Date: 04-10-2020

Title: Devotion to Christ

(S) cripture:
    2 Corinthians 11:1-3 (NASB77) I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. 3 But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

(O) bservation:
    In this second letter to a troubled church Paul is warning them about false teachers. He tells them that these false teachers come disguised as “angels of light” and will deceive and lead many astray. Paul’s prayer is that the believers would not be deceived and led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

(A) pplication:
    Today is the day we call “Good Friday.” The day Jesus was crucified is called “good” because His death satisfied God’s judgment on sin and offers forgiveness to all that believe. Jesus’ sacrifice did for us what we could not do for ourselves and now we can have fellowship with God. I am not sure what the false teachers Paul was addressing were teaching but his concern was that it would lead the believers away from following Jesus. I am drawn to the words, “simplicity” and “purity”. Following Jesus is to be “simple” not “simplistic”. It is not complicated or confusing, but neither is it “sound bites” and easy. It is to be pure, unpolluted focused on Christ. On this Good Friday I am reminded that my walk with Jesus is to be characterized by a “simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ”. That is the desire of my heart for today and every day.

(P) rayer:
    Father, Thank you for Jesus’ sacrifice on my behalf. Let me never make following Jesus simplistic or polluted. Let me help others experience the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. Amen