SELF-DEFENSE
Opening Prayer
In you Lord, my rock, and my fortress, do I place my trust. What a blessed assurance I have.
Read 2 CORINTHIANS 10:1-6
Paul’s Defense of His Ministry
10 By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! 2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Reflect on the words: ‘O, what a mystery, meekness and majesty, bow down and worship for this is your God’ (Graham Kendrick, 1986, Thankyou Music).The Covid-19 pandemic meant that many meetings were held via Zoom. One meeting of an obscure parish council (a local government body) became an internet hit, even making the national TV news! Viewers were amazed at the unkind way in which some people, full of their own importance, spoke to each other. I wonder what people would think if some church meetings were televised! In this final section of the letter, Paul addresses his self-important critics in Corinth but does so following Christ’s example of humility and gentleness (v 1). Are there situations which you need to approach with gentleness and humility?
The church was being influenced by false teachers who said that, while he sent advice from afar, in person Paul did not appear to be a spiritual giant (vs 2,3). They were, perhaps, accusing him of being ‘too worldly minded to be of any heavenly use’. Paul, however, insists that although he is down to earth, he fights with heavenly weapons (see Ephesians 6:10–20).
Christians are called to be ‘in the world, but not of the world’ (John 17:13–16). How do we live for Jesus without retreating from the world?
Apply
Individuals are often won for Christ not with clever arguments but by seeing lives transformed, through acts of kindness and prayer. How are you trying to persuade someone of the truth of the gospel?
Closing prayer
Lord, sometimes relationships amongst believers can become strained. Give me wisdom in handling my own relationships so that Christ is honored and uplifted at all times.
Book and Author Intros
Extras
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.