Begin with two minutes of silence and stillness before God.
In 2 Corinthians 11, we see Paul defending himself. He calls himself foolish for having to do so, but he has been accused of boasting. If anyone had earned the right to boast, it was definitely Paul. He endured so many unimaginable trials and hardships. He was physically beaten multiple times. He was imprisoned. He was mocked and scorned. Paul was tough, even though he carried himself in a way that was unpretentious. Paul knew the Lord, and knowing the Lord gave him great confidence. He may not have appeared to the people as a man with great confidence, but he knew who he was and that he belonged to the Lord, which gave him considerable inner strength.
Paul is warning the Corinthian Christians about false teachers because he is afraid that they are going to fall victim to them. He uses what happened to Eve in the Garden of Eden as a way to warn them not to be deceived. He says in verse 3, “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”
Corinth was a commercial crossroads, and therefore, its people were exposed to many different religions and ungodly views. Paul wanted the Corinthian Christians to stay steadfast in their beliefs and not be swayed by the teachings of other false religions. He knew they were spiritually vulnerable because of their location.
The warnings Paul gave the church in Corinth are relatable to us today. We live in a time where every conceivable false teacher is at our fingertips. With just a click of a button on our phones or our computers, we risk exposure to a world of ungodly teachings. We, too, must remain steadfast to not be deceived. We must cultivate a sincere and pure devotion to Jesus Christ by building a personal relationship with Him. When we are deeply connected to Christ, we are better equipped to discern between truth and false teachings. Remember, the same devil who led Eve astray is the same deceiver who targets us. Our faith requires intentional effort and practice. That means going to the Bible more than Google to find answers.
I am encouraged by the way Paul invested in people. He wanted to show people the love of Jesus Christ. It’s evident, not only through his letters, but through his actions, as well. We should be challenged to be more like Paul and boldly serve others. Our attitudes and actions should reflect Christ’s love and grace. We should not only take responsibility for protecting our own spiritual well-being, but we should also take responsibility for other believers, as well, by remaining in loving service to them.
Take two minutes to reflect in silence.