CHAPTER 10

1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you,
but being absent am bold toward you:
2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold
against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

Paul uses the word "beseech" which means to plead.
His plea is based on the self-discipline (meekness) and "gentleness" of Christ.

His plea also is concerning the "base" (humiliation) he has received by "some" who have
falsley accused him.

Note, Paul would not use the same "confidence" (boldness) with those who LISTEN,
as with those who accuse him of having "walked according to the flesh."

Ordinarily, when we humans are accused of being wrong, or doing something wrong,
we have a tendency to become boldly forward in our speech toward the accuser.
Paul had not done or acted in any way wrong, and he knew it.
Yet, he would not allow the feeling of retaliation when speaking to others.
He did not allow his feelings to take over his relationships.

We would be well advised to not allow our anger overcome our actions
and spill out into our relationships with those who have not caused the anger.

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,
and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

We do live in the flesh here on this earth.
But we must not let our feelings overcome our actions.

One Mom was angry with her son because he failed to take out the garbage
as she had requested hours ago.
She caught him by the arm and began to apply the hand of discipline to the
seat of learning.
Her daughter was near, and tried to get away from the action.
In her haste, the glass of water she was holding bumped the table, then fell and broke.
Mom, still angry, gave her a spanking too, requiring that she be more careful.

As Christians, we are involved in a "war" against SIN.
But we canot engage in that war with our FEELINGS!
We must engage with self-discipline and with gentleness.

Today I read where some folk want to make pedofilia legal.
Am I upset about that? YES!
Does it make me angry that ANYONE would think that was ok? YES!
Being a Christian, I must SPEAK OUT!
But I must use self-discipline and speak the truth in love.

What exactly ARE "the weapons of our warfare"?
Prayer, Bible study, and using both to inform those around us of morality and decency.

Indeed we must be about "casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God."
And they way to do that is to be "bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

Paul (in vs 6) says he is ready to utilize discipline until the church is ready to act appropriately
toward those who were disobedient to the faith.
He was ready to utilize that discipline until the church fulfilled it's obligation.

We, the church, the body of Christ, are to combat evil in the world!
Christians are SOLDIERS in the army of Christ!
We are to use Bible study to LEARN and DISSEMINATE truth and moral integrity!
We are to use prayer to maintain self-discipline as we do the former!

Do you see in the world today, how Jesus is using discipline to move the church
back to fulfilling its obligation?

7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's,
let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.

Sometimes, Christians are led astray and act wrongly.
It is not our place to CONDEMN!
That's GOD'S chair - don't try to sit in it!
Other Christians are to look upon those as belonging to Christ!
THEN, we are to utilize every portion of our self-discipline and gentleness to
return them to the correct understanding of God's truths, and to a position which
promotes those truths.

8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification,
and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

Paul had sent letters to them admonishing some for living in an ungodly manner.
And, those whom he had admonised, accused him of being strong in letters, but weak because he didn't come personally.

His answer is that he has sent letters for "edification" and NOT for "destruction!"

Edification is used to build up.
Biblical edification is used to build up others in godly character and integrity.

As Christians, we are responsible for being the moral truth of society!
We must act in a manner that does not "terrify", but rather EDIFIES!

11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring
themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Paul's promise is that when he does come, his actions will be the same as his letters:
imparting Biblical truth which leads to character training.

As Christians, we are not to compare ourselves to people of the world,
we are to compare ourselves to CHRIST!

Just because everyone else is doing it, certainly doesn't mean WE should do it!

13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath
distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.
14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you:
for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:
15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope,
when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,
16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things
made ready to our hand.

Some in Corinth had abused their privilege and assumed upon Paul's work as their own.
They were boasting outside their own "measure"!

Paul only spoke of things he had done simply preaching the gospel.
Through the preaching of Jesus, and Him crucified, resurrected and ascended, many had been saved; a church had been formed.

But some of those who had adjoined themselves to the church were living promiscuously.
They were not living according to surrender to Jesus as LORD!

We have many today, who have joined the church and say that homosexualism is ok.

Let me just say that what God called an "abomination" (See Lev. 18:22) thousands of years ago
is STILL an abomination TODAY!

There is no sin that cannot be forgiven by Christ!
There is no person who cannot be saved if they WANT to be saved.
And, by using saved, I mean surrendered to Christ.
When we are surrendered to Christ we are RADICALLY CHANGED (See 2Cor. 5:17)!

And, that which is an abomination to God is REPULSIVE to the truly saved!

17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

Any boasting Christians should do should be by giving glory to the Lord!

As a Christian, we cannot say we save people!
We only preach the WORD, and the Lord does the WORK!

God will "commend", or approve, those who live according to His WILL!

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.
BACK TO INDEX OF DEVOTIONS