QT 31 Jan 19, 2 Cor 13:11, We need fixing

2 Corinthians 13:11 (ESV) — Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

2 Corinthians 13:11 (ESV) — … Aim for restoration …

2 Corinthians 13:11 (AMP) — … Be strengthened (perfected, completed, made what you ought to be); …

2 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV84) — … Aim for perfection, …

2 Corinthians 13:11 (NASB95) — … be made complete, …

2 Corinthians 13:11 (RSV) — … Mend your ways, …

NOTE: Rarely do you see a verse with so many different translations. Unlike popular thought, most translations are very similar in word and thought. The problem is not with translators or the copies they worked from -- those are nearly identical -- but with translating the Greek. Here, the Greek word is καταρτίζω, which Strong defines as 2675 καταρτίζω [katartizo /kat·ar·tid·zo/] 1 to render, i.e. to fit, sound, complete. 1A to mend (what has been broken or rent), to repair. 1A1 to complete. 1B to fit out, equip, put in order, arrange, adjust. 1B1 to fit or frame for one’s self, prepare. 1C ethically: to strengthen, perfect, complete, make one what he ought to be. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.] But the content is people not things. Paul is using a word which would seem to apply to fixing an object, to people. And that is the difficulty. How do you fix people? Is it restoring relationships which have been hurt because of sin in the church? Is it for individuals to grow? Or maybe for individuals to reach perfection, since we are all broken? Maybe we are missing something in our life, and so we need to be complete? Or maybe we need to fix how we relate to people? In some sense they are all true. We are broken and we need mending. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to repair the damage caused by sin. We need fixing. I think the many translations of the same Greek word is good because it helps us to think through what is being communicated. They really aren't that different from each other after all. We need fixing.

PRAYER: Father, mend us, restore us, grow us, fill us, and change us. We have failed you in so many ways. Open our eyes to our failures and help us to be like Jesus.

QT 29 Jan 19, 2 Cor 13:1, Be careful in dealing with hurts

2 Corinthians 13:1 (ESV) — This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

NOTE: This is an excellent principle and warning. We need to be careful in jumping to conclusions on the basis of one report or even one confirmed incident in a person's life. We are far too quick to judge. We are, in fact, to judge--but not the world. But within the church, we are to judge. And I think we need to be careful here as well. I would leave those issues to the leadership. I think it is appropriate to talk to leadership when you have concerns about another brother (or sister) in the Lord. If the offense is against you or we have hurt another, we have a responsibility to gently approach our brother and sister, and confess our sin, or share our hurt (when we feel sinned against). But I think some of us are far too sensitive and in most cases, we need to forgive, forget, and move on. As Paul says earlier in Corinthians, "why not just be hurt or taken advantage of? Does it really make a difference?"

PRAYER: Father, help us to love one another and to forgive one another. I pray we would stop focusing on ourselves but on the benefit of other people.

QT 28 Jan 19, 2 Cor 12:21, Mourning for all the lost churches

2 Corinthians 12:21 (ESV) — I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

NOTE: I think we might realize how much our sin hurts God. In Genesis, God is grieved in his heart over the sin of mankind. But do we realize how much our sin hurts our spiritual leaders, our Pastors, teacher, bible study leaders, and mentors. We tend to think of sin, especially secret sin as victimless, or at least only affecting ourselves. But sin has a deep spiritual effect on the body and on every member of the body, and in ways that we may not perceive. As a leader, it hurts to see someone destroying themselves for inconsequential gain, or not recognizing what is really valuable in life. Sometimes you don't see it until the end when a believer dies, and you see the shallowness of a funeral that emphasizes the pleasures of the world and the weakness of the Christian life of the deceased. How sad. The church needs to wake up. We truly are becoming the Laodiceans, and we will be spit out of God's mouth on the day of rapture. We need to wake up!

PRAYER: Father, please wake us up from our ugly lives of religiosity which we falsely call Christianity. We steal the name but show none of the qualities. There is no love. There is no sacrifice for others. There is only selfishness and deceit. Free us from such ugly lives that witness so poorly what Jesus has done. Wake us up.

