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- Apr 25, 2006
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26 July 2008
Word on the Web
2 Corinthians 10:7-11
You must look at the facts before you. If you feel sure that you belong to Christ, you must remember that we belong to Christ just as you do. It is true that we brag freely about the authority the Lord gave us. But this authority is to build you up, not to tear you down. So I will not be ashamed. I do not want you to think I am trying to scare you with my letters. Some people say, "Paul's letters are powerful and sound important, but when he is with us, he is weak. And his speaking is nothing." They should know this: We are not there with you now, so we say these things in letters. But when we are there with you, we will show the same authority that we show in our letters.
One of my pet hates are chick-flick films. Having been a bit of a tom-boy growing up - I never owned a Barbie, although someone did once buy me Barbie's wardrobe and bed, having no Barbie figure, I think I put the hamster in it, he wasn't up for that game - anyway, girly films drive me mad. They do so for many reasons, I get bored in the opening credits, as that is about all the time it takes to work out what is going to happen in the remaining ninety minutes you still have left. I hate the way it's all going so well, until some great misunderstanding and subsequent will they/won't they/even-though-we-all-know-they-will story which unfolds. And I hate the way it all works out rosily in the end, the guy gets the girl, the girl gets married, the idiot guy gets what he deserves. However, one thing I will say about them is that they are unswerving in their narrative. You can immediately recount the plot line without ever looking at a review. As maddening as I find them, my friend (who did have the Barbie to go with the wardrobe) assures me that what makes them so good is the fact that you can count on them to end how you want them to. They are consistent.
Consistency. Paul is an absolute stickler for it. He hammers it home to the Corinthians and he practises it in his own life. In these verses we see again how Paul is labouring to justify his own life to his critics. What he is like away from the Corinthians is the same as when he is with them, and no amount of badmouthing or hearsay can bring down Paul's integrity on the subject. The reason for this is so that he can build up the church, "But this authority is to build you up, not tear you down". Paul's passion and integrity in his faith means that everything within him wants all those around him to join him in this amazing walk with God. How do we measure up, are we the same on a Sunday morning as we are on Monday? Are we the same at church as we are at home? Could we stand up to the criticism of those around us with the same consistency as Paul?
Lord, help me to be consistent in my faith. Help me to remember that you see right into the depths of my heart and know my every thought. Help me to show others that my faith in you is real by having integrity and humility in my walk with you.
Written by Nancy Howell
Word on the Web
2 Corinthians 10:7-11
You must look at the facts before you. If you feel sure that you belong to Christ, you must remember that we belong to Christ just as you do. It is true that we brag freely about the authority the Lord gave us. But this authority is to build you up, not to tear you down. So I will not be ashamed. I do not want you to think I am trying to scare you with my letters. Some people say, "Paul's letters are powerful and sound important, but when he is with us, he is weak. And his speaking is nothing." They should know this: We are not there with you now, so we say these things in letters. But when we are there with you, we will show the same authority that we show in our letters.
One of my pet hates are chick-flick films. Having been a bit of a tom-boy growing up - I never owned a Barbie, although someone did once buy me Barbie's wardrobe and bed, having no Barbie figure, I think I put the hamster in it, he wasn't up for that game - anyway, girly films drive me mad. They do so for many reasons, I get bored in the opening credits, as that is about all the time it takes to work out what is going to happen in the remaining ninety minutes you still have left. I hate the way it's all going so well, until some great misunderstanding and subsequent will they/won't they/even-though-we-all-know-they-will story which unfolds. And I hate the way it all works out rosily in the end, the guy gets the girl, the girl gets married, the idiot guy gets what he deserves. However, one thing I will say about them is that they are unswerving in their narrative. You can immediately recount the plot line without ever looking at a review. As maddening as I find them, my friend (who did have the Barbie to go with the wardrobe) assures me that what makes them so good is the fact that you can count on them to end how you want them to. They are consistent.
Consistency. Paul is an absolute stickler for it. He hammers it home to the Corinthians and he practises it in his own life. In these verses we see again how Paul is labouring to justify his own life to his critics. What he is like away from the Corinthians is the same as when he is with them, and no amount of badmouthing or hearsay can bring down Paul's integrity on the subject. The reason for this is so that he can build up the church, "But this authority is to build you up, not tear you down". Paul's passion and integrity in his faith means that everything within him wants all those around him to join him in this amazing walk with God. How do we measure up, are we the same on a Sunday morning as we are on Monday? Are we the same at church as we are at home? Could we stand up to the criticism of those around us with the same consistency as Paul?
Lord, help me to be consistent in my faith. Help me to remember that you see right into the depths of my heart and know my every thought. Help me to show others that my faith in you is real by having integrity and humility in my walk with you.
Written by Nancy Howell
