Bible League: Living His Word We are human, but we don't wage war as humans do. We use God's mighty weapons, not 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.In the church at Corinth there were some who were challenging the authority of the Apostle Paul and the message he had preached to them. Our verses for today form part of his response to the challenge. In verse 3 he acknowledges that he is human, but he will not wage war against the challenge with mere human, worldly weapons. That is, he will not use anything that is sinful, devious, and underhanded in the war. He has something more righteous and more potent at hand. He will wage war with God's mighty weapons. What are God's weapons? He does not say specifically. Given the nature of the opposition, however, one weapon is clearly intended---the Word of God. Paul regarded the Word of God as the "Sword of the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:17). Paul will wage war with the truth of the Word of God. That the Word of God is the primary weapon Paul has in mind here is clear from the fact that the opposition consists of "strongholds of human reasoning" and "false arguments." The challengers, in other words, were trying to undermine Paul and his message with mere human reasons and arguments, rather than with the Word of God. Understandably enough, the best weapon to use in such circumstances is the Word of God itself. Since the weapons of the challengers were not biblically based, they were keeping people, including themselves, from the true knowledge of God. Since they were not biblically based, they were "proud obstacles" to the true knowledge of God. They were formed on the basis of human willfulness and pride, rather than on the basis of a humble submission to God's Word. The kind of thing that happened in Paul's day happens now. People challenge the teachings of those committed to the Word of God with mere human reasoning and false arguments. Like Paul, we must be ready to take up our primary weapon against such incursions. We must be ready to wield the sword of the Spirit. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading2 Samuel 1, 2, 3 2 Samuel 1 -- David Informed, Mourns for Saul and Jonathan NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Samuel 2 -- David Made King over Judah; Ish-Bosheth Rules over Israel NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Samuel 3 -- House of David Strengthened; Joab murders Abner NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Luke 18:1-17 Luke 18 -- Parables of the Persistent Widow, Pharisee and Tax Collector; The Rich Young Ruler; The Healing of a Blind Beggar NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Direct your children onto the right path,and when they are older, they will not leave it. Insight Many parents want to make all the choices for their child, but this hurts him or her in the long run. When parents teach a child how to make decisions, they don't have to watch every step he or she takes. They know their children will remain on the right path because they have made the choice themselves. Challenge Train your children to choose the right way. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Job 19:25 I know that my Redeemer liveth.The marrow of Job's comfort lies in that little word "My"--"My Redeemer," and in the fact that the Redeemer lives. Oh! to get hold of a living Christ. We must get a property in him before we can enjoy him. What is gold in the mine to me? Men are beggars in Peru, and beg their bread in California. It is gold in my purse which will satisfy my necessities, by purchasing the bread I need. So a Redeemer who does not redeem me, an avenger who will never stand up for my blood, of what avail were such? Rest not content until by faith you can say "Yes, I cast myself upon my living Lord; and he is mine." It may be you hold him with a feeble hand; you half think it presumption to say, "He lives as my Redeemer;" yet, remember if you have but faith as a grain of mustard seed, that little faith entitles you to say it. But there is also another word here, expressive of Job's strong confidence, "I know." To say, "I hope so, I trust so" is comfortable; and there are thousands in the fold of Jesus who hardly ever get much further. But to reach the essence of consolation you must say, "I know." Ifs, buts, and perhapses, are sure murderers of peace and comfort. Doubts are dreary things in times of sorrow. Like wasps they sting the soul! If I have any suspicion that Christ is not mine, then there is vinegar mingled with the gall of death; but if I know that Jesus lives for me, then darkness is not dark: even the night is light about me. Surely if Job, in those ages before the coming and advent of Christ, could say, "I know," we should not speak less positively. God forbid that our positiveness should be presumption. Let us see that our evidences are right, lest we build upon an ungrounded hope; and then let us not be satisfied with the mere foundation, for it is from the upper rooms that we get the widest prospect. A living Redeemer, truly mine, is joy unspeakable. Daily Light on the Daily Path Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.Job 23:11 "My foot has held fast to His path; I have kept His way and not turned aside. Psalm 37:28 For the LORD loves justice And does not forsake His godly ones; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off. Psalm 121:7 The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. Hebrews 10:38 BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM. John 2:19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." John 8:31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; Matthew 24:13 "But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. 1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Revelation 3:11 'I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Revelation 3:5 'He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. 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