Perception is different from reaity

   "THE CHURCH OF CHRIST"

 Daily Call SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2018

TOPIC: PERCEPTION IS DIFFERENT FROM REALITY

TEXT: 2 CORINTHIANS 10 : 7 -10

     Paul can be likened to a father who is doing his best to train his children but he is being rebuffed and unappreciated. Moses was also misunderstood by his fellow countrymen despite his good intentions to protect them. (Acts. 7 : 25 - 28). It is an irony that the weak finds it difficult to learn from the strong. Paul is strong, but he is proud to become weak for the sake of the weak, whereas someone who is weak wants to be seen as strong by all means. Some people in Corinth were acting as if they are better Christians than Apostle Paul.

    How do you look at things? What is your perception of people and issues?  Recognize the difference between your perception and the reality, to see the difference between your opinion and facts. Appearance is perceptive and deceptive in which Paul enjoins us not to glory in outward things which are temporary.

   James also advised us not to be moved by appearance. Samuel nearly anointed the wrong person as king of Isreal due to wrong perception (1 Sam. 16 : 7). Due to their ignorance and pride, the Jews compared Jesus with Abraham and with themselves. They can only recognize Christ as a physical being. Certain Christians in Corinth were causing divisions in the congregation because they looked at things based on outward appearance, so they had wrong opinions.

   They became self- appointed accusers and judges over Paul that his letters are intimidating while his speech is contemptible and he walks according to the flesh. They probably think that Paul can't teach them because they are from Jerusalem, forgetting that Paul was instrumental to the setablishment of the congregation at Corinth.

PRAYER :  God, endow me with a discerning spirit to see things from the right perspective in Jesus' name. Amen.

EVENING READING:  1 SAMUEL 16 : 7.