OUR DAILY BREAD READING (Published Daily by Our Daily Bread Ministries)
JANUARY 9, 2023
READ: 2 Corinthians 11 (Focus vs.1–4, 12–15)
MEMORY VERSE
“If someone . . . preaches a [false] Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, . . . you [wrongly] put up with it.” 2 Corinthians 11:4
BACKGROUND
The buzz in the room faded to a comfortable silence as the book club leader summarized the novel the group would discuss. My friend Joan listened closely but didn’t recognize the plot.
Finally, she realized she had read a nonfiction book with a similar title to the work of fiction the others had read. Although she enjoyed reading the “wrong” book, she couldn’t join her friends as they discussed the “right” book.
The apostle Paul didn’t want the Corinthian believers in Jesus to believe in a “wrong” Jesus. He pointed out that false teachers had infiltrated the church and presented a different “Jesus” to them, and they had swallowed the lies (2 Corinthians 11:3–4).
Paul denounced the heresy of these phony teachers. In his first letter to the church, however, he’d reviewed the truth about the Jesus of Scripture.
This Jesus was the Messiah who “died for our sins . . . was raised on the third day . . . and then [appeared] to the Twelve,” and finally to Paul himself (1 Corinthians 15:3–8).
This Jesus had come to earth through a virgin named Mary and was named Immanuel (God with us) to affirm His divine nature (Matthew 1:20–23).
Does this sound like the Jesus you know?
Understanding and accepting the truth written in the Bible about Him assures us that we’re on the spiritual path that leads to heaven.
By: Jennifer Benson Schuldt
INSIGHT
The apostle Paul was careful to protect those he’d been privileged to influence for Jesus, which explains the tone and language we find in 2 Corinthians 10–13.
We see this same fierce posture of protection in Galatians 1:1–9 as well. Paul was “jealous” (2 Corinthians 11:2) for the believers’ stability and well-being in their faith in Jesus, and where their belief and conduct were jeopardized, he pulled no punches.
The apostle countered the unhealthy persuasion of those he sarcastically referred to as “super-apostles” (v. 5; 12:11). His words are cautionary (11:5–11), a warning for those who are more impressed with style and method than substance.
A key word in verses 13–15 (used three times) is metaschēmatizō, which is translated “masquerade/masquerading.” It’s a compound word meaning “to transfigure, to transform.” It describes people who are not who they appear to be.
By: Arthur Jackson
APPLICATION
How do you know that you believe the truth about Jesus? What might you need to investigate to make sure you understand what the Bible says about Him?
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
The only way to avoid being deceived is to know the Truth for yourself – pr
The “Right Jesus” can only be found in the Scriptures not in the “imagination” of nay-sayers – pr
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (From Post)
“(We need to constantly review) the truth about the Jesus of Scripture. This Jesus (is) the Messiah who “died for our sins . . . was raised on the third day . . . and then [appeared] to the Twelve,” and finally to Paul himself.
This Jesus had come to earth through a virgin named Mary and was named Immanuel (God with us) to affirm His divine nature
PRAYER
“Dear God, help me to walk in the light of Your truth”
TODAY’s HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“JESUS SHALL REIGN WHERE’ER THE SUN”
Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
does its successive journeys run,
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
till moons shall wax and wane no more.
To Him shall endless prayer be made,
and praises throng to crown His head.
His name like sweet perfume shall rise
with every morning sacrifice.
People and realms of every tongue
dwell on His love with sweetest song,
and infant voices shall proclaim
their early blessings on His name.
Blessings abound where’er He reigns:
the prisoners leap to lose their chains,
the weary find eternal rest,
and all who suffer want are blest.
Let every creature rise and bring
the highest honors to our King,
angels descend with songs again,
and earth repeat the loud amen.
READ THROUGH THE BBLE IN 2023
GENESIS 23-24
MATTHEW 7