We Love God!

God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

What does it mean when we read of Christians needing to “all agree” (1 Cor. 1:10) and be “of the same mind” (Phil. 2:2)? On the lowest level, all of us have personal interests with no spiritual significance. I like to call these “preferences.” Your favorite ice cream flavor. Where you choose to vacation. What you think makes a person attractive. Unless you are an egotistical moron, you respect the phrase, “to each their own.” On the middle level are non-salvific spiritual conclusions on how to live your life. These are the issues where Christians must decide, but often (even within the same church) have different perspectives. I call these “convictions,” or we could say “non-essentials.” Watching movies. How to school your children. Women’s clothing. What to do with Halloween. In these things, we respect another’s freedom (or liberty) in Christ. Then at the top level are the essentials for salvation and church unity. The doctrine of justification by faith. Obeying the Bible. Sharing Christ with others. These are the essentials and it’s in these things and these things alone we have unity – total agreement.
Randy Smith

The rich etymology of “discipline” suggests a conscious divestment of all encumbrances, and then a determined investment of all one’s energies. Just as ancient athletes discarded everything and competed gumnos (naked), so must the disciplined Christian man divest himself of every association, habit, and tendency which impedes godliness. Then, with this lean spiritual nakedness accomplished, he must invest all his energy and sweat in the pursuit of godliness.
Kent Hughes

Bible – English_World – 2 Corinthians Chapter 10:1-18.

Index: World English Bible

 

2 Corinthians 10

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10:1 Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ; I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you.

10:2 Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh.

10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh;

10:4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds,

10:5 throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;

10:6 and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience will be made full.

10:7 Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ’s, so also we are Christ’s.

10:8 For though I should boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down) I will not be disappointed,

10:9 that I may not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters.

10:10 For, “His letters,” they say, “are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised.”

10:11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.

10:12 For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

10:13 But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but within the boundaries with which God appointed to us, which reach even to you.

10:14 For we don’t stretch ourselves too much, as though we didn’t reach to you. For we came even as far as to you with the Gospel of Christ,

10:15 not boasting beyond proper limits in other men’s labors, but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be abundantly enlarged by you in our sphere of influence,

10:16 so as to preach the Gospel even to the parts beyond you, not to boast in what someone else has already done.

10:17 But “he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.”

10:18 For it isn’t he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.