The Devotional – 1111 – Foot Steps in Second Corinthians, On Going

The Devotional – 1111 – Foot Steps in Second Corinthians, On Going

Justice and Right are absolute words. Our culture (if we have one) is founded on the “Liberty and Freedom for All” the standard for this freedom is not to do as I please, or do with the attitude that if it feels good I’ll do it! The original mandate is to live in Justice by doing what is Right. The words Justice and Right or Righteousness have become foreign words in land, these have been replaced with words like “proper, fairness and rightfulness”. These common words today mean there is much that one can do against God, country and the common man living next door and legally get away with it. We are living in serious moments which are rapidly becoming hours, days and weeks in our society. We are quickly moving down a path that God has already condemned in every nation under the sun who rejects The God of the Holy Bible. The Words of Jesus say this: “And this is the CONDEMNATION, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19. That word “condemnation” is the JUSTICE and RIGHTEOUSNESS of God on those who love the world. It is the Light that the world hates, because the deeds (works) of the world are evil.

CHALLENGES & COMMENTS – 2 Corinthians 12:14-21

In the face of evil, how is the child of God to respond? We ought to behave like a child of God! Where can I find the way to behave? Romans 12:9-21 is a good start, then if you have a reference Bible take a look at some of the referenced verses with that context and the eyes of your mind will understand that “love” without hypocrisy (pretending) is to hate evil. And that the only way to overcome evil is to do the good within the context.

The most important “thing” a parent can do for their child is to lay up love without pretending for their children. Not silver and gold as the world suggest, all this brings is suffering and depression and of course if you are like the many who love with hypocritical actions this too will bring suffering and aggravation (Eph 6:1-4). Looking now at the church we can easily see that the apostle Paul after his third visit to the Corinthian church is seeking to bring the church closer to Christ’s love for them (Eph 5:15-33).

Pastors of churches have a very high calling from God to protect their small flocks. We could go on for many hours discussing the evils that seek to destroy the church of God, the pastor and the people of his pasture. We have an overseer; Jesus (Protector) and there is an adversary Satan (Destroyer), to place both in the same sentence was hard for me. The apostle says in verse 15 that he would gladly be “spent” for the souls of the Corinthians in that the less he is loved by them, the more abundantly he loves them.

Today we do not have the authority of apostles planting churches and overseeing the congregation. We do not have pastors and teachers moving from church to church being sent to correct or adjust some spiritual confusion. Well this may be the case in some “religious” circles but it is no longer the normal way churches operate, they are mostly consider autonomous (self-governing). This is one of the main reasons for the Pastoral Epistles Thessalonians, Timothy and Titus.

As we conclude the second epistle to the Corinthians we still see the trouble faced by the apostle that he has feared all along. There is good leadership at Corinth, the apostle placed godly men in the position of leadership by the direct calling of God, verses 17-18. These men did not take advantage of the flock, but the flock sought to take advantage of them. Plainly, these men were placed to edify, to strengthen and to encourage God’s children.

Instead, the apostle finds that these of the church are still contentious, selfish, backbiting, conceited and fighting against themselves and the leadership. I am sure of it! Today in our churches many pastors are persecuted by their own flock with this same kind of spiritual nonsense. Therefore they are constantly kneeing before God seeking humility, mourning over the unrepentant and uncleanness they observe being practiced as normal within the congregation.

The excuse is that "well these are Corinthians" it is what they do! Bah humbug! We need to pray for our Spiritual leaders! We are not Corinthians and yet we do the same thing!