Another Jesus?

Daily Reading: 2 Corinthians 11

Scripture Focus: For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted... (2 Corinthians 11.4)

Devotional Thought: Who could argue with the fact that our world is changing? Lines that were once clearly drawn - right and wrong, male and female, legal and illegal - have been blurred and even erased. New understandings and philosophies are presented as exciting and 'liberating.'

The early church faced the same things. The Corinthian congregation was duped into accepting something new - just because it was new. You can almost hear them smugly saying, "We are so enlightened!" What were they 'enlightened' about?

• Another Jesus. The Jesus that Paul preached, the Jesus that the Corinthians had come to know, was crucified. That fact revealed two things: 1) Sin was real, requiring mercy and forgiveness. 2) The cross was a way of weakness not political strength and maneuvering. Today, we discount the idea of sin and we make demands that we not be offended in any way.

• A Different Spirit. In Paul's life, the Holy Spirit was a spirit of powerful preaching and selfless service. The Corinthians had somehow gotten the idea that the Spirit could be used to advance their personal glory and gain. We need a fresh infusion of the Holy Spirit in the church today to show the world the power and love of the gospel.

• A Different Gospel. The Corinthian's gospel (good news) had become a message centered on them. Paul's gospel was a gospel of Christ. When the center of our universe is ourselves, we end up with division and animosity because not everyone can be the center. Let's put the good news - as found in the Bible! - back in the center!

Prayer: Father, thank you for the certainty of your Word, the hope of the gospel, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the love of Christ. Grant me strength to hold on to those truths in the face of relentless rejection by this world. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 14 May the LORD give you increase, you and your children! 15 May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth! 16 The heavens are the LORD's heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man. 17 The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any who go down into silence. 18 But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD! (Psalms 115:14-18)