QT 22 Jan 19, 2 Cor 12:6, Let's not talk it, let's live the life

2 Corinthians 12:6 (ESV) — though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.

NOTE: This is a very good point and a good recommendation for the person who struggles with pride. Rather than trying to impress people with our past positions and accomplishments; people's impression should be determined by what they see in us or hear from us. It reminds me of the (?)Emerson quote: "what you are speaks so loudly, I cannot hear what you say." I would rather people build my reputation on who they see I am, than what I try to convince them I am. Because what I might try to convince, would just be boasting and probably over-inflated and prideful and ugly. Wouldn't we all want to be seen positively by those who know us based on our actions and character? That's the life I want to live.

PRAYER: Father, forgive me for my pride. Forgive me for puffing myself up. I know it is ugly to you and probably ugly to others as well. Help me to relax in your unchanging love, you indescribable love, and your never-failing acceptance. I am completely loved. I need no other recognition. Thank you Jesus.

QT 24 Jan 19, 2 Cor 12:9, Rest in God, not in our abilities

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV) — 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

NOTE: What does it mean for God's power to be made perfect in weakness? There are a number of answers. 1) It causes us to rely upon him and not ourselves. 2) It causes us to see God as the one who achieved something and not us. 3) It causes us to not worry about results, because God is in charge. 4) It causes us to delight in weakness, in the sense that is opposite of pride where we might glory in ourselves or our abilities. 5) It causes us to see weakness as opportunities for God to manifest his power through us. 6) In the latter case, we might even begin to see our so-called strengths as weaknesses that God must manifest his power through in order to achieve some desired outcome.

PRAYER: Father, our human nature struggles so much with pride. It is defining characteristic of the evil one -- well, that and lying. But, the person you can use, is the person who does not rely upon his own abilities or knowledge but rests (does not worry about it) on you. Help me to live in a manner where I don't promote myself.

QT 17 Jan 19, 1 Cor 11:3-4, Why are we so easily deceived against truth?

2 Corinthians 11:3–4 (ESV) — 3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.

NOTE: Again, the references to Eve concern her deception, but the references to Adam (not here) concern his sin. But Paul's real argument is that we are far more willing to question truth than we are to question error. In the case of some new idea or new thought, we grasp on to it far too quickly. We are always looking for secret knowledge. And so we fall into the hands of swindlers and charlatans quite easily. Why is truth harder to accept? Maybe we are all, like Eve, easily deceived. It is even part of the sin nature -- it does not want us to seek God's truth. It wants us to be led astray by all kinds of new ideas. Maybe, we are looking for simpler ways to live the Christian life while also satisfying our sinful nature's desire to enjoy the world. Maybe, we really don't trust God as much as we say. I think all these things are probably true to some degree.

PRAYER: Father, forgive me for doubting you. Forgive me for seeking ways to gratify my flesh. Purify my thoughts. Open my eyes to truth, not what I want truth to be, but what you say is truth. Your word is truth.

QT 16 Jan 19, 2 Cor 10:12 & 19, The importance of humility

2 Corinthians 10:12 (ESV) — Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.

2 Corinthians 10:18 (ESV) — For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

NOTE: Two ugly sins which are closely related are: comparison and self-commendation. There is nothing to be gained in comparison. There will always be those who are better (causing envy) and those who are worse (causing pride). And self-commendation is just plain ugly. The person who is humble, yet knows of his worth, is the type of person I enjoy being around. We all could gain by a healthy emotional view. We need to grow, and get better, but not for our pride, but for our service to God. We need to look to God, not others, for our acceptance and reward. We serve God not man.

PRAYER: Father, today open my eyes again to my own pride. Help me to react differently. Help me to be humble and content in who I am before you. Help me to shut my mouth. Even a fool is considered wise who keeps his words few.

QT 15 Jan 19, 2 Cor 10:9-10, Focus on the message not the messenger

2 Corinthians 10:9–10 (ESV) — 9 I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters. 10 For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.”

