Daily Walk Through the New Testament
December 16
Read 2 Corinthians 11:5-33

As it was in the time of Paul, so it is in our time — deceitful workers abound. There are those who, in the name of the gospel, use their ministry vocation to build personal empires and maintain exorbitant lifestyles. There are others who so desire fame or a privileged position that they will compromise personal integrity and the integrity of the gospel for that end. As Paul concludes, these are indeed deceitful workers who are energized by Satan himself, and it is important that the people of God use discernment in choosing and following leaders.
In contrast to these deceitful workers, Paul gladly boasted about the transforming power of the love of Jesus and reluctantly boasted about his own role in living it out. His words in 2 Corinthians 11 provide an important reminder: those with a genuine faith and sacrificial love for Jesus will demonstrate them in both their words and their deeds. Paul’s life was a living sacrifice, and he demonstrated his willingness to traverse any height or depth to make known the beautiful gospel of Jesus, regardless of the cost. Are we willing to do the same? The world we live in desperately needs those kinds of Christians. How can you demonstrate your genuine faith and sacrificial love for Jesus?