“But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.  For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully” (2 Corinthians 11:3-4).

The simple truth of Jesus joining us with Him forever is often lost by those who proclaim either another Jesus, or else some addition to the simplicity of following Jesus.  Hold fast to what was first given you that You may not be led astray by all of the false things that are all around.  Jesus said, “Come, follow me.”  He meant it.  Know that the shades of gray are not the truth.  Jesus is!

Lord, as You have given the Gospel with utter simplicity, so also You have made the path easy.  Help me to not get caught up in all of the nonsense of this world, nor listen to all of the mental wrangling that goes on.  Guide me in Your goodness to see that in You alone is all hope, for it is You who made us and made possible the way of grace.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth.

Lord Jesus, You said that You are the way, the only way, and that those who know Your voice will follow You.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I would now and forever look to You, my Lord and Savior, as the One who is to be followed.  Guide me in Your goodness as You know I need to be guided and hold me fast to the true Gospel that I may be one reflecting Your light into the darkness of this world.  Amen.

“I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me.  For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin” (2 Corinthians 11:1-2).

If you look at the truth simply it should not be difficult to see that Paul is telling us something profoundly true.  We are swayed by this world and it is poison.  Why should we hold back when another is eating the poison of this world and we passionately speak to them of the truth.  We have been purified in Christ and He desires that we be His.  Should we not learn to be faithful?

Lord, this world tells us to sow wild oats, go for the gusto, and feel all we can feel.  But You have come that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may walk blamelessly before You.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You alone is all hope and an eternal future.  Lead me in, toward, and through You in all of my life for Your sake.

Lord Jesus, You gave up Your life upon this earth for us that we may live into the life You offer by Your grace.  There is no business more serious than this.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may walk humbly with You and live into the life You give.  Lead me that I too would be jealous for the right and good things You offer.  Help me learn from You what it is to be faithful.  Amen.

“But he who boasts is to boast in the Lord.  For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends” (2 Corinthians 10:17-18).

The world loves to brag about all that it has or will accomplish.  The world tells the same story over and over again.  The Lord tells You that everything is His, for He made it.  What kind of people then ought we to be?  We have been set free from the death of sin in order to live in love and harmony with the One through whom and for whom all things were made.  Live or die, that is the question.

Lord, I live this life from the inside out.  You have come to free me from this trap that I may live in the truth that all is Yours.  Guide me away from self-thinking that I may walk freely in the truth You have revealed for all.  You are the way, truth, and life and where can we go but to You who is the One through whom and for whom all things exist.  Lead me upward in You that I may live as You have created life to be.

Lord Jesus, there are many things I do not understand, nor do I need to.  Lead me in the way of truth, Lord, that I would walk humbly with You every day, beginning with today.  You have created me and called me to live into the life You are remaking through salvation.  Guide me that I may learn more in preparation for the new life You have promised.  Amen.

“For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for we were the first to come even as far as you in the gospel of Christ; not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but with the hope that as your faith grows, we will be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you, so as to preach the gospel even to the regions beyond you, and not to boast in what has been accomplished in the sphere of another” (2 Corinthians 10:14-16).

On being a Christian: it is not about any other person but Christ Jesus who has come to lead all who will follow into eternal life with and through Him.  If we stay in our sins, we think in terms of me, myself, and I.  If we realize that Christ has come to free us from sin, death, and the devil, we realize that our life is about the eternal kingdom.  Come then into freedom and life.

Lord, I do so focus upon myself, what I think, and how I think things ought to be.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I would walk with You, knowing that You have already overcome sin and are building up those who will be with You forever.  Lead me as Your disciple that I would walk with You doing what You give me to do, knowing that in You is all hope and an eternal future.

Lord Jesus, when You said, “It is finished,” You were serious.  Help me realize that I do not always know what I am doing, but that You do.  Help me to live into this life that You have given me that I would walk humbly with You my Savior and listen as You speak.  Help me share the simple message of truth that You have given once for all of us and live in the Gospel way.  Amen.

“For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.  But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you” (2 Corinthians 10:12-13).

To whom will you compare yourself?  Is it to others?  Fellow sinners?  The world does this, comparing the imperfect with the imperfect.  Christ has called for us to follow Him.  He knows you are not perfect, but says, “Come and I will make you.”  Follow the Lord and let the One who knows do all that is needed that you may be like He is.  Do not be led astray by those who are opposed to the simplicity of salvation.

Lord, I get caught up by those who look powerful, or by those with smooth speech.  Help me instead to listen to You who has spoken the words of eternal life.  Guide me in Your goodness that I would not settle for anything less that walking with You all the days of my life.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may be guided by You above all the other voices around me in this world.

Lord Jesus, You have spoken the words of eternal life.  You call us to You that we may now and always be guided by Your goodness.  Lead me this day, O Lord, that I may now and always see and hear what You reveal and speak.  Give me eyes to see the insanity of this world and ears to hear Your word of truth amidst the noise of this age.  In You alone, O Lord, is my hope and eternity.  Amen.

