The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Corinthians 10:18,
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"It is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends."
Paul learned there were those who came after him that attempted to draw the church in Corinth he established away from him and his gospel message to themselves.
Apparently these "false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ", 2 Corinthians 11:13, attempted to establish their credentials with this church by comparing themselves as superior to Paul. Paul says in verse 12, that they were not wise "when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves". Later in verse 17 he quotes Jeremiah 9:23-24.
The passage Paul quotes in Jeremiah reads this way, "'Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,' declares the Lord."
Kind of sobering, isn't it? Any person claiming to be something special, or gifted, or whatever pales before our transcendent and lofty God!
As a part of Paul's perspective, he sweeps away any boastful claim by observing this truth: "It is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends."
This speaks to me of the stature our God holds before all. In his majestic splendor, the perfections of his character and nature overshadow any claim anyone might attempt for himself.
Our holy and righteous God is the arbiter of commendation. He determines what is to happen and through whom he will do it.
Paul learned there were those who came after him that attempted to draw the church in Corinth he established away from him and his gospel message to themselves.
Apparently these "false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ", 2 Corinthians 11:13, attempted to establish their credentials with this church by comparing themselves as superior to Paul. Paul says in verse 12, that they were not wise "when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves". Later in verse 17 he quotes Jeremiah 9:23-24.
The passage Paul quotes in Jeremiah reads this way, "'Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,' declares the Lord."
Kind of sobering, isn't it? Any person claiming to be something special, or gifted, or whatever pales before our transcendent and lofty God!
As a part of Paul's perspective, he sweeps away any boastful claim by observing this truth: "It is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends."
This speaks to me of the stature our God holds before all. In his majestic splendor, the perfections of his character and nature overshadow any claim anyone might attempt for himself.
Our holy and righteous God is the arbiter of commendation. He determines what is to happen and through whom he will do it.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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