Day 83
Today’s reading: 2 Corinthians 10:1-18
Weapons of War
〰️
Weapons of War 〰️
Reflections
Hey friend, if you love Jesus, you can’t afford to be silent! As Christians, we often think that speaking up is confrontational, and staying silent is the more “Christ-like” thing to do. But that’s a lie from Satan. You might think Paul shouldn’t have been boasting or talking about his works—“that’s not humble” or “that’s not like Jesus.” But you’d be wrong! In order to silence the lies of the enemy and stop them from becoming strongholds in people’s minds, we must speak up with the truth.
Remember when the phrase “men are scum” was trending on social media? So many people believed it that it began shaping their views on marriage and relationships. That’s how strongholds are formed—by letting lies go unchallenged. When you sit with a lie for too long without opposing it, you start believing it little by little.
Another mistake we make as believers is thinking we can argue or reason people out of deeply-rooted beliefs. Strongholds are not torn down with logic or life experience alone. Try convincing someone who’s followed another religion their entire life that what they believe is false—it’s nearly impossible. That’s why we don’t just share our opinions—we preach the truth of the gospel. It is the gospel that carries the power to save. And before we speak, we pray. Because only the Holy Spirit can do the work of tearing down strongholds and transforming hearts.
Study Questions
According to 2 Corinthians 10:2, what was Paul being accused of? What are some examples of “human standards” he has mentioned so far in this letter?
What is the dictionary definition of a “stronghold”? How is the term used in the context of 2 Corinthians 10:4, and what does it represent spiritually?
According to the passage, what are the “weapons of our warfare” that we use to fight against spiritual strongholds? How do these differ from worldly weapons?
What does it mean to boast? When is boasting necessary or acceptable, and when does it become prideful or inappropriate in the context of Christian living?
What did you learn about God’s nature, His ways and His will from today’s reading?
Highlight
“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 ESV
