2 Corinthians 6-7 (ESV) by Wordle*

Today’s reading is 2 Corinthians 6:1-7:16.

“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever. What agreement has the temple of God with idols?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16a).

Do not over-simplify this passage by trying to make it about marriage or business partnerships between Christians and non-Christians. That isn’t what it is about at all. In fact, if it were about marriage, then it contradicts what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7:12-16. In that passage, he tells believing spouses not to leave unbelieving spouses. If this one is about marriage, he tells the believing spouse to “go out from their midst” in 2 Corinthians 6:17. God’s Word doesn’t contradict itself.

What then is Paul’s point? Notice the bookends of this section. In 2 Corinthians 6:13, “In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.” And then in 2 Corinthians 7:2, “Make room in your hearts for us.” This last half of the letter is Paul’s warning that some of these Christians have jumped out of the frying pan only to land in the fire. That is, they have left their idolatry to become Christians but now that they are Christians, they are following false teachers that are leading them back into idolatry. They are following false apostles. Paul is pointing out that the Corinthians need to keep their hearts open to Paul and the true apostles instead of following those who will lead them back into their fleshly passions.

2 Corinthians 10-12 are filled with this same sentiment. Notice especially, 2 Corinthians 11:12-15; 12:11-13.

So what does this passage have to do with me today? It means I need to open my heart to what Paul and the true apostles who were the conduits of the Holy Spirit’s revelation. I must not simply follow after any and every teacher who says something I may like to hear or who encourages me down the paths of my least resistance. They have opened their hearts to us, let’s make room for them in our hearts as well.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading? Click here to add your input.

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*Today’s illustration was generated by the creative tool at Wordle.net. You can find all my wordles here.

Today’s reading is John 7:1-8:59.

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

Jesus did not say, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you right.” For far too long that is how I’ve read this verse. It was as if the issue was simply knowing the truth. If I knew the truth, I’d be right and that was better than being wrong. But the point of the truth is not just to know the truth. The point of the truth is to be set free from my sin.

When I know the truth, it will set me free. I need to learn the truth not to be smarter than someone else, righter than someone else, better than someone else. I need to learn the truth or I will forever be in bondage to my sins.

Thank you, God, for revealing your truth. Sanctify me by your truth.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is 2 Timothy 2:1-3:17.

“…always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7).

I have heard this passage referenced for years. In fact, I have referenced it for years. Usually, this verse is pulled out when talking about some preacher, teacher, or elder who keeps vacillating on some issue. This verse is especially handy when trying to push someone into making up their mind about some tough doctrinal question. If he won’t make up his mind quick enough, we can just point out how wicked he is because he keeps learning but doesn’t come to the truth. Of course, he only comes to the truth if he agrees with the one who is using this verse to push him.

There may be an appropriate application of this verse to that situation. However, in the immediate context, I’m no  longer sure Paul is talking about that person. Look at the preceding verses. He is talking about someone beset by recklessness, carelessness, lack of control, and sin. I can’t help but think of John 8:32. “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” The issue is not that these people study and study an issue but never make a decision about it. The issue is they keep learning about God’s will but they aren’t letting it change them. They aren’t being set free by it.

I must let God’s word change me. If I don’t, I may know a whole lot about it, but I’m never really arriving at the knowledge of the truth. If I knew the truth, it would set me free.

Keep the faith today, and keep reading.

ELC

PS. What struck you in today’s reading?

Today’s reading is Acts 17:1-18:28.

“Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak, boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:24-26).

Being eloquent doesn’t mean I’m always right. Just because I can put words together well and make my position sound good, doesn’t mean I’m right. Just because I’m competent in the Scriptures, doesn’t mean I’m always right. Just because I’ve received good teaching doesn’t mean I’m always right. Just because I’m fervent doesn’t mean I’m always right. Just because I’m right some of the time doesn’t mean I’m always right.

I hope I can take the correction of those who know the will of God on some issue better than me as well as Apollos did. But it is so easy to get defensive if someone questions whether or not I’m right. I don’t know if Apollos was defensive at all, but it appears in the end, he came around to the truth on this baptism issue. I hope I do so well when someone corrects me with truth.

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC

PS: What struck you in today’s reading?

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you enjoy your family time and your feast. Most of all, I hope you remember the reasons you have to be grateful.

Today, I’m grateful we get to read God’s word and I’m grateful I got to read John 8:31-32.

“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you abide in my word you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free’“(ESV).

The truth. We need to know it. However, not for the reason for which I searched for it so long. For the longest time, I pursued the truth in order to know all the rules so I could be good enough to go to heaven. I’ve realized something. I can’t be good enough to go to heaven. When I go to heaven it will be because of God’s goodness, not mine.

Now I search for the truth because the truth is what will set me free. I can’t be set free if I’m following error. I can’t be set free if I’m satisfied with pidgin approach to religion. I need to love the truth, seek the truth and then live by the truth. Yes, Jesus is the truth, but in this specific context we are living in Jesus and the truth when we are abiding in His word. Of course, I know some people today want to say that doesn’t actually equal the Bible. However, I guess I’m still wondering where I’m going to get the word of Jesus apart from the Bible.

Here’s the deal. If I’m searching the truth to be better than everyone else and be good enough to go to heaven, I’m always going to come up short. If I recognize I can only be set free by the truth and therefore, hunger and thirst for it, then I will grow like God wants me to and I’ll go to heaven.

Perhaps it is a subtle difference, but it has made a major difference in my life.

What did you get out of today’s reading?

Keep the faith and pass the word along,

ELC