OUR SPIRITUAL WEAPONS "But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence . . . " -- Tomorrow:
"Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled." (2 Cor 10:1-6)
Devotion 16 of 44
Other versions read, "that when I come I may not have to be bold" (NIV), "that when I am present I need not show boldness" (NRSV), "so that when I am with you I may not have to make use of the authority" (BBE), "that present I may not be bold with the confidence" (DARBY), "I may not have to show boldness with such confidence" (ESV), "I hope I won't need to show you when I come how harsh and rough I can be" (LIVING), "Please don't force me to be blunt with you when I come there" (IE), "do not make me show my boldness" (MONTGOMERY), and "begging you to make it unnecessary for me to be outspoken and stern in your presence" (PHILLIPS).
Here is a most remarkable display of a Christ-like spirit. Paul has such authority as could not only duly impress the Corinthians, but be the means of thorough discomfort among them. In his first letter he indicated his honest preference for meekness and gentleness among them. "What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?" (1 Cor 4:21). The Amplified Bible reads, "Now which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of correction, or with love and in a spirit of gentleness?" Here, he pleads with them not to make it necessary for him come with harshness, rebuke, correction, and righteous indignation. That is not his preference, for such an approach, though necessary, creates no moral change. It can only bring recalcitrant people within the circle of grace – and that will cause considerable inner pain and sorrow.
If David will not repent on his own, God will send a Nathan to him, who will speak frankly and candidly, and with embarrassing details (2 Sam 12:1-14). If king Jehosaphat forgets God and forms an alliance with the wicked in order to gain some imagined military advantage, God will send Jehu the prophet to speak forthrightly with him: "Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD" (2 Chron 19:2). The Lord can, indeed, be harsh, and move His servants to be that way also! But that is not his preference, and Paul is reasoning so the Divine preference can be realized at Corinth.
Paul is urging the Corinthians to avoid him having to be severe with them. I must admit that in the wishy-washy religious culture of our time, such a thought is not at all common. Some are persuaded that it is wrong to ever be harsh – but that is because of their ignorance of the Word of God, and of the nature of God as well.
There are occasions that call for a strong, and even offensive word. When Peter faced a man named Simon who actually sought to purchase the power to confer the Holy Spirit, he responded, "Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity" (Acts 8:20-23). Lest you think this was an avowed enemy of the faith, it is earlier said of Simon, "Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done" (Acts 8:13). Peter, however, did not see him as a bruised reed, but as an insolent man who had a bad heart. The manner of his speaking to Simon confirmed that to be the case, for that is how such people are to be addressed – members of the church, like Simon, or not.
The point to be seen here is that it is proper to admonish the children of God to avoid having to be dealt with harshly. Should any person persist in an ungodly manner, true servants of God have no alternative but to deal with the individual with the "rod of correction." That is the Lord's manner, and we should hesitate to acknowledge it.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me grace to so live that I can be turned by mercy, without having to face Your indignation.