Obedience vs Disobedience

SCRIPTURE

We are human, but we don't wage war as humans do. We use God's mighty weapons, no worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.

-2 Corinthians 10:3-6 NLT

OBSERVATION

This passage demonstrates the otherworldliness of having faith. Paul acknowledges our frailty of living in fleshly bodies, yet declares how we do not fight back against our opposition through human means. "We use God's mighty weapons, no worldly weapons." He goes on to explain how the battles will not be physical bouts, but waged more in a mental arena. See how we use God's weapons to "knock down the strongholds of human reasoning... destroy false arguments... capture rebellious thoughts." Paul seems to equate faith with being obedient to God, and implies that before being born again we were living in disobedience.

APPLICATION

If you think about it, that is what sin basically is. Disobedience to God. Since Adam and Eve, God gave instructions that they did not bother to obey. And we are just like them, not bothering to obey the Ten Commandments. Sure people can argue that they have carefully followed each commandment faithfully, but if we examine their innermost beings can we really say they actually obeyed each one? Lets take the Pharisees for example. They liked to proudly boast of following the Ten Commandments down to the letter. Yet notice how I described them as "proud." Their pride means that they had another god either before or equal to the Creator of the universe. Their pride was their idol.

PRAYER

Almighty God,

I pray for You to expose any pride or other idols in my life. Reveal to me if I am a modern-day Pharisee, proudly boasting of my devotion to You yet failing to recognize Your physical manifestation right in front of me. May I use Your mighty weapons, and not worldly weapons, to battle against the opposition who lives in disobedience to Your Word. "For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." May I knock down the strongholds, destroy false arguments, and destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing You. May I capture every rebellious thoughts and teach others to obey You.

Thank You for blessing Your servant. May my life be pleasing to You!

Amen

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