NOVEMBER 30, 2021 READINGS... 2 Corinthians 6:14-10:18
The NKJV says that we are not to be “unequally yoked” together with unbelievers. I like the way the NLT says it, “don’t team up with those who are unbelievers.” Paul is not telling us not to be involved with unbelievers, or to stay away from all unbelievers. How could we share the Gospel with the lost around us if we avoided them, and had nothing to do with them? Paul is saying that we Christians cannot bind ourselves with unbelievers, because we are heading in two different directions. When we yoke ourselves with unbelievers they will pull us away from what the Lord has for us, and drag us down a path of destruction. How important is this teaching? Look at what the Apostle writes…what partnership does righteousness have with wickedness…how can light live with darkness…what harmony is there between Christ and the devil…what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? We are the temple of the living God…that is the Holy Spirit lives within us. Do you think it would be right to take the Holy Spirit and join Him with demons, sin, and a lifestyle that is contrary to God? We are called to come out from that which is unholy and be holy unto God. We don’t practice what the world practices. Our worldview and lifestyle are supposed to be distinctly biblical. You cannot live a biblical lifestyle and live like the world at the same time. Sadly, far too many professing Christians do this…if they are Christian, they are putting out a horrible testimony, and putting themselves in great danger.
Paul then shares about the church. He has great joy in hearing that the church had repented from the wrong things they were practicing. He then calls them to be generous with the things that God had blessed them with. Our resources, given to us by God, are given so that we might be a blessing to others. We are never blessed to brag about our blessings…we are blessed to be a blessing. The church at Jerusalem was struggling, and being put upon by both the secular and religious authorities. Paul encouraged the church at Corinth to give generously to help meet the needs of their brothers and sisters. There were those who questioned Paul’s authority to speak things into the church as an Apostle. These rebels were seeking their own power and positions. Paul points them to the fact that only the Lord appoints, only the Lord equips, and only those things done within the Lord’s authority are to be promoted in the church. We need to be very careful of becoming jealous of God’s call for someone else. We each need listen to the Holy Spirit’s call for our lives…and faithfully walk in that calling, thanking God for His goodness in calling us.
Please share your thoughts from today’s reading.
TOMORROW’S READINGS… 2 Corinthians 11:1-13:14 & Acts 20:7-12
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