Paul the apostle wrote to
the church members in Corinth, “I
beseech you that you would confirm your love toward him”
as
he referred to the man in the church who committed adultery with his
father's wife, and in
chapter two and verse nine of Second Corinthians, Paul told the
church members he did this so he, “might
know the proof of ” them,
where we read:
For to
this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you,
whether
you be obedient in all things.
The verse begins, “For
to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you,
...” Paul began with the word, “for”
which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and
therefore” “to this end also” or “to this same
intent” “did I write” which
means “Paul delineated or formed letters on a tablet, parchment,
paper, or other material”, “that I might know”
or “so Paul would understand, perceive and have knowledge of”
“the proof” which means “the
trial and approved tried character” “of you”
or of the church members. Paul gave directives concerning this
man in the church so he might “perceive and have knowledge”
through trial of the church members.
The verse goes on to say,
“... whether you
be obedient in all things.”
Paul continued with the word, “whether”
which means “if” “you
be obedient” which refers to “the church
members give ear to, listen attentively and be obedient” “in all
things” or “in each, every, the whole and everyone of things
done”. Paul tested the Corinthians as to whether they would “obey”
him in “everything”
he shared.
When we think through
these words of Paul, we see how he tested the Corinthian church
members for their “obedience” to his directives. Paul told
them to remove the sinful man from their congregation, and they did.
Now he desired for them to “restore” the man, and he tested them
again. Jesus Christ desires to have people “obey” and put
their trust in Him, and if we others who have strayed away from the
Lord, perhaps by “the proof of” us, they shall come to
know Jesus as their Lord and Savior or be drawn to purify their lives
before God.
Next
time Paul tells the
church members,
“to whom
you forgive any thing, I forgive also”,
so read
ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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