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Daily eMail Devotional
Thursday, March 18, 2010
II Corinthians 10:12-18 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand. But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.Have you ever gone grocery shopping and picked out fruits or vegetables before? When we pick them out we will pick one up, compare it to the others, decide whichever one is the best out of the pile and then take that one home with us. Even if the one we picked might not be the best out of them all but it was the best out of what we saw. That is kind of how we live our lives, isn’t it. Perhaps we look around in church during the service and compare ourselves to those we see or even the “best” Christian we think we see and we live our lives comparing ourselves to those around us instead of comparing ourselves to the best we have ever seen, Christ Himself.
In verse 12 or our passage it says, “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” Paul here refused to act as the false prophets acted when they took pride in themselves by what they had done in comparing themselves with others but rather would only take pride in the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. Paul took pride in God’s calling for him to go to the people of Corinth. I believe that partly because he took such pride in his calling he was able to win many for the Lord. What is admirable with Paul is that despite his high expectations for the people of Corinth and the success he saw he writes, “But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.”
May we take pride in the work of God. He closes the chapter by saying, “For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.” Before we look around comparing ourselves to the things we have done; stop, and think what does the Lord have to say? Who is getting the glory out of it? It is better to give God the glory than for Him to take it.
Love you all!
Pastor Mike
Don't Forget -
