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2 Corinthians 10:3-4

We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

Paul was under attack from people within the church in Corinth. Some of them thought he was quite timid when he was with them in person but extremely bold in his letters while away from them. It’s never pleasant to be the target of criticism, and Paul responds by helping his critics understand that he wasn’t trying to impress them with powerful oratory and clever arguments. He was content to be thought of as a dull preacher because what mattered was not his clever performance but the declaration of the cross of Christ. That’s where true wisdom is found.

When people challenge Christian teaching, it is absolutely right that we should give a thoughtful and sensitive response, but we should never imagine that people will be won over by the power of our clever reasoning. We need to rely upon the power of the Spirit and pray that he will break into their lives and convince them of their need for God. We must play our part, but without the intervention of God himself, nothing will change.

The New Testament gives us much encouragement as we face the challenge of living for Christ in a fundamentally hostile society. Paul is clear that we are at war, but that shouldn’t scare us because God has perfectly equipped us to stand up to whatever the devil might throw at us. Ephesians chapter 6 provides a clear summary of the equipment that God has given to us. Paul’s concern was that he and his friends in Corinth should wear the full armour of God and not imagine that, with their clever reasoning and wonderful oratory, they could somehow manage by themselves.

Question

What are the mighty weapons that God has given to you today?

Prayer

Loving God, thank you for perfectly equipping me for all the challenges that I might have to face. Amen

Today’s readings come from Psalm 22:1-11, Mark 1:1-28, Exodus 17 and 18

2 Corinthians 9:10-11

For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous.

We can likely all think of occasions when we have been really generous and times when other people have been generous to us. They are precious moments, but that’s just it – they are moments, and they come and go. What the apostle Paul is talking about here is very different. He is talking about generosity as a way of life, not as an occasional and unusual outburst, and he says that God makes it possible for us to always be generous.

Generosity has everything to do with our hearts and little to do with the quantity of what we give. The widow, who Jesus observed giving a tiny gift into the temple collection box, was supremely generous. Her two little copper coins were just a tiny fraction of what the rich people gave, but she was incredibly generous because she gave everything she had. The rich people, on the other hand, just gave to God part of their surplus. Paul’s point is clear: whether we have a lot of money or a little, we can always be generous – and God will always make it possible.

Generosity extends well beyond our money. God looks to us to be generous with everything he has given us – our home, our car, our bicycle, our talents, our time, our love, our compassion – everything. He wants us to be ready to be generous continually, because that’s how we will reflect his unfailing generosity to us.

Question

In what ways can you be generous today?

Prayer

Lord God, I thank you for your amazing generosity to me throughout my life. Forgive me for those times when I have been stingy and unwilling to be generous to others. In the power of your Spirit, help me to live a life of generosity. Amen

1) Who is God talking about in Isaiah 66:17?2) Does Hebrews 10:26-31 teach we can lose our salvation?3) Are Christians to follow the dietary laws of the Jews like in Deuteronomy 14:7?4) Will there be rewards in heaven?5) Could the two on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24 be a man and his wife?6) Should Christians be involved in politics?7) Did God change His mind when Moses prayed to spare the Israelites?8) Who is the beast in Revelation 13:17-18?9) Does the destruction of Jerusalem in Matthew 24 have a parallel at the end of time?

Appearances can deceive, even within the church. Consider Judas Iscariot, a disciple who personally witnessed Jesus’ teaching and miracles—yet betrayed Him! On Truth For Life, Alistair Begg examines how this still happens amongst professing believers.

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This listener-funded program features the clear, relevant Bible teaching of Alistair Begg. Today’s program and nearly 3,000 messages can be streamed and shared for free at tfl.org thanks to the generous giving from monthly donors called Truthpartners. Learn more about this Gospel-sharing team or become one today. Thanks for listening to Truth For Life!

To the woman who doesn’t feel God’s love, today’s episode is an invitation to believe what doesn’t feel true—that you are deeply loved by God.