Paul was in a battle . . . not so much a battle for himself, but a battle for the hearts of those who were being drawn away from the things of Christ. The enemy were a group of fake apostles . . . those who came as messengers of God, but who corrupted the gospel of God as they preached “another Jesus.” Their battlefield was the mind of the Corinthian believers . . . their goal, secure their hearts and their following . . . their tactic, discredit Paul. All this sets up 2Corinthians to be less “theological” and more emotional. As Paul contends for their faithfulness to Christ, he is forced to talk about himself . . . laying open his heart . . . his motivations . . . his compassion for these precious believers . . . his pleading for their fidelity to the way of the gospel.

One of Paul’s “vulnerabilities”, apparently, is that, although his letters were bold, when he was present with the Corinthians he was “lowly among you” (2Cor. 10:1). He was timid, literally he was “truly not rising far from the ground.” The fake apostles on the other hand, were bold and confident and boastful. They were charismatic, their very presence commanding a respect, their arrogant speech demanding others follow them. In some ways, they were the Goliaths and Paul was David. In fact, Paul sounds somewhat like David when he declares, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds” (10:4).

And what grabs me deeply this morning is the fact that Paul’s lowliness wasn’t a “character fault” . . . it wasn’t some “natural trait” that he had to combat to overcome . . . it wasn’t some “genetic thing” that he needed to compensate for by attending assertiveness training. No, in fact, if you think about it, Paul was very much naturally wired to kick some keester. This is Paul who was once Saul . . . Pharisee of the Pharisees . . . the one aggressively defended Judaism and it’s religious tenets and practices . . . defend it to the point of hunting down those of “the Way” and throwing them in prison and consenting to their execution. No, I think Paul’s lowliness was the result of sanctification . . . it was the fruit of being conformed to the image of Christ . . . it was the servant reflecting the Master . . . the disciple taking on the character of the Teacher. Check out Paul’s plea to the Corinthians . . .

“Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ . . . ” (2Corinthians 10:1)

That’s the phrase that recaptured my heart this morning, “the meekness and gentleness of Christ.” That’s my Savior . . . that’s my experience with Him . . . that’s the heart He has revealed to me. I read these words and immediately the prophet Isaiah’s words come to mind, “Behold my Servant, whom I uphold,my Chosen, in whom My soul delights; I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed He will not break, and a faintly burning wick He will not quench; He will faithfully bring forth justice.” (Isa. 43:1-3 ESV).

That’s my Savior . . . meek and gentle . . . tearing down strongholds not with legions of angels, but with His death on the cross . . . proclaiming victory not with a voice from heaven but with a cry upon a tree, “It is finished!” Knees bowing to Him in worship and service not because He commands it and has forced it upon others, but because He has gently wooed souls to Himself . . . with meekness and patience drawing men’s hearts toward the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Oh, that I might more and more take on the “vulnerabilities” of the Master. That I might be like Him . . . emulating divine meekness and gentleness . . . truly not rising far from the ground . . . and that, in the hands of the mighty Spirit of God, I might be used in some manner and measure to further His kingdom . . . for His glory . . . amen.