WISHING THE BEST FOR OTHERS

Can I pray for you in any way?

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

We pray to God that you will not do what is wrong by refusing our correction. I hope we won’t need to demonstrate our authority when we arrive. Do the right thing before we come—even if that makes it look like we have failed to demonstrate our authority. For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth. We are glad to seem weak if it helps show that you are actually strong. We pray that you will become mature.

I am writing this to you before I come, hoping that I won’t need to deal severely with you when I do come. For I want to use the authority the Lord has given me to strengthen you, not to tear you down.

2 Corinthians 13:7-10 (NLT)

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Is it just me or does it seem like people have become more and more self centered?

I’m afraid that a fast spreading epidemic of egotism has washed over society as a whole, especially in the United States, with people only caring about their own selves without giving a thought about others. The “as long as I’m okay, it’s okay” attitude can be found in any place and within people of all ages and there is widespread apathy toward wanting to do anything for the good of someone else.

The problem with all this is that our population at large has developed into becoming what I like to refer to as “consumers of people”. They only see value in another person through the lens of what they can get from them.

The Apostle Paul couldn’t be more of an anti-consumer of people. Like Jesus, he regularly placed himself second for the good of others. He even willingly placed himself in harm’s way on a consistent basis for the good of those he wanted to help save, ready to die if it was necessary for the cause of the Gospel.

Paul also always wished the best for others, especially Christian believers within the churches he helped plant and establish. The Corinthian church was one such church and as we look again at the words of the apostle, we see how the apostle sought to encourage the believers there.

We pray to God that you will not do what is wrong by refusing our correction. I hope we won’t need to demonstrate our authority when we arrive. Do the right thing before we come—even if that makes it look like we have failed to demonstrate our authority. For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth. We are glad to seem weak if it helps show that you are actually strong. We pray that you will become mature.

I am writing this to you before I come, hoping that I won’t need to deal severely with you when I do come. For I want to use the authority the Lord has given me to strengthen you, not to tear you down. 2 Corinthians 13:7-10 (NLT)

First, note that Paul prayed for his brother and sister Christians in Corinth. Specifically, he hopes that the believers will live in righteousness by putting everything into practice that Paul and his fellow missionaries had advised. In other words, the apostle hoped that the previous sins that were committed in the church had been set aside. As a matter of accountability, Paul reminded the church that he would be visiting for a third time and didn’t desire to have to impress his spiritual authority on the Corinthian Christians.

Through his words, we see how Paul wished the best for the church in Corinth. He wanted them to do the right thing and stand for the truth found in the Word of God. Paul knew that if the believers would commit themselves to the scriptures and accept the leading of the Holy Spirit, they would be seen as spiritually strong and mature. Ultimately, Paul desired to use the authority the Lord had given him to strengthen the church, not tear it down. He longed to encourage far more than he wanted to criticize.

Friends, this is a lesson we all need to learn, a lesson that will help us avoid the pitfalls of self centeredness. Life wasn’t meant to be all about ourselves. Rather, the Lord calls us to wish the best for others, edifying and caring for one another. For when we do this, then we will model the very selfless life of Jesus, just as a Christian ought to do.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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Send any prayer requests to Gods4all@aol.com