2 Corinthians 13:4-5 - His weak,
human body died on the cross, but now he lives by the mighty power of God. We,
too, are weak in our bodies, as he was, but now we live and are strong, as he
is, and have all of God’s power to use in dealing with you. Check up on yourselves. Are you really
Christians? Do you pass the test? Do you feel Christ’s presence and power more
and more within you? Or are you just pretending to be Christians when actually
you aren’t at all?
Paul ended this great book of 2 Corinthians by reminding the
church that this would be his 3rd warning to stop sinning and live
Godly lives. He believed in tough love….even modeled for them how to apply the
concept to examining their own walk with God. Even Jesus walked this earth in a
weak human body…but through a completely perfect walk with His father…He was
able to use God’s mighty power to take what satan meant for harm and turn death
into a victory over all evil.
He told them to check themselves…to examine their hearts for
evidence of God’s love inside them. In order to say they were really Christians
they should learn from each test God allowed so that they could feel God’s
power inside their heart grow more and more inside their hearts.
He left them with a pretty comprehensive check list of
outward signs they were really Christians…and not just pretending. He said to
live good lives…not just for what we could get out of it. He also said to encourage
others at all times…helping to keep evil no way to sneak in at all. Paul was an advocate of using our weaknesses
to teach us maturity….a permanent strength built in faith and trust. He said be
happy…grow in Christ…live in harmony and peace…and to greet all people warmly
in the Lord.
I will admit as usual that I needed the reminder to keep my
relationship with God fresh by evaluating my own ‘realness’ more often. The
lack of a routine checkup allows all kinds of cracks in our relationship that
might be a way for satan to attack our very foundation. I put off the ‘exam’
sometimes for they are not always painless….exposing one more thing that I need
to work on to be a better person. Constant
growth means that I need to feed that fire spiritual wood…so the flame stays bright.
Sometimes I need to feed that spiritual fire even more….so the fire gets big
enough to handle what lesson might be coming next. God has to teach me how to
use the next gift of power he needs me to use in my next job for Him.
Father…thank you for the reminder that tough love is not
just for me to use on those around me...it is for my own person evaluation of
how well I am doing as your child.
Forgive me for the times that I have missed the opportunity to grow because
I put off an exam. Show me how to use
Paul’s great advice to keep the fire of love inside my heart burning with
passion and zeal…so others can see you through the flames. Amen.
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