- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
- Messages
- 17,522
25 July 2008
Word on the Web
2 Corinthians 10:1-6
I, Paul, am begging you with the gentleness and the kindness of Christ. Some people say that I am easy on you when I am with you and bold when I am away. They think we live in a worldly way, and I plan to be very bold with them when I come. I beg you that when I come I will not need to use that same boldness with you. We do live in the world, but we do not fight in the same way the world fights. We fight with weapons that are different from those the world uses. Our weapons have power from God that can destroy the enemy's strong places. We destroy people's arguments and every proud thing that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.6 We are ready to punish anyone there who does not obey, but first we want you to obey fully.
Meekness ... humility ... gentleness ... all words that seem, in our modern context, to conjure up images of small, snivelling, malnourished people with no backbone and even less ability to make any kind of decision. Meekness is a word we often equal with weakness, but not so for Paul, nor for Jesus whom he took his lead from.
Paul addresses an issue that has blown up in Corinth where people are criticising him for his attitude towards the Corinthian church. The accusation made is that Paul takes the easy road when it comes to rebuking the Corinthians. But this is not the case; Paul corrects the charge made against him by explaining that he intends to lead the church with gentleness and meekness - something Jesus himself is a pioneer in. Paul talks about the weapons used by Christians, which are not the same as those used in the world. We are not to immediately leap in for the kill when someone gets it wrong. We are not to judge the actions of others against our own and feel superior. We are not to look for the moment others stumble in their walk and then jump on the band wagon of condemnation.
We are to walk as Jesus did, always loving, non-judgemental and with no condemnation. Paul is more than ready to teach and correct those in his care, but he is not looking for a chance to prove himself over others or show anyone up.
One of the greatest, and saddest quotes, I have heard in church is that people do not want to become Christians not because of doctrine or theologies but because of ... Christians themselves. So often, as followers of Christ we seem to forget what we're about, we pass judgement on everything, we criticise those in our church family, and we complain at the slightest thing. What if we were to, like Paul, really take our lead from Jesus ... ?
Lord, help me to walk as Jesus did with humility and meekness. Whenever I start to judge or condemn or feel superior help me to remember your Son and keep the right perspective in all I do as I walk with you.
Written by Nancy Howell
Word on the Web
2 Corinthians 10:1-6
I, Paul, am begging you with the gentleness and the kindness of Christ. Some people say that I am easy on you when I am with you and bold when I am away. They think we live in a worldly way, and I plan to be very bold with them when I come. I beg you that when I come I will not need to use that same boldness with you. We do live in the world, but we do not fight in the same way the world fights. We fight with weapons that are different from those the world uses. Our weapons have power from God that can destroy the enemy's strong places. We destroy people's arguments and every proud thing that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.6 We are ready to punish anyone there who does not obey, but first we want you to obey fully.
Meekness ... humility ... gentleness ... all words that seem, in our modern context, to conjure up images of small, snivelling, malnourished people with no backbone and even less ability to make any kind of decision. Meekness is a word we often equal with weakness, but not so for Paul, nor for Jesus whom he took his lead from.
Paul addresses an issue that has blown up in Corinth where people are criticising him for his attitude towards the Corinthian church. The accusation made is that Paul takes the easy road when it comes to rebuking the Corinthians. But this is not the case; Paul corrects the charge made against him by explaining that he intends to lead the church with gentleness and meekness - something Jesus himself is a pioneer in. Paul talks about the weapons used by Christians, which are not the same as those used in the world. We are not to immediately leap in for the kill when someone gets it wrong. We are not to judge the actions of others against our own and feel superior. We are not to look for the moment others stumble in their walk and then jump on the band wagon of condemnation.
We are to walk as Jesus did, always loving, non-judgemental and with no condemnation. Paul is more than ready to teach and correct those in his care, but he is not looking for a chance to prove himself over others or show anyone up.
One of the greatest, and saddest quotes, I have heard in church is that people do not want to become Christians not because of doctrine or theologies but because of ... Christians themselves. So often, as followers of Christ we seem to forget what we're about, we pass judgement on everything, we criticise those in our church family, and we complain at the slightest thing. What if we were to, like Paul, really take our lead from Jesus ... ?
Lord, help me to walk as Jesus did with humility and meekness. Whenever I start to judge or condemn or feel superior help me to remember your Son and keep the right perspective in all I do as I walk with you.
Written by Nancy Howell
