08/09/2020 – Day 077 – Corinthians 7-8 – For Christian brothers: Find a mentor that will tell you what you don’t want to hear out of love.
Let scripture testify to scripture! So, if a single verse cannot be corraborated or strengthened from other verses, than I would submit that it is not foundational. What would you say is the favorite verse of “future” believers, at least the most quoted bible verse? My thought: Matthew 7:1 – “Judge not, lest you be not judged.” But it is presented as though it has no qualification. I have heard this alot from christians that have had their butts in the pews all their lives.
So, let’s look at what Paul says in 5:12 -13: “For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore, ‘put away from yourselves the evil person.’ “
This is a crystal clear qualification, is it not? With the example of sexual immorality of a believer, a man that commits fornication/adultery with his father’s wife, verse 5 proclaims: “deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” So that: “his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus”. (out of love!)
So, no we don’t judge souls outside of the body of Christ. Why? I can’t take credit at all for my own salvation, it came only by way of the Holy Spirit? So, again by logical expression, I can I judge a future Christian. (not speaking of civil judgment and justice, of course)
But for believers – it is a totally different story. We are like special forces warriors. We discipline and push each other out of love, so we can better serve Him! So, this is why I note in the title, the importance of having a true Christian brother that is dedicated to that “hard push” , out of love. (“to whom much is given, much will be required” – Luke 12:48) As Mom emphasized to me growing up: “If you find just one “good” friend your whole lifetime, give praise to God for you are blessed.” (for that, I would use a David & Jonathan biblical example)
Ok – a funny secular example – the movie “Tombstone” as it showcased fairly signficantly the friendship between Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday. One of the supporting characters, in the heat of battle asks Doc: “Doc, why do you do this, putting your life on the line time and time again?” Doc shoots right back: “Because, Wyatt is my friend”; to which , the questioner pipes back: “Hell , I have lot’s of friends!” And finally, point, game, match with Doc’s two word retort : ” I don’t!”
Soli Deo Gloria!