real pain at times.
I never had much of a problem with him, though. The thing was, I was good at that job, and did what I was supposed to do. Thus, he never had to show his “tough” side, so we got along pretty well.
Paul’s giving a warning here: he can be the tough boss. He doesn’t want to be, but he will do whatever keeps him on the side of the truth. His preference, though, is for the Corinthians to do what is right, and thus the natural reaction to be on of gentleness and joy.
What do you need to do to keep the boss on his “lighter” side? Who do you need to be “tougher” with?
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
II Corinthians 13:1-4
“This is the third time I am coming to you EVERY FACT IS TO BE CONFIRMED BY
THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES.
2I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone,
3since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me, and who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you.
4For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you”
The Apostle again gives us two principles for Christian living as
relates to our interactions with other people. First, it is important for the Christian to live his/her life based on facts rather than rumors or gossip. Don’t trust whatever evil is said of someone else unless you have concrete
evidence of the same i.e. unless it is “confirmed by the testimony of two or three” others. Always give others the benefit of the doubt! The second point the Apostle raises is the service towards others. Jesus modeled this for Apostle Paul who models it for us that we become weak for others just as the Son of God left His lofty throne to serve our needs. In this sense, Jesus is our eternal contemporary. How well are you serving other brothers and sisters in Christ? What about the hurting word at large? This is the real deal!
THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES.
2I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone,
3since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me, and who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you.
4For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you”
The Apostle again gives us two principles for Christian living as
relates to our interactions with other people. First, it is important for the Christian to live his/her life based on facts rather than rumors or gossip. Don’t trust whatever evil is said of someone else unless you have concrete
evidence of the same i.e. unless it is “confirmed by the testimony of two or three” others. Always give others the benefit of the doubt! The second point the Apostle raises is the service towards others. Jesus modeled this for Apostle Paul who models it for us that we become weak for others just as the Son of God left His lofty throne to serve our needs. In this sense, Jesus is our eternal contemporary. How well are you serving other brothers and sisters in Christ? What about the hurting word at large? This is the real deal!
Monday, March 30, 2009
II Corinthians 12:19-21
19Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening. 20For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. 21I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.
Paul, one of the most famous of Christ’s apostles, who endured beatings, shipwrecks, hunger, thirst, ridicule, and all other forms of persecution without showing fear, admits here to being afraid. What is he afraid of? He is afraid of failings. He knows that the Corinthians have had failings in the past: quarrels, jealousy, gossip, and other problems. He fears that he has failed to correct these problems and that he is not capable of correcting them. This fear of facing the failings in ourselves and others still plagues the church today. The band Casting Crowns wrote a song about it called “Stained Glass Masquerade.” As you read the lyrics, consider the message and what should be done.
Is there anyone who fails? Is there anyone who falls?
Am I the only one in church today feeling so small?
‘Cause when I take a look around, everybody seems so strong.
I know they’ll soon discover that I don’t belong.
So I tuck it all away like everything’s okay.
If I make them all believe it, maybe I’ll believe it too.
So with a painted grin, I’ll play the part again so everyone will see me the way that I see them.
Are we happy plastic people, under shiny plastic steeples,
With walls around our weakness and smiles to hide our pain?
Cause if the invitation’s open to every heart that has been broken,
Maybe then we’ll close the curtain on our stained glass masquerade.
Paul, one of the most famous of Christ’s apostles, who endured beatings, shipwrecks, hunger, thirst, ridicule, and all other forms of persecution without showing fear, admits here to being afraid. What is he afraid of? He is afraid of failings. He knows that the Corinthians have had failings in the past: quarrels, jealousy, gossip, and other problems. He fears that he has failed to correct these problems and that he is not capable of correcting them. This fear of facing the failings in ourselves and others still plagues the church today. The band Casting Crowns wrote a song about it called “Stained Glass Masquerade.” As you read the lyrics, consider the message and what should be done.
Is there anyone who fails? Is there anyone who falls?
Am I the only one in church today feeling so small?
‘Cause when I take a look around, everybody seems so strong.
I know they’ll soon discover that I don’t belong.
So I tuck it all away like everything’s okay.
If I make them all believe it, maybe I’ll believe it too.
So with a painted grin, I’ll play the part again so everyone will see me the way that I see them.
Are we happy plastic people, under shiny plastic steeples,
With walls around our weakness and smiles to hide our pain?
Cause if the invitation’s open to every heart that has been broken,
Maybe then we’ll close the curtain on our stained glass masquerade.
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