Daily Devotion with Pastor Tong Liu: Today's Passage

2 Corinthians 12:19-21

Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening. For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.

Paul said, "And everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening." This was Paul's heart in ministry. Actually, Paul already taught the church in 1 Corinthian 10:23, " Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive." Paul not only taught that, but he set an example of this himself. In all things, he did not seek his own benefit, but sought the benefit of others. This should be the standard for all Christians. In 1 Corinthians Chapter 10, Paul also mentioned, we need to watch out for the conscience of our weaker brothers. If things that we do cause them to stumble, we should choose not to do those things. As a pastor, we need to make many choices in life so that we remain a good testimony. If you see me at the casino playing the jackpot, how would you feel? Although I have the freedom to do so, I will choose not to do so for the Lord. In the same way, as a believer, if your friends see how you live your life, will they feel uneasy as well?

How Christians view their pastors is about the same way as how unbelievers view Christians. Hence, the principle of strengthening others should apply to every believer. However, we must be careful how we apply this principle, so that we are not living based on man's expectations and neglecting God's expectations. We need to ask the Holy Spirit for confirmation. If the Holy Spirit prompts us, we need to surrender to the leading of God. If not, we need to ask God to help us to release us from the bondage of the enemy's lies. I remember there was one time I was eating with a child. He saw me eat and was shocked, saying, "Why does a pastor need to eat?" Obviously my eating has caused his faith to stumble. How can a holy pastor eat secular meals? Although this was the case, I am not going to starve myself because the Holy Spirit did not prompt me to do so. This was also a great opportunity for me to explain to the little child the biblical view of pastors.

These things do not only happen to pastors, but to every believer as well. We need to remember that all things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial. All things are permissible, but not all glorify God. The most important thing is to listen to God's voice and obey the leading of the Holy Spirit. God will use you to be a vessel to strengthen others.

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, I pray you will give us a sensitive heart to understand the needs of brothers and sisters around us. Help us to become people who strengthen others. May we be willing to pray for others and not just seek our own benefit. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!

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