QT 02/08/2024 Fri. 2Cor 10. True letters of recommendation. 真实的推荐信。

QT 02/08/2024 Fri. 2Cor 10. True letters of recommendation.
READ http://www.esvbible.org/2cor10

In ministry, commendation comes ultimately only from God. Some commended themselves (2Cor 10:12) or compared themselves with others (2Cor 10:12). Others relied on letters of recommendation (2Cor 3:1).

Such behaviour was “not wise” (2Cor 10:12)—only the one that God commends is truly approved. Who does God commend and approve of?

The one who carries His letter of recommendation (2Cor 3:2-3)! The letter of recommendation is the  result of ministry – written on “human hearts”, “known and read by everybody”, where the Spirit is at work. The Corinthian church was such a letter of recommendation for Paul from Christ. They proved that Paul had indeed been called by God to be an apostle.

Yet, while God APPROVED of Paul, some in the Corinthian church apparently DISAPPROVED of Paul in several ways: he seemed timid in person (2Cor 10:1) and unimpressive (2Cor 10:10). Actually, they wrongly perceived Paul’s ministry. He modeled himself after the “meekness and gentleness of Christ” (2Cor 10:1), and he used spiritual weapons, not the “weapons of the world” that they were expecting (2Cor 10:4).

APPLICATION: Do not compare yourselves with others. On the other hand, compare yourself with God's standards, and the person of Jesus Christ. Strive towards perfection.

APPLICATION: Avoid a do and boast mindset—deliberately trumpeting our accomplishments so as to be recognised in human eyes. Rather, be mindful that it was God who called Paul to plant the church, who called you and me to serve in the capacity that He has put us in. Respond to that calling faithfully, regardless of shouts of abuse or praise from the spectators.

星期五 2024年8月2日 今日读经：哥林多后书10章. 真实的推荐信。
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/2Co/10

在服事的当儿，表扬最终只能来自神。有些人称赞自己（哥林多后书 10：12），或将自己与他人比较（哥林多后书 10：12）。其他人则依赖推荐信（林后 3：1）。

这种行为是 “不通达的”（林后 10:12）--只有神称赞的人才是真正被认可的。神称赞和认可谁？

带着神的推荐信的人（林后 3:2-3）, 真正的推荐信是事工的结果—写在 “写在我们的心里，被众人所知道所念诵的”，圣灵在其中作工。哥林多教会就是从基督那里为保罗写的推荐信。他们证明了保罗确实被神呼召成为使徒。

然而，虽然神认可保罗，但哥林多教会中的一些人显然在几个方面不认可保罗：他本人看起来很胆小（林后 10：1），气貌不扬，言语粗俗的（林后 10：10）。事实上，他们错误地理解了保罗的事工。他效法 “基督的温柔和平”（林后 10：1），他使用属灵的武器，而不是他们所期待属血气的 “争战的兵器”（林后 10：4）。

应用：不要与他人比较。另一方面，要用上帝的标准和耶稣基督的人格来与自己比较。努力追求完美。

应用：避免 “做 ”后而 “夸耀 ”的心态，故意炫耀自己的成就，以获得人的认可。相反，要牢记是神呼召保罗建立教会，是神呼召你我以祂所安排的身份服事祂。无论旁人如何辱骂或赞美，都要忠实地回应这一呼召。