Devo Aug 20 2 Corinthians 10

¹By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” when away! ²I 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. ³For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. ⁴The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵We 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. ⁶And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

⁷You are looking only on the surface of things. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as he. ⁸For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it.

REFLECTION

1. From Paul’s example here, what is supposed to be the “normal” way Christians exercise leadership over one another?  On a scale from 1 – 10, how well do you demonstrate Christ’s gentleness and meekness in leading others?
2. What will you work on this week that demonstrates your interest in building people up and not pulling them down?

As I reflect on how to lead as a pastor, I thank God for the insights and convictions from the Retreat on how to build brothers and sisters up in loving Jesus Christ.  The "normal" way for making disciples is to lead with gentleness and meekness.  Being meek, I am to be God fearing, humble, teachable, patient, submissive to Jesus...)  Coming up, I am led to care and reach out to many young people personally and individually over the next couple of weeks.  I am reminded that I am to engage brothers and sisters with gentleness and meekness.  

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Aug 13

¹⁴Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? ¹⁵What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
¹⁷“Therefore come out from them
and be separate, says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”
¹⁸“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

REFLECTION

1. Christians are to be completely separated unto the Lord, with that separation as sharp as the dividing line between light and darkness, between Christ and Satan, and between the temple of God and a shrine where idols are worshiped.  In short, we are to “purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit.” (7:1) God is our Father, but when we sin, sin’s contamination separates us from God.  Similarly, when sin comes into a relationship between two people, it’ll be felt like a grain of sand entering into the eye, the relationship will be affected.  So, the issue isn’t whether we could have intimate relationship with non-Christians, rather, if we want to maintain this close relationship with God the Father.  Our loving father is calling us: “I will be your father, and you shall be my sons and daughters.”  How do you respond?
2. Imagine you are taking a walk with the Lord in the garden.  Listen to God telling you, “I will be your father, and you shall be my son/daughter.” What would you say to him right now?  The Lord is listening.  Speak to him slowly and listen to his fatherly talking, too.