NOTE: Doesn't this sound like us? When we don't like what we are hearing, we attack the speaker, not the message. "Oh, his letter is heavy and strong, but he really is not a good speaker. He really is weak personally. What does he know? I can give a better message than him." All of this leads to verse 12, "… when they compare themselves … they are not wise." The important thing is not the person who said something but the message that is said. Like the Bereans, we need to go to the scripture to see if it is true. Our actions should be noble, not deceitful. Some Corinthians were being deceitful by using techniques of deflection, mockery, and others. These are tools of the flesh and not of the spirit, as Paul discussed in the previous verses (1-6). We need to be very careful to the message not the messenger.

PRAYER: Father, may we prayerfully consider the words we hear checking the scriptures regularly to see if what is said is true. It is not the messenger we are to critique, but the message.

QT 14 Jan 19, 2 Cor 10:2-4, It's good to know that you aren't the only one in a hard situation

2 Corinthians 10:2–4 (ESV) — 2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

NOTE: Isn't it strange that the most comforting letters are those where the other person is struggling? Paul is facing opposition and spurious charges by men of the flesh. But the real battle is the spiritual battle, not the fleshly game of politics some like to play. Why are Paul's circumstances encouraging? Because we are all going through the same thing even if we are not willing to admit it. And it feels good to know others are or have gone through it too. I think that is one of the overlooked aspects of fellowship -- it feels good to share struggles because others are struggling too.

PRAYER: Father, my job is to share the word with gentleness and respect. Please help me to do that. My goal should not be to please people, nor should it be to agitate people. Your Holy Spirit will do what needs to be done with your word. But I must share truth. And I need to be careful that I really am sharing truth and not my opinion. Cleanse my heart; teach me in the innermost places; give me eyes to see unvarnished truth.

QT 10 Jan 19, 2 Cor 9:10, We give, not to get

2 Corinthians 9:10 (ESV) — He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

NOTE: This verse is not a health and wealth gospel verse. God supplies seed and bread. He can also multiply our seed and harvest. But why will he do that? The context is a special ministry gift for the poor in Jerusalem. God can multiply our harvest so that we can multiply our giving. There is no promise, whatsoever, that God will multiply our harvest so that we can spend more on our self. The passage is entirely focused on ministry. There is also a warning in the preceding verses, specifically verse 6, but I like how Paul wrote it to the Galatians: Gal 6:7–9 (ESV) — 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. What is my purpose in sowing? If it is selfish, I will reap the results of selfishness and corruption.

PRAYER: Father, whatever may change in the next couple of months, may I remember that I live for you and not myself. Help me to use the resources you have given me for the kingdom's sake and not my own. I want to live, in all ways, in a manner befitting my glorious name -- child of the King, the Lord Jesus Christ.

QT 8 Jan 19, 2 Cor 8:20, Take pains to present a clear conscience to God and men

2 Corinthians 8:20 (ESV) — We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, …

NOTE: Paul mentions two people, not by name, as well as other men who will be taking the gift to Jerusalem. Paul is being especially careful, probably because of charges from others that might occur if there was even an appearance of evil. The men apparently had been selected by the churches for the job. Additionally, some of the men who traveled with Paul and were well known to the churches would also accompany the gift. While the world might want to find some evidence to condemn Paul as a greedy man, his history and character is anything but greedy. He worked, he sacrificed, he gave of himself again and again. He did not have to act in the way that he did. He could have expected, even demanded support, but he never availed himself of that authority. He traveled without a family and so his expenses were meager. And yet, he takes pain to ensure that there is not even the slightest hint of impropriety.

PRAYER: Father, you know our heart and you know our motives, but we must still be careful not to bring the gospel into disrepute. Help us to go the extra mile to make sure that everything is done above board, and in a manner worthy of servants of the most high God.