“For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.”  Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present” (2 Corinthians 10:10-11).

How we sinners love to weigh others in our own eyes.  He or she is this or that because of whatever.  We do not know the heart of another, but when we experience them, we do know something.  Listen and learn.  Be willing to receive when the Lord speaks.  Whether you like another or not, they are an image bearer and are loved by the Lord as you are.  Come through this age of sin and learn that the Lord will not leave you as you are.

Lord, I am so influenced by all of the attitudes that fly around me.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I would be guided by You and not by the whims of this world.  Help me now and always to see that in You is all hope.  Help me to not judge others, but to instead see that in and through You we are all saved.  Guide me to do my part as You call and direct me.

Lord Jesus, it is said in the Word that You were not anything special to look at.  But Your Words have been impossible to refute.  Yet You too were constantly being discredited by those who did not want to hear Your Word of truth.  Lead me, O Lord, in the truth that I may humbly walk with You now and forever.  Help me receive, by whomever and whenever, Your Word.  Amen.

“For even if I boast somewhat further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame, for I do not wish to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters” (2 Corinthians 10:8-9).

The law does confront and destroys the illusion that without Christ we can do things the right way.  Yes, we all need to be confronted, but not to be destroyed, but in order that we may be lifted up.  Look closely at this simple difference and do not fall into the camp that is terrified by the law, but be overwhelmed by the love, grace, and mercy of our Lord and Savior.

Lord, the church has been fighting all along about how much law and how much grace is necessary.  Help me to live with You as You direct me in everything day by day.  Guide me in Your goodness that I would now and always look to You, the author of my faith, to lead me in the direction I need to go.  In Your goodness, lift me up and direct the footsteps of my path.

Lord Jesus, You are the only One the law could not convict.  You did for us what we cannot do for ourselves.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I would now and forever be guided by Your goodness to seek each day to so follow You that I become a little more like You.  Keep me from fear of men and lead me by Your goodness, grace and mercy.  Help me now and always to learn from You what it means to be faithful.  Amen.

“You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ’s, so also are we” (2 Corinthians 10:7).

The outward appearance of things is often deceiving.  We all can put on airs and present something less than what is really true.  Look inward and dare to allow the Spirit to go deep and see who you really are.  Only in the truth of the Lord, where all is known, do we begin to see how much we really need to be saved.  From the inside out, the Lord will reveal the truth and save you.

Lord, may I never stop what You are doing in me by grace.  Help me to not  pretend  nor think that I am good enough.  In fact, may I not worry about how far, how long, or what it takes for me to become like You.  Help me to humbly walk with You as You lead me no matter what.  Guide me Lord in the way of salvation You know I need to walk that I may simply and humbly follow You all the days of my life.  Lead me Lord in the way of salvation.

Come, Holy Spirit, and go deep into my heart that, step by step, all that needs to be done is done in and through You.  You know me better than I know myself.  In the truth of the salvation You have given me, guide me in Your goodness to see through the false hopes of this world to know that all hope and promise is in and through You.  Guide me this day as I journey with You leading.  Amen.

“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete” (2 Corinthians 10:5-6).

The call of being a disciple is an all or nothing proposition.  Jesus has come to save the whole of you.  In this age of the partial, we often think in terms of a little bit and no more.  The Lord will remake us into children of the Heavenly Father.  Come then and walk fully in His countenance and see that in Him is all life and liberty.  Bring your obedience into His hands and be guided by Him.

Lord, You have granted grace upon grace that I may now and forever walk according to Your goodness.  Lead me ever deeper into this truth You have revealed that I may learn and grow according to Your goodness.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of truth You have set before me that I may now and always look to You as the source of my salvation and being.  Let Your knowledge become mine.

Lord Jesus, You have come that we may live in truth and joy with You.  Lead me this day through all pretense that I would not lean on my understanding, but be guided by You, the source of all being.  Guide me in the upward path of salvation that I would wrestle with every evil that dwells within me, knowing that only in You is there hope, life, and a future.  Be with me always Lord!  Amen.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).

The actions of people, including ourselves, is driven by many things.  Amongst these are the spiritual elements that buffet us around every day.  Do not be driven by the winds of this world, but by the goodness and grace of our Savior.  Be aware that you are influenced by many things and realize the same is true for others.  Be on your guard to live into the life You have been given by grace.

Lord, I often think these things just a matter of circumstance or upbringing.  Help me see the truth that I may understand more fully myself and those around me.  I do not have the ability to see all things, but help me to see what is evident that I may know Your voice above all the voices in this world.  Lead me, Lord, in the way of truth that I may walk humbly with You.

Lord Jesus, You came to save us and each day I need to be saved from all of the voices, spirits, and wickedness that is all around me.  Keep me on my guard and show me those places where I need to be armed against the wicked one.  Through all things teach me to have mercy on those unaware that I might at all times be guided by You and not live my life swayed by the foul winds of this age.  Amen.