2 Corinthians 11:1-5
The enemy excels at deception. It’s important that we are spiritual aware and on the lookout for counterfeiters that will draw us away from God’s plan for our lives and our communities. Here we see the love of a spiritual Father for the people he invests in and for whom he is spiritually responsible. Other so-called apostles were also coming to Corinth, trying to pull people away from Paul and his Gospel. In verse 5, Paul describes them as “extra-super [false] apostles.” In verse 13, he calls them, “false apostles [spurious, counterfeits], deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles (special messengers) of Christ (the Messiah).” Paul was a true father that was fighting for his spiritual children. It happens today too, but look how early on this was happening, not long after Jesus’ ascension. The enemy does not have any new tricks. He wants to pull people away from what is true by offering something that seems true, but isn’t. Remember this, a true shepherd will lay his life down for his sheep. We should pray for discernment, with a yielded heart, so we know who to follow and who not to follow.
Ecclesiastes 7-9
Faith is dependency on God to the point of obedience. In addition, faith accepts the love of God and believes God is able and willing to keep His promises. The opposite of faith is doubt and self-sufficiency. Throughout Ecclesiastes, Solomon writes about the self-sufficient life as being futile. As one example, verse 16 in the Amplified Bible says, “… why should you [get puffed up and] destroy yourself with presumptuous self-sufficiency]? And then in verse 18 he talks of reliant faith, “…for he who [reverently] fears and worships God will come forth from them all.” As we read through Ecclesiastes, let’s watch for statements based on self-sufficiency and remind ourselves to put our faith and reliance on the Lord.
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