Tag: 2 Corinthians

Morning Musings: 2 Corinthians 12:10

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“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

Our own power is insufficient to the task of life.  We don’t have what it takes on our own.  We cannot make right what is broken in us by ourselves.  The only hope, the only power that is up to such tasks is the power of God.  His alone can overcome the various obstacles in this world and bring about the incredible life available in the kingdom. Read the rest…

Morning Musings: 2 Corinthians 11:30

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“If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

Why did Paul rattle off this list of experiences that by almost any account would make someone conclude that the particular path of life he had chosen was not for them?  He was boasting about why he carried the authority to call them to behave in a certain way.  If they were going to claim to be followers of Jesus, then he was someone they should listen to in terms of how to do it right. Read the rest…

Morning Musings: 2 Corinthians 10:5

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“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

Here is a truth that the world doesn’t know and Jesus followers forget much too often and always at our peril: Our chief enemies in the battle to advance the Gospel are always ideas and never people.  People are never our enemies.  They are always, only, and ever creatures bearing the image of God and, prayerfully, future brothers and sisters in Christ.  Our opponents are the ideas they carry and advance.  It is ideas that undermine and tear down the Christian worldview.  Ideas have consequences.  Bad ideas have victims.  We must be ruthless with ideas, but gentle and loving with people.  This is a tough balance to achieve, but one we must if we are to boldly advance the Gospel as is our call.

Morning Musings: 2 Corinthians 11:14-15

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“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.  So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.  Their end will correspond to their deeds.”  (ESV – Read the chapter)

Not everything that looks good is good.  Consider a poison dart frog of the Amazon rainforests.  They are beautiful, brightly colored little frogs.  And yet, to touch them could be deadly.  Just because Satan is evil, doesn’t mean he always or even often looks the part.  Much more often he “disguises himself as an angel of light.”  In other words, he looks like something that is good in order to lead us to something that is bad. Read the rest…