Devotion Time:2012 Devotions: 2 Corinthians 6-8A September 10 September 15, 2012

Devotion Time:2012 Devotions: 2 Corinthians 6-8a September 10 – September 15, 2012

Monday, September 10

Bible Text

2 Corinthians 6:1-10 (ESV)

6Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2For he says,

“In a favorable time I listened to you,

and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

REFLECTION Questions

2 Corinthians 6:4-5

“[T]he focus of Paul’s commendation…is once again on his divinely enabled endurance in the midst of adversity. […] [T]his endurance ‘commends’ Paul as a servant of God. […] [T]hose who lack such a divine recommendation can only engage in self-commendation.”[1]

In what ways do the many sufferings of Apostle Paul and his companions“commend” (v.4) them as servants of God?
What sacrifices or hardships borne for the sake of the gospel can I point to as “commendations” to back up my identity and message as a Christian?

2 Corinthians 6:8-10

Reflect on the real difficulties, the actual pain and struggle, which must lie behind the contrasting pairs of words listed here that describe the life of ministry. Reflect also on the fact that all believers are called to be ministers.
Think of the paradoxes in v. 10, and what they say about the glory and dignity of being servants of God. To what extent can I affirm these words as aptly describing my view of the Christian life, my actual experience as a Christian, and my personal vision for my life?

Personal Prayer

Please write out a brief prayer based on today’s DT.

tuesday, September 11

Bible Text

2 Corinthians 6:11-7:1 (ESV)

11We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.

The Temple of the Living God

14Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,

and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

17Therefore go out from their midst,

and be separate from them, says the Lord,

and touch no unclean thing;

then I will welcome you,

18and I will be a father to you,

and you shall be sons and daughters to me,

says the Lord Almighty.”

7Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

REFLECTION Questions

2 Corinthians 6:11-13

“His love for them has enabled him to speak freely to them…There is no reserve on his part; he has neither held back relevant matters nor only hinted vaguely at them but has always spoken his mind. And of course this is the way he wants them to behave toward him (6:13b; 7:2a). They are his children in the faith, for it was through his preaching that they became Christians…There ought to be a mutual affection in which they trust one another unreservedly.”[2]

Reflect on vv. 11-13 in light of Paul’s hardships. What is behind Paul’s willingness to open wide his heart and not “restrict [his] affections” toward the Corinthians who were critical of him?

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1

This passage has been understood to apply most directly to marriage. Why does it make sense for the Bible to oppose a marriage between a believer and an unbeliever?

What is the first implication of accepting our identity as “the temple of God?”
What does the word “temple” suggest in terms of Christian engagement with the world?
In the context of this passage, what are some steps to “bringing holiness to completion”?
Reflect on the words “since we have these promises.” How does the promise “you shall be my sons and daughters to me” (v. 18) motivate me toward cleansing myself “from every defilement” and pursuing holiness? To what extent am I focused on growing in my holiness?

Personal Prayer

Please write out a brief prayer based on today’s DT.

wednesday, September 12

Bible Text

2 Corinthians 7:2-9 (ESV)

2Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

5For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. 6But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. 8For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.

REFLECTION Questions

2 Corinthians 7:2-4

“Paul is not afraid to call the Corinthians to action because he is convinced of their genuine standing as Christians. Hence, as a mediator of the Spirit under the new covenant, he has ‘great confidence’ (parresia, better, ‘boldness of speech’) toward them. As the parallel in 3:12 indicates, he is speaking boldly in 7:2–3 because he is convinced that those in whom the Spirit is at work will respond to the commands of the gospel (cf. 3:3–18; 5:17). In the end, nobody can do anything against the truth (cf. 13:8).”[3]

Reflect on the facts Apostle Paul reminds the Corinthians of in v. 2 as he pleads with them to “make room in your hearts,” and how crucial this might have been for the turnaround of some of the Corinthians.
Is there someone in my life I need to “make room” for in my heart on similar grounds?

