2 Corinthians 10:12-18 says...
Today's verses are 2 Corinthains 10:12-18, which read,
v.12, 13 - 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. 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.
Paul has been asking the Christians in Corinth to make some discerning assessments of these two groups that say they are Christ's. One group is the false prophets and the other group is Paul and his companions. The false prophets were promoters of themselves. They measured themselves and compared themselves with themselves which is a closed loop. Paul and his companions measured themselves in "the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure." Who did God give us to measure our lives against? Was it ourselves? No. It was the giving of His Son, Jesus Christ.
The measuring of Paul's life in light of Jesus was the driving force for Paul to come all that way to tell the Christians in Corinth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He will speak of what he has done and endured but he will not go beyond the facts about himself. This is another "outwardly" factor to examine when we look at those who are "feeding us" in a way of influence of the direction of our lives.
v.14-16 - For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for we were the first to come even as far as you in the gospel of Christ; not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men's labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you, so as to preach the gospel even to the regions beyond you, and not to boast in what has been accomplished in the sphere of another.
I am always amazed that just prior to a Missions Night at the church that we are covering a passage about missions as we go chapter by chapter and verse by verse. Paul could stand on the fact that he and his companions were the first to come to Corinth with the gospel. They were the first and that could have been their focus and pedestal to stand upon, but Paul and his companions' focus was on the gospel and not on themselves. They are hoping that as the faith of the Christians in Corinth grow that they will be able to help Paul and his companions go to "regions beyond you" with this gospel message of Jesus.
v.17, 18 - But he who boasts is to boast in the Lord. For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.
Who are these teachers talking about, themselves or the Lord? This is the question that is to guide the Christians in the Corinthian church about this discerning assessment that needs to be made. The false teachers focused on talking about themselves and comparing themselves to themselves. Paul and his companions focused on talking about Christ and comparing themselves to Christ. Lasting approval only comes from the Lord and not from man.
This is a good principle given to us as we walk our daily spiritual lives. We are flooded with voices talking about spiritual things from a variety of media sources. How much are they talking about God and how much are they talking about themselves? What is the focal point of their message? Is it Christ and His salvation or is it how great they are? In a lesson this past week I heard the line that illustrates this, "I am done talking about me, now you talk about me." Who is doing the commending in what I am hearing? Is it the person speaking or is it from the Lord who is being high and lifted up? Discernment in our world is desperately needed by Christians who are bombarded with messages that promote self over Christ.
"Lord, I teach and I preach and I know that I have crossed the line at times to make myself the hero of the story instead of You. I know that the greatest commandments are to love You and others but my speech may give away that I love me more at the expense of that command. May my approval come from You and not from me because I speak of You and Your great love today. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.12, 13 - 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. 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.
Paul has been asking the Christians in Corinth to make some discerning assessments of these two groups that say they are Christ's. One group is the false prophets and the other group is Paul and his companions. The false prophets were promoters of themselves. They measured themselves and compared themselves with themselves which is a closed loop. Paul and his companions measured themselves in "the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure." Who did God give us to measure our lives against? Was it ourselves? No. It was the giving of His Son, Jesus Christ.
The measuring of Paul's life in light of Jesus was the driving force for Paul to come all that way to tell the Christians in Corinth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He will speak of what he has done and endured but he will not go beyond the facts about himself. This is another "outwardly" factor to examine when we look at those who are "feeding us" in a way of influence of the direction of our lives.
v.14-16 - For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for we were the first to come even as far as you in the gospel of Christ; not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men's labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you, so as to preach the gospel even to the regions beyond you, and not to boast in what has been accomplished in the sphere of another.
I am always amazed that just prior to a Missions Night at the church that we are covering a passage about missions as we go chapter by chapter and verse by verse. Paul could stand on the fact that he and his companions were the first to come to Corinth with the gospel. They were the first and that could have been their focus and pedestal to stand upon, but Paul and his companions' focus was on the gospel and not on themselves. They are hoping that as the faith of the Christians in Corinth grow that they will be able to help Paul and his companions go to "regions beyond you" with this gospel message of Jesus.
v.17, 18 - But he who boasts is to boast in the Lord. For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.
Who are these teachers talking about, themselves or the Lord? This is the question that is to guide the Christians in the Corinthian church about this discerning assessment that needs to be made. The false teachers focused on talking about themselves and comparing themselves to themselves. Paul and his companions focused on talking about Christ and comparing themselves to Christ. Lasting approval only comes from the Lord and not from man.
This is a good principle given to us as we walk our daily spiritual lives. We are flooded with voices talking about spiritual things from a variety of media sources. How much are they talking about God and how much are they talking about themselves? What is the focal point of their message? Is it Christ and His salvation or is it how great they are? In a lesson this past week I heard the line that illustrates this, "I am done talking about me, now you talk about me." Who is doing the commending in what I am hearing? Is it the person speaking or is it from the Lord who is being high and lifted up? Discernment in our world is desperately needed by Christians who are bombarded with messages that promote self over Christ.
"Lord, I teach and I preach and I know that I have crossed the line at times to make myself the hero of the story instead of You. I know that the greatest commandments are to love You and others but my speech may give away that I love me more at the expense of that command. May my approval come from You and not from me because I speak of You and Your great love today. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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