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“This is a powerful elixir that promises to take away all your ailments. Imagine, no more aches and pains! Healed of all diseases—why, it’s the fountain of youth bottled up!”
People crowded the streets, thrust money toward the salesman who peddled his elixir in the street.
If this little bottle of liquid could do that, they were sold. Who doesn’t love a promise like that? The problem was, it couldn’t truly deliver.
Snake oil.
That’s what it’s called—some gimmick to swindle people out of their money. Give them something to hope for, take everything they’ll give you, and then leave town. These salesmen would never stick around long. Their wagons turned into pop-up stages and shops, making for quick sales and getaways.
What we desperately desire is something real and authentic, not some magic potion that promises to fix everything, but something we can truly trust in.
2 Corinthians 1:12–14
“We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you. 13 Our letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines and nothing you can’t understand. I hope someday you will fully understand us, 14 even if you don’t understand us now. Then, on the day when the Lord Jesus returns, you will be proud of us in the same way we are proud of you.”
The people of Corinth were inundated with promises of wealth, healing, enlightenment, and pleasure if they would worship this god or that one. False teaching permeated the streets and so-called temples.
In Paul’s letter, he reminded the believers that he had always been truthful. He didn’t try to sugarcoat things. He knew they needed someone who would lead them to the truth—someone who would be honest and sincere, who would lead them by the Word of God, not their own wisdom.
Not some snake oil salesman.
Paul and his fellow co-laborers in the ministry could confidently say that they shared the truth with these people not only in the words they said but in the way they lived their lives.
We aren’t much different today.
The world may be attracted to what tickles their ears, but it’s not what they need. They need people who will be real and honest with them. They need to hear the truth in love. They need authentic relationships with believers who are invested in the Scriptures.
They need discipleship.
If you’re a believer, yet you’ve never taken that step to disciple someone, I’d love to invite you to do that today. For the past several years, we’ve been working on a resource for you to use. FOLLOW is a digital tool you can use to be discipled and make disciples. It’s easy to use, video-based, and interactive. And it’s free!
Go to Follow.Lifeword.org or, in Spanish, Follow.Lifeword.org/Spanish.
People may believe in Jesus, but do they know how to follow Him? Would you be willing to show them—in truthful word and example? That’s what Paul encouraged us to do.
May this encourage you today!
People need real and authentic relationships and community. Join me Tuesday night at 7 p.m. CST at Facebook.com/Lifeword for FOLLOW: Conversations. Let’s dig into the Word and encourage one another.
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