From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>
To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"
Sent: Wed, Sep 14, 2022 at 5:42 AM
Subject: 9-14-22 THOUGHTS
9-14-22 THOUGHTS
I want to pluck a JEWEL from the passage area below. It is primarily concerned with the Corinthian Church thinking and behaving in physical ways. Boasting and fleshly prowess seem to be present. Power of person is prized. Verse 7 says simply “You are looking at things as they are outwardly.” Paul notes that “the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh”. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ...” It gets personal for Paul when he says, “For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible." Here’s the jewel in verse 12b... “but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.” We are prone to compare ourselves with others aren’t we? Let God commend! We have ample information as to His ways and desires for us!
2Cor 10:1-18 Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ — I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent! 2 I ask that when I am present I need not be bold with the confidence with which I propose to be courageous against some, who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, 6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. 7 You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we. 8 For even if I boast somewhat further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame, 9 for I do not wish to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters. 10 For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible." 11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present. 12 For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding. 13 But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you. [We skip to verse 18] “For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.”
My Prayer:
Lord, help us measure ourselves by your word, and always desire to please you, and not those about us. Give us pure motives in all things. Keep us from the worldly comparison of ourselves to each other. May we be wise in these things. Teach us to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. We want to belong to you through your Son. Keep us from boasting, save in the cross of Christ Jesus. We ever pray in his name, Amen
[Keep sister Heather in prayer]