DATE POSTED Friday, 2022-08-12
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: ³ We live in this world, but we don’t act like its people ⁴ or fight our battles with the weapons of this world. Instead, we use God’s power that can destroy fortresses. We destroy arguments ⁵ and every bit of pride that keeps anyone from knowing God. We capture people’s thoughts and make them obey Christ. ⁶ And when you completely obey him, we will punish anyone who refuses to obey.

APPLICATION: Try to imagine serving on a church board where you might be asked to pray for, encourage and give godly wisdom to your pastor on what you feel God would have his role be as a humble and obedient servant. Some among his disciples would want him to be more aggressive, but some may want him to be more docile, with hopes of calming down the rough edges of those who are very vocal. Some leaders will want the pastor to stand firm against all apparent wrong-doing, while some will want him to ‘roll with the flow’ and try to accept this modern age of unusual adult and children behavior. But I want to encourage you to join me in looking at what Paul exampled before us as a mighty warrior for the Kingdom. In our Scripture today, Paul is responding to claims coming back to him from the church at Corinth where they felt like he was bold, and very critical to say anything in his letters to the church, but not so much when he visited them in person. I immediately thought of an old saying ‘idleness is the Devil’s workshop’! For if this congregation was busy about the mission of Jesus Christ, and determined to tell the world about His love and His saving grace, will they possibly have time for such petty accusations against this proven man of God? But before you become any more judgmental of the Corinthian church, let me encourage you to examine yourself, and then your church. How many conversations have you had, or been a part of, where the pastor was being criticized for something very petty? Perhaps the clothes he wore; perhaps condemning him for the example used in his sermon; the song he wanted sung that morning; the hug he gave to Sue, but not even a smile or handshake to you; I’m sure you get the picture. Do you get the impression that Paul would have nipped much of this in the bud, seeing that nothing good could come out of such conversation and accusations? Isn’t it obvious that Paul promoted the positive impact of what the church should have on its members and in the community in which it serves? I was so impressed with the very last sentence in our verses today. It is so easy for church leaders to condemn their pastor, but wouldn’t things change a bit if they were told that they should get their act together and be in full compliance with God’s laws before trying to impose even stricter laws on their members? For those readers and listeners who do not attend a church where they are aware of similar challenges to these, please rejoice in the fact that you are far enough removed from church politics! I am convinced that unless you are able to worship God together with other believers and be of one mind and spirit, then Satan will easily find room for a wedge to cause division and fraction between you. And that’s where you personally, and the church collectively, loses its witness to the lost for which you are intended to save. I love the new contemporary Christian song that includes the lyrics about solving your issues on your knees – that’s where God can open your eyes, and the eyes of any offender. Live in the world my friend, but be a light in the darkness to those with bad intentions.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Paul said that he used God’s power, that can destroy fortresses – those that Satan erects to destroy the witness of the church and its members, to destroy arguments and division!

PRAYER: Precious Lord, You are worthy of our praise and greatly to be glorified here on earth. In so many cases, we have not been good stewards of Your church, and we have not touched the hearts of the lost because of our own disobedience and lack of commitment to You and Your kingdom’s work. Please forgive us Lord and raise up leaders around us that will totally commit themselves to You and be in full compliance to Your Word, so that they will be respected and obeyed in Your church. The world is watching, because they want to find proof of what a blood saved church looks like. Lord may the words from my lips, and the thoughts from my heart be acceptable to You, my Rock and my Redeemer. May I then, be the first of many who will say like Paul, do as I do and not just what I say. May they always see Jesus in us! AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!