The Word of God for wisdom:
Proverbs 23:2 (HCSB)
2 and put a knife to your throat if you have a big appetite;
Isaiah 56:11 (HCSB)
11 These dogs have fierce appetites; they never have enough. And they are shepherds who have no discernment; all of them turn to their own way, every last one for his own gain.
The Word of God for inspiration:
Psalm 54:4 (HCSB)
4 God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my life.
The Word of God for encouragement:
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (HCSB)
13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
14 And no wonder! For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
15 So it is no great thing if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their destiny will be according to their works.
My observation:
Today's focal passage is a reminder that we must always be alert to false teachers in the church. Not everything that sounds good is in fact good. It's not the eloquence of the messenger, but it is the truth that the messenger teaches, and the life that the messenger lives.
These false teachers looked like Paul, and they shared some of the same credentials. However, it is more than what they said; it was what they didn't say.
2 Corinthians 11:22 (HCSB)
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.
2 Corinthians 11:3-6 (HCSB)
3 But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a complete and pure devotion to Christ.
4 For if a person comes and preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you had not received, or a different gospel, which you had not accepted, you put up with it splendidly!
5 Now I consider myself in no way inferior to the "super-apostles."
6 Though untrained in public speaking, I am certainly not [untrained] in knowledge. Indeed, we have always made that clear to you in everything.
My prayer:
Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that you will give your people divine discernment so that we might be able to recognize that which is false, and reject it; and that which is truth, and embrace it. In Jesus name, Amen.
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3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
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