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2 Corinthians 12:20-21
When The Apostle Paul first wrote to the church at Corinth, he was concerned for their sincerity to Christ Jesus in their salvation. He states in 1 Corinthians 1:10-11 (NKJV), “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you.” Paul now fears that when he comes to visit them, he will find that his teachings will have fallen by the wayside to no avail for the spiritual health of the Corinthians. Paul states in 2 Corinthians 12:20-21, “For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.”
This is an example of having self-discipline, or the lack of, in our relationships with God through our salvation in Christ Jesus.
The church at Corinth, in the fears that the Apostle Paul has for them, is a great example of what I fear for the Church today. Many people attend a weekly church service in hopes that by being present in the church each week will automatically make them a Christian. But when the church service is over, they go home and live sinful lives all week disregarding the lessons that they were to have taken to heart in Christ. This is living superficial Christian lives, which is not living a Christian life at all. The Bible teaches us about God in Psalm 44:21b, “For He knows the secrets of the heart.” The Apostle Paul states in Romans 2:16, “in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” We can hide our true selves from each other, but God knows our hearts’ intent – He knows if we are sincere to Him, or if we are not seeking His will for our lives. There will be a day when Jesus will return to each of us when we die physically; will He find your heart living in sincerity to Him?
Dear LORD,
We do not want to be superficial Christians, which is only living in denial of Your gift to us of salvation in Christ Jesus. We cannot hide our private lives from You; You are all-knowing as You will judge the secrets of our hearts. Please convict our hearts LORD that we would truly live in this world as You desire of us so we may receive the reward of eternity in heaven – in Christ. In Jesus name I pray, amen.