Daily Devotion with Pastor Tong Liu: Today's Passage

2 Corinthians 11:16-23

I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast... What anyone else dares to boast about--I am speaking as a fool--I also dare to boast about. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.

Reading the book of 2 Corinthians, you may think that Paul loves to boast and is merciless in his speech. The truth is he is always boasting in the Lord, but not boasting about himself. As such in Galatians 2:20, he says, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live. But Christ lives in me!" Because Paul knew that he was purchased by the blood of Christ and he belongs to God, he lived for the Lord. In this passage, Paul seemed to be anxious to defend himself. This is mainly because he wanted to protect the church, so that they will not go astray.

In verse 20, Paul points out several characteristics of false prophets. Firstly, they enslave people. The word that they preach is to control and bind others, because they teach about legalism, not the true gospel. Secondly, they take advantage people. They abuse the authority of the church in order to accumulate wealth for themselves and take what belongs to others. Thirdly, they exploit others. The meaning of exploit is to lay a trap and lure people in. Fourthly, they put down others in order to exalt themselves. Lastly, they attack others. Here, attacking does not mean physically attacking, but verbal attacks. At that time, false prophets were destroying the church. Paul knew that he had to stand up in order to reveal the truth.

We only know how our parents feel when we become parents ourselves. When we get disciplined by our parents, we often grumble about them. However, when we become parents ourselves, we realize how much parents care about their children, beyond what the children can imagine. In the same way, when we are under spiritual authority, we need to understand the heart of those who are leading us. We need to respect our leaders in the Lord. Although we may not understand at times, we need to submit to them and God will bless us through our submission.

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, I thank you because you are the author and finisher of our faith. You are our protector in life. Pray Lord that you will give us sensitive hearts to discern the truth. Give us courage to fight the battle for you. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

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