2 Corinthians 5:11-15

2 Corinthians 5:11-15

Therefore, while knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade mankind.  But we have been made plain to God.  And I also hope to be made plain in your conscience.  We are not again recommending ourselves to you all but while giving you all an opportunity of boasting over us in order that you all should have something for the ones who boast in appearances and not in the heart.  For if we are not in the right mind, it is for God.  If we are in the right mind, it is for you.  For the love of Christ controls us after judging this: that one died for the sake of all – therefore all died.  And He died for all in order that the ones who live should no longer live for themselves but for the one who died for their sake and who was being raised.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul talks here about those who boast in outward appearances instead of looking at the heart.  This has always been an issue with humanity.  We think that those people who have lots of money are favored by God.  We think that those who get all the attention are favored by God.  We think that those who seem to have it all in place are favored by God.  It is so easy to judge based on outward appearances.  That is exactly what Paul is facing here.  In Corinth, there are people who are saying that because Paul experiences so much persecution that he must certainly not be doing the will of God.  Paul reminds the Corinthians here to make sure that they pay attention to who is pointing people towards God.  Those who constantly point people to God and not to the other things of the world are the ones that God favors – regardless of how much persecution they face and regardless of how hard their life happens to be.

How do you evaluate people?  Do you find yourselves looking at the possessions and wealth of other people?  Do you find yourselves admiring the lifestyle of others?  Or do you find yourself admiring the way a person is always involving God in their life?

Second Thought:

Paul freely admits that people think that he is insane.  People think that Paul has gone out of his mind.  But then again, people thought Jesus was out of his mind.  In fact, even Jesus’ own family thought He was out of His mind!  See Mark 3:21 as proof of this.  So Paul is in really good company when people in the world think that he is out of his mind for living out his relationship with God.  Given the choice to be considered insane for God or be considered in step with the world, I’ll choose being insane for God every single time.

What in your life might the world think you insane for with respect to your relationship with God?  How good are you at living out these elements in spite of the criticism you might receive?

Third Thought:

Paul really makes it quite plain at the end of this section.  Those who live in God no longer live for themselves.  Quite simply, they don’t live for themselves.  If we are in Christ, we live for Christ.  This is why Christ died!  Christ died so that we might be able to live for God instead of living for the sinfulness that naturally exists within us.  God’s love comes to us so that we can experience something that is not inherently within ourselves.  That is why the world thinks us insane.  It is insane to think about a person giving up on their own agenda to live out the agenda of God, but that is exactly what God’s Son and those who follow Him do.

Do you live for Christ?  How is it manifested in your life?

Passage for Tomorrow: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21