In the letter to the Corinthians Paul is defending his authority and God given assignment. He continues to explain throughout the scriptures that he is commissioned not on his own will but by God himself. In between the lines you can see that Paul is being attempted to be discredited by false apostles and teachers. However, Paul comes back with this dispute,
“Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.” 2 Corinthians 10:11 NKJV
What Paul is emphasizing above is his fruit matches his God given labors. Or in today’s terms, Paul practices what he preaches. What you do in everyday life, especially if you claim to be a Christian, accounts for more than words ever could. Never underestimate the power of speaking the Word of God. But do not miss the fact that your life is giving off a message every single day. Your life preaches louder than what you could on a Sunday morning or that phone call to your lost family member or friend.
A relationship with God is not an event of making oneself look good based on outside appearance, that is religion. Having a relationship with God is continually inviting the Holy Spirit to transform you from the inside out. There are countless amounts of people who are going around saying their Christian’s and living the same life. How could one be a new creation and old creation at the same time? That is simply impossible. Which is why Paul emphasizes in 2 Corinthians 10:11 that his life is the same as what he speaks.
We need to eliminate the saying and wrongful practice of, “do as I say and not as I do”. The book of James put’s it this way, “Hearing God’s teaching and doing nothing is like looking at your face in the mirror and doing nothing about what you saw. You go away and immediately forget how bad you looked.” (James 1:23-25 ERV). When we do not grab hold of the teaching we have been taught or act upon the convictions of the Holy Spirit, eventually we end up looking no different than the rest of the world.
Paul explains that the major difference between who is true and who is false is the one who is true puts into practice what they learn. Holy Spirit desires to continually mold you to be more like Jesus from the inside out. He understands that there will be times that you will slip and fall, but thankfully he will be there to help you get back up. Our lives, as Christian’s are called to be out of this world. Our lives are called to manifest the Kingdom of Heaven. Let our lives shout the love of God, redeeming work of Jesus Christ, and miracle working power of the Holy Spirit!
