Today’s Scripture:

Now, please listen, for I need to address an issue. I’m making this personal appeal to you by the gentleness[a] and self-forgetfulness of Christ. I am the one who is “humble and timid” when face-to-face with you but “bold and outspoken” when a safe distance away.[b] 2 Now I plead with you that when I come, don’t force me to take a hard line with you (which I’m willing to do) by daring to confront[c] those who mistakenly believe that we are living by the standards of the world, not by the Spirit’s wisdom and power. 3–4 For although we live in the natural realm, we don’t wage a military campaign employing human weapons, using manipulation to achieve our aims. Instead, our spiritual weapons are energized with divine power to effectively dismantle the defenses behind which people hide.[d] 5 We can demolish every deceptive fantasy[e] that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought[f] and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One. 6 Since we are armed with such dynamic weaponry, we stand ready to punish[g] any trace of rebellion, as soon as you choose complete obedience.[h]

7 You seem to always be looking at people by their outward appearances.[i] If someone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself of this: we belong to Christ no less than he does. 8 I am not ashamed, even if I’ve come across as one who has overstated the authority given to us by the Lord. For it is the authority to help build you up, not tear you down. 9 I don’t want to seem as though I’m trying to bully you with my letters. 10 For I can imagine some of you saying, “His letters are authoritative and stern, but when he’s with us he’s not that impressive[j] and he’s a poor speaker.”[k] 11 Such a person should realize that when we arrive, there will be no difference in the actions we take and the words we write.

12 Of course, we wouldn’t dare to put ourselves in the same class or compare ourselves with those who rate themselves so highly. They compare themselves to one another[l] and make up their own standards to measure themselves by, and then they judge themselves by their own standards. What self-delusion! 13 But we are those who choose to limit our boasting to only the measure of the work[m] to which God has appointed us—a measure that, by the way, has reached as far as you.