Test Your Strength - Not Just for Fairs & Carnivals

Many of us may have seen it at the fair.

How strong are you? Pull down the little lever with all your might. Hit the lever as hard as you can... Test your strength!

In 2 Corinthians 13, Paul shows us that testing your strength is not just for carnivals and fairs. However, the 'strength' that Paul refers to is quite different.

¹ This will be my third visit to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” ² I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, ³ since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. ⁴ For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealing with you.

⁵ Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? ⁶ And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. ⁷ Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. ⁸ For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. ⁹We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored. ¹⁰ This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.

¹¹ Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

¹² Greet one another with a holy kiss. (2 Corinthians 13:1-12)

The repetition of the weak/strong theme presents itself in the beginning of this scripture, reiterating that though Christ was made weak on the cross, he lives (and was brought back to life) by God's power. And though we are only weakly rooted in Christ (lacking perfect faith), God's power allows us a place in Christ.

After this reminder, Paul moves on to urge the Corinthians to 'test themselves'. The testing or examination talked about here is the kind that would test how genuine something is. The Corinthians have been talking the talk, "WWJD", but can they walk the walk? The verb "realize" in verse 5 means to 'know fully enough to be able to act on that knowledge' - epi ginosko (IVP New Testament Commentary). This question suggests that maybe the Corinthians have lost sight of the fact that Christ is in their midst... making them unable to show the fruits of the spirit and embody the power of God. After all, it would seem that something was awry if they were demanding proof that Christ was speaking through Paul (v.3). Paul himself has been put to the test by the Corinthians and now it is their turn.

What is the reasoning for this call to self-examination, this auto-test, this 'test-your-strength'? It's quite different from the fair where you'd receive a neon stuffed dragon and cheer from the crowd. The purpose of this self-examination is for the Corinthians to be 'fully restored' (v.9). Verse 10 again echoes this purpose, by encouraging the Corinthians to 'Strive for full restoration... [and] be of one mind'.

This singularity of purpose and restoration should remind us of a theme we've been considering lately... reconciliation. Here we see what can happen when we are not reconciled, restored fully to God. If we are not reconciled to God, we may not know fully enough that Christ is in enough in order to act upon it. Do you know fully enough that Christ is in you?

Call out to God this morning... ask for full restoration, that we may be of one mind of the one Christ who is in us.

Only that kind of strength will win the ultimate prize!