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30 July 2008
2 Corinthians 11:12-15
And I will continue doing what I am doing now, because I want to stop those people from having a reason to brag. They would like to say that the work they brag about is the same as ours. Such men are not true apostles but are workers who lie. They change themselves to look like apostles of Christ. This does not surprise us. Even Satan changes himself to look like an angel of light. So it does not surprise us if Satan's servants also make themselves look like servants who work for what is right. But in the end they will be punished for what they do.
We live in a world today where it seems that image is valued more than substance, and yet appearances alone can be deceptive.
Paul reminds the Corinthians that the false teachers among them who were claiming to be apostles, were not apostles at all, but ''liars''. Paul's language gets even stronger when he calls them ''Satan's servants'' who were trying to portray themselves as true servants of Christ, and yet were misleading the people.
History has shown that religion has had many false teachers. Jesus himself warned us of this when he said "... if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect - if that were possible. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time'." (Mark 13:21-23). Today we only have to look at the area of religious cults to see that this is so. You may well be able to recognise this false teaching yourself from the news reports.
In all things we should choose wisely who we follow, and this is especially true when it concerns spiritual matters. We can however, trust with complete confidence the one who called Himself ''the way, the truth and the life'' (John 14:6). We can be sure that Jesus will never mislead or fail us.
Lord, keep me from deception and false teachings, help me to follow Jesus and his teachings and enable me to discern your true servants here on earth. Amen
Written by Paul Tomlinson
2 Corinthians 11:12-15
And I will continue doing what I am doing now, because I want to stop those people from having a reason to brag. They would like to say that the work they brag about is the same as ours. Such men are not true apostles but are workers who lie. They change themselves to look like apostles of Christ. This does not surprise us. Even Satan changes himself to look like an angel of light. So it does not surprise us if Satan's servants also make themselves look like servants who work for what is right. But in the end they will be punished for what they do.
We live in a world today where it seems that image is valued more than substance, and yet appearances alone can be deceptive.
Paul reminds the Corinthians that the false teachers among them who were claiming to be apostles, were not apostles at all, but ''liars''. Paul's language gets even stronger when he calls them ''Satan's servants'' who were trying to portray themselves as true servants of Christ, and yet were misleading the people.
History has shown that religion has had many false teachers. Jesus himself warned us of this when he said "... if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect - if that were possible. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time'." (Mark 13:21-23). Today we only have to look at the area of religious cults to see that this is so. You may well be able to recognise this false teaching yourself from the news reports.
In all things we should choose wisely who we follow, and this is especially true when it concerns spiritual matters. We can however, trust with complete confidence the one who called Himself ''the way, the truth and the life'' (John 14:6). We can be sure that Jesus will never mislead or fail us.
Lord, keep me from deception and false teachings, help me to follow Jesus and his teachings and enable me to discern your true servants here on earth. Amen
Written by Paul Tomlinson
