My defender
Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me;
Fight against those who fight against me. Psalm 35:1
Read 2 Corinthians 10:1—6
I know how hurtful and disabling it is to lose people’s respect. To lose my integrity is to lose everything. If anyone is in ministry, that ministry is gone. Something like this is threatening Paul. I can’t miss his vigour, his passion, even his aggression. He’s at war. Spiritual, not human war. Whatever it’s about, it matters. It matters very much to him that he’s falsely accused. He’s accused of being two-faced. And of being not at all spiritual, but looking out for his own reputation just like everyone else, when what he wanted was for Christ to be the one honoured, not himself. It’s all gone sour. In this war — it’s far from the gentleness he begins with — he gives me a clue as to how to be in combat: let every thought of mine be captive to obey Christ.
Dear Lord, you are the one who justifies me, not myself. It is not my reputation I am to enhance. Only yours. You capture my thoughts, please. You keep me true to yourself, please. You see to the outcome when I am in any dispute or disagreement. Please. You have already won the victory over the world. When I am attacked let me hide in you.