Shameful Ways






2 Corinthians 4:2 (ESV) But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

Paul is in his typical defense of ministry mode with the Corinthians throughout chapter 4. They thought he lost his passion (verse 1), they considered others with "letters of recommendation" much more valuable than he, and some even claimed he was dishonest and devious in his delivery of the Word of God... That sounds laughable.  Yet we often let the laughable criticisms bug us the most.

 But Paul is certain to point out - he never tampered with God's Word of truth.

 The temptation of every preacher is to "spice" up God's Word to make it interesting. While I'm all for making the Word come alive in exposition and creativity mixed with passion, we must be careful to draw a line. At some point we need to trust the Word of God as it is - the WORD of GOD. And we need to trust the POWER of the Gospel for salvation.

Dress it in your own persona and style and people will be drawn to you and not to Christ. Moreover, you will then carry the burden of appeasement or entertainment to make it "stick" or impress. This is not a burden we are called to carry.

The temptation for every Christian can be to go to the Word seeking for it to say what WE want it to say. In such cases we have closed our ears to the voice of the Holy Spirit. We have made our own imaginations our inspiration and are left without ANY transformation. Paul will say later: 2 Corinthians 4:5 (ESV) For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

At other times we go for the "quick hit" verses... those "SportsCenter" highlight portions. The precious "out of context" coffee-cup scriptures we adore while failing to understand who the original hearers were and what was the context. Like Jeremiah 29:11 - written to God's people about to be carted off to exile for 70 years and relocated against their own will to a foreign pagan culture. Please remember that the next time you quote it over a flat tire. Context matters.

When you go to the Word, let it speak to YOU. Let it have it's way with you. Sometimes its a simple reminder and other times its a harsh reality exposed in your life that needs to change. But in the end, it's the POWER of God...

Romans 1:16 (ESV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

PRAYER:
Father, give me open ears and a clear mind when I approach Your Word. Help me to HEAR the Spirit in the Word and help me receive what YOU are saying. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

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