QT 6/16/2025 2 Cor 10:7–12, Being different from the world

2 Corinthians 10:7–12 (ESV) —

7 Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ’s, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we. 8 For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be ashamed. 9 I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters. 10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” 11 Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present. 12 Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

 

NOTE: Verse 12 is a good lesson (principle) for living life -- comparisons with people are never good. Two things can happen when you compares yourself to another; one, you see yourself as better, engendering pride, or two, you see yourself as weak, bringing about low self-esteem or a feeling that God cannot use you. A good verse is

 

Romans 12:3 (ESV) — For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

 

Each of us is loved by God supremely (if we have put our faith in Jesus) and are endowed with gifts to be used in the building up of the church, and reaching out into the world. We are all ambassadors for Christ. Peter calls us a royal priesthood. We have been delivered out of darkness into his marvelous light.

 

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV) — But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

 

We don't need to be something special because in God's eyes we already are. We just need to do what God calls us to do. Comparisons are not wise! We are servants and priests of the most high. We are immeasurably loved by the most High and members of God's glorious family. Praise God!

 

PONDER:

1. Do we fall into the comparison trap?
2. Do we measure our performance or do we just seek to serve?

 

PRAYER: Father, forgive us for stupid comparisons. Help us to rest in your love and our position in your family as sons and daughters of the King. Speak to us this day. Show us the opportunities you give to serve. Let us seek humility and service. Let us be different from the world.