QT 7 Jan 19, 2 Cor 8:10, Giving is for our good

2 Corinthians 8:10 (ESV) — And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it.

NOTE: Paul is discussion a giving project of the Corinthians which they started. While Paul qualifies his statement, I do believe it is a scriptural principle -- giving is for our good. It benefits us in many ways, but I think it benefits us primarily spiritually and socially. It also protects us from one of the traps of the enemy, wealth. When we give, we learn to enjoy giving. It becomes second nature. In many ways, the opposite actions have similar effects -- when we hoard and withhold, we learn to enjoy keeping our wealth, and our selfishness becomes second nature. Ultimately, the real danger is to fall in love with money. But giving is the prescription to the evil of greed and selfishness. The more we give, the more we become free of the entanglement of riches.

PRAYER: Father, may I always remember and live this principle. I do not want to fall in love with money. Forgive when I fall into that trap. I want to fall in love with you every day of my life.

QT 3 Jan 19, 2 Cor 7:13b, The strength of our witness affects our ability to fellowship too

2 Corinthians 7:13b (ESV) — … And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.

NOTE: It is amazing what a good witness can do. Obviously, we want to proclaim Christ to as many as possible, but our witness affects our Christian brothers and sisters as well. The obedience of the Corinthians to Paul's harsh letter refreshed Titus and gave him joy. This is the impact of real Christian fellowship, not talking about work or sports, but talking about the work of God in one's life. What is God doing? How is God changing you? What is God teaching you? What have you learned this last year in walking with God? This is all very encouraging stuff that refreshes one another. But if we don't have a witness, a life being shaped by Jesus, we can't make that kind of impact on other believers around us.

PRAYER: Father, I pray in this new year we would walk in a deeper relationship with you. I pray we would really get to know you. And I pray that relationship would revitalize us, such that we have a witness not just to the world but to other believers. We desire a life that refreshes others and gives others joy. Change us, mold us, and recreate us for your work and service.

QT 2 Jan 19, 2 Cor 7:10, We need to examine ourselves more

2 Corinthians 7:10 (ESV) — For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

NOTE: I like Constable's comments on this verse. Too often we use the word "salvation" to always refer to spiritual, whereas many times it is delivery from a temporal problem.

"The proper response, God’s will, results in a change of mind (repentance) that leads to deliverance from the bad situation (salvation in the temporal sense here) without later regret. The improper response, the world’s typical superficial response, does not result in a change of mind (repentance) but leads to resentment and bitterness (ultimately death in the temporal sense). Suffering in itself does not necessarily benefit us. It proves to be a good thing for us only as we respond properly to it…" (Constable, T. (2003). Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (2 Co 7:10). Galaxie Software.)

True repentance cleanses us from the past actions internally. But faked repentance rears its head again and again over the same issue. True repentance in even temporal situations is a work of the Holy Spirit and prayer. We need to pray like David did in Ps 139 "Search me O God and know my heart …" We need to respond to the HS when he reveals our sin.

PRAYER: Father, open my eyes to see my sin. Show me where I am wrong, not where others have wronged me. Change my perspective. May I be much more critical of myself and less so of others.

QT 1 Jan 19, 2 Cor 7:6-9, In this new year, we need an attitude change

2 Corinthians 7:6–9 (ESV) — 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and 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. 8 For 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. 9 As 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.

NOTE: I know that feeling where you feel that you did the right thing and you also wonder if you did the wrong thing. Should I have approached it differently? Could I have said it more gently? Did I really need to say all that I did? Were some of the issues convictions? Am I just overly critical?

On one side, it is easy to justify ourselves, and too many of our church members are far too critical of things that really aren't than important. They do say things in a harsh way, and we respond in a harsh way. Oh, to be more like Jesus. The woman caught in adultery, he said, "go and sin no more." The woman living with her fifth lover, "I am the living water." But we respond to these examples that they were not believers, and so that justifies our meanness to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus said, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, that you love one another." Doesn't really sound like the church of today.

PRAYER: Father forgive us for our meanness. Forgive us for our lack of love. In this new year, may we truly live a life of love for others. We don't want to negative and pout-y and critical. Give us an attitude of positiveness, rejoicing, and blessing others.