Passage Read: 2 Corinthians 12-13
Meditation Verse: 12:6
Thought
Paul could boast about all the Lord has shown him and taught him, and it would be impressive and true! But he doesn't want what was shown him to enamor people; he doesn't want people to judge him for what he has seen. He wants people to judge him by what he says and does. Does he speak truth? Does he live by the same? Does his life speak of his wisdom and insight and devotion to Christ? Does his life affirm his understanding of God and Christ? He wants to be judged by the evidence of Christ in his words and actions, not by the fantastic things he has seen and heard.
Application
This is a powerful reminder to me to judge others not by their pedigree, but by the likeness of Christ in their lives. It is also a challenge to me to make sure I live by what God's Word teaches me, and to be consistent in what I say and do. I don't want people to be impressed by what I know or where I've studied, but by how well I actually live what I claim to believe. No matter how much I've read and studied the Bible, if I don't live by it, my knowledge is pointless and I shouldn't impress anyone. No matter how much an expert someone may be of God's Word, if he doesn't live according to it, neither should I be impressed by him.