2 Corinthians 7:8-9

Think of what would have happened if Apostle Paul was afraid of causing the Corinthians “grief” and did not send the harsh letter. Have there been times when I sacrificed truth so that I would not hurt people’s feelings or offend them?
What does the phrase “grieved into repenting” (v. 9) and “godly grief,” teach me about the value of emotional pain over sin, and the value of correction?
Are there ways in which I refuse to tolerate a sense of grief or sorrow over my sins?
Recount a time when I was confronted by someone over my sin, and I “opened my heart” (see v. 2) toward that person, and so was led to experience “godly grief” that led to repentance.

Personal Prayer

Please write out a brief prayer based on today’s DT.

thursday, September 13

Bible Text

2 Corinthians 7:4-16 (ESV)

4I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

10For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. 12So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God. 13Therefore we are comforted.

And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14For whatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you was true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true. 15And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. 16I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you.

REFLECTION Questions

2 Corinthians 7:10-16

“‘Repentance’ includes both the remorse that comes from recognizing that one has wronged God and its consequent resolve to reverse one’s behavior as seen in the first steps in that new direction. Therefore, though its consequences are long-term, repentance is indicated by an initial change in both attitude and action.”[4]

“A godly sorrow produces a true repentance, and a true repentance is one which demonstrates its sorrow by its deeds.”[5]

What does godly grief produce? What does this tell me about the process of repentance?
What can I learn from the fact that Apostle Paul was convinced of their repentance in their treatment of Titus? What is my attitude towards people God uses to initiate repentance?
What are the results of worldly grief?

2 Corinthians 7:4-9, 12-16

“All too often the church is likewise emaciated when it comes to experiencing deep and lasting joy in the midst of adversity because we no longer gain our identity by living within the community of faith. What we love, and therefore what we get excited about, is no longer wrapped up with the progress of God’s people. The basis of our contentment is not the growing Christ-likeness of our church, but the comfort level of our personal circumstances. Conversely, we are famished when it comes to feeling grief over sin because what we hate, and therefore what we feel remorse about, no longer revolves around the reality of who God is in our midst. What makes us sad is no longer the sting of our sin, but the frustration of our failed dreams and the lack of freedom to get whatever we want.”[6]

Notice all the occurrences of words like “joy,” “rejoice,” “comforted,” and “refreshed.” How is it that although he was “afflicted at every turn” and facing “fighting without and fear within” (v. 5), Apostle Paul (and Titus) could experience such things?
How does this compare with what brings me joy, comfort and encouragement?

Personal Prayer

Please write out a brief prayer based on today’s DT.

FRIDAY, September 14

Bible Text

2 Corinthians 8:1-9 (ESV)

Encouragement to Give Generously

8We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4begging us earnestly for the favorof taking part in the relief of the saints— 5and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you[c]—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

8I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

REFLECTION Questions

2 Corinthians 8:1-7

What are some contrasting words that describe the Macedonian church?
What does this say about the source of generosity and joy?
When was the last time I gave “beyond [my] means” to God? What was this experience like?
What was the Macedonian church’s attitude towards giving? How can I “excel in this act of grace”?

2 Corinthians 8:8-9

Apostle Paul says that the genuineness of the Corinthians’ love will be proved by comparison to the earnestness of other churches. How true is it that the authenticity of our love for God can be measured by objective criteria (such as financial giving, concrete sacrifice of time and energy, etc.)?
Meditate on the fact that “for [my sake Christ] became poor, so that [I] by his poverty might become rich.”
Who are the people in my life I can enrich through my life?

Personal Prayer

Please write out a brief prayer based on today’s DT.

Saturday, september 15

REFLECTION

Review the past week’s DT.

Personal Prayer

Please write out a brief prayer based on today’s DT.

[1]2 Corinthians The NIV Application Commentary, Burge, Gary M., Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI, 2000

[2] Best, Ernest. Second Corinthians (Louisville, KY: John Knox Press, 1987), pg. 64

[5] William Barclay, The Letters to the Corinthians, Daily Study Bible Series, Rev. ed. (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1975). 227.