2 Corinthians 10-11

10:1 - By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you - In an elders' meeting I was a part of this past Sunday I was reminded of the wisdom of approaching people with meekness, gentleness and patience. It is easy to want to go wring necks, but Christ never did that. Even when He was turning over tables it was out of a deep love for His Father and the people. Except in extreme circumstances we need to approach and deal with people out of grace and not through power.

10:2 - ... people who think that we live by the standards of this world. - I find this verse alarming because I know so many Christians who really do believe we live by the standards of this world. They live their lives as though we had to be like the people around us. Look at our houses, cars, schedules, values, vacations, checkbooks. We have bought into the lie that to be effective we have to be like the people around us. We need to engage the culture, but we do not have to be so familiar with it that people can;t tell us apart from those whose only hope is this culture. We should live by such a different standard that others notice. We try so hard not to let our Christianity show. We have been convinced it is wrong, people will mock us and we will be more effective if it isn't obvious. It is right to let your Christianity be evident, you will be mocked and effectiveness comes through grace and truth and not cleverly disguised games to cover up our faith.

10:5 - ... we take captive EVERY thought to make it obedient to Christ.- I think most of us think of our thoughts like wild horses that just run and run and we have no obligation to harness them, but Paul says we are to take every single thought we have and make it submit to Jesus as Lord. We focus on lust and greed and all of that many times, but I think he is saying to take the good thoughts and the neutral thoughts captive as well. Some of us think so much about career advancement and let it run wild in our heads that it, left unharnessed and not submitted, affects our hearts until what we want is not what we strive for. Some of us want adventure so badly that we let it go unchecked and eventually nothing satisfies us except the next thing. What an ungrateful way to live. We need to take every thought captive to Christ.

10:8 - ... the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, - WOW! What a great verse to tell us why God gave us authority. It isn't to over-protect or to force others to produce, but to build them up. We protect and help others produce, but it is for their benefit in Christ and not our fear or need for control.

10:12 - ...When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. - One of my favorite verses.

10:15 - ... Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand. - This is our hope. To expand the sphere of activity in your life so that others can know Christ as well.

10:18 - For it is not those who commend themselves who are approved, but those whom the Lord commends. - I wonder how concerned we are with being approved. I think many of us think that once we accepted Jesus we could just hit auto-pilot, kick back and do whatever. The New Testament is filled with passages that say we should work hard to be approved. I am not exactly sure how all of that works out, but I do know this: One day God will ask very Christian how they lived and we had better have a great answer. What will the outcome be if we don't? Paul talks about escaping as one barely getting out of a burning building and who wants to thank Jesus for saving them by barely getting by?

11:2 - I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, SO THAT I might present you as a pure virgin to him. - I so feel this way about The Oasis. I want to present her to Christ without stain or blemish. A lot of us live lives that would offend a groom. I pray we can live in such a way that the Groom is honored.

11:8 - I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. - I can understand this verse.

11:15 - ...Their end will be what their actions deserve. - Our actions will have a huge say in what we receive at judgment. Our society has taken action completely out and said everything is based on grace. Your actions don't matter. That is simply not true from the Bible's viewpoint. Our actions will be judged. To be honest, our actions prove the authenticity of our faith.

11:23-29 - This passage reminds me of the statement the Lord made to Ananias when he was sent to Paul. The Lord says, "I will show him how much he must suffer for the Name."

Love, Michael