A Work in Progress….

2 Corinthians 7:8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it….

This chapter talks in part about earthly sorrow versus godly sorrow. Only godly sorrow can lead to repentance. Earthly sorrow in matters such as these can lead to broken relationships and hurt feelings, but it can’t bring about repentance.

2 Corinthians 7:9a …yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance….

And it is only through repentance that we can restore right relationship with Christ. Paul, as much as it pained him to come down on the church in Corinth because of their behavior, knew that it was necessary to help them see the error of their ways.

2 Corinthians 7:9b …For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us.

Lord, Help me always seek to restore right relationship with you. Don’t let me be content with this world. Amen.

2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Have a blessed day.

2 Corinthians 6:1 As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.

Ram Dass has a saying, “We are all just walking each other home.” I know nothing about Ram Dass, his views or ideologies, but I think he summed up the purpose of life—for Christians and for everyone—with this saying.

2 Corinthians 6:3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.

By helping to walk my fellow humans home, by being an encouragement, a companion, a positive presence, by holding space for those who are struggling, just being there so they know they don’t slog through the muck alone, I am putting God’s grace into action, I am loving God and loving others.

2 Corinthians 6:4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses….

Lord, Thank You for the gift of Your grace. Thank You for the knowledge that love, presence, and community in You are essential. Thank You that by walking each other home, we are being Your hands and feet in this world. Amen.

2 Corinthians 6:10 …sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Have a blessed day.

2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

This earth is not my home. This body is not my eternal dwelling. At once I fully embrace and believe these ideas and also struggle with them. Verse 7 says that “we live by faith and not by sight,” but it is often hard for me to wrap my head around things that I can’t see, can’t fathom.

2 Corinthians 5:4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

Verses 6 and 8 both mention the dichotomy of being home in the body and away from the Lord. We can’t be both at once—in the earthly body and with our eternal Lord. This idea reinforces my belief that my loved ones who are no longer in their earthly bodies are with God. They are no longer home in the body, so they are now home with the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.

Lord, Thank You for the reminder that this creaky body is not my eternal home. Help me to take care of it, but when the time comes to leave it behind to be with You, help me step boldly and in faith. Lord, I trust my sight more than I should probably because it’s what I know. Help me strengthen my faith so that I may live more fully in You. Draw me closer. Amen.

2 Corinthians 5:7 For we live by faith, not by sight.

Have a blessed day.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Lord, This world can be a tough, painful place. Thank You for being with us, for fighting our battles when we calm ourselves in You. Thank You for the hope and promise that the worst thing isn’t the last thing, that You have the final say.

2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

Lord, It can be so easy to lose heart, especially when the deck is stacked against me and everything feels like it’s falling apart. Thank You that You are bigger than my feelings, bigger than my fears. Thank You for the renewal that can only be found in You.

2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Lord, This world is not my home. You have promised to never leave me nor forsake me. And Your strength is perfected in my weakness. You are my strength and my hope, my fortress and my shield. Help me to rest in You, to shine Your light, to comfort Your people. Amen.

2 Corinthians 4:18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Have a blessed day.

2 Corinthians 3:3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

My seniors just finished reading Orwell’s Animal Farm. Today’s scripture brings to mind Boxer’s oft misguided motto, “I will work harder.” I’m definitely not where I want to be on my Christian walk, though I’m not where I was. And I keep trying, keep striving to draw closer to God, but all of that centers on *my* strength, not God’s. I’m not where I want to be, so I will work harder.

2 Corinthians 3:4-5 Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.

And here’s the thing I struggle with: I am who I am in Christ, not because of *me* but because of *Him.* I am deeply, fiercely loved, I am a treasure, I am worthy and forgiven and redeemed, simply because I am His. How is that possible? Where is my hard work and effort in that? No where. My worth in Christ doesn’t depend on me at all. Why is that so hard for me to grasp?

2 Corinthians 3:10-11 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

Lord, Forgive me that I have such a hard time understanding that You love me simply because I am Yours, not because of anything I have done or could ever do. Help me sit with this truth, breathe in this truth, fully believe the depth of this truth. And help me, because of the audacious hope found in this truth, to be very bold in You, through You, and for You. Amen.

2 Corinthians 3:12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.

Have a blessed day.

2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.

The smell of coffee, to me, is rich and inviting. The smell of burnt coffee is often used to replicate the smell of skunk. The smell of freshly popped popcorn is tantalizing and mouthwatering. The smell of burnt popcorn is offensive and permeates a room, soaking into fabrics, lingering.

2 Corinthians 2:15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

Aromas are powerful, polarizing, and lasting. They waft and abide, becoming a part of the atmosphere. Negative smells have the power to gag and sicken those whose senses are assaulted. Positive smells have the power to soothe, calm, and comfort.

2 Corinthians 2:16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?

Lord, The metaphor of our faith, words, and actions being an aroma of You is rich and dynamic. My thoughts, actions, and words are powerful indicators of my faith. Let their scent be uplifting and encouraging to all who encounter it. Amen.

2 Corinthians 2:17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

Have a blessed day.

2 Corinthians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort….

The phrase “blessed to be a blessing” comes to mind because this verse is essentially saying that we are comforted so that we can comfort others (in other words, we are comforted to be a comfort). That’s the heart of Paul’s message in verses 3-4.

2 Corinthians 1:4 …who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Verses 9-10 deal with the fact that God brings us to the end of ourselves so that we will realize we can’t do this life without Him. We can’t. And the fact that God is always there when we get to the end of ourselves and our strength gives us hope that He will continue to deliver us. He will not leave us nor forsake us.

2 Corinthians 1:9 Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

Lord, Thank You for loving me enough to bring me to the end of myself, to show me that I cannot do this life without You. Thank You for always being there, for the hope that can only be found in You. Draw me closer. Amen.

2 Corinthians 1:10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us….

Have a blessed day. I love you.

1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.

I’ve been reminded recently that 1 Corinthians is a letter to the church in Corinth, and by reading it, we are in essence reading Paul’s mail. With that thought, I can definitely see this content as parting reminders from Paul to the church at Corinth.

1 Corinthians 16:14 Do everything in love.

What I find more surprising is just how applicable Paul’s advice to the Corinthians is for us today. Stand firm in the faith, be courageous and strong, do everything, everything in love? These are good reminders for all of us as we travel through this life.

1 Corinthians 16:23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.

Lord, Thank You for these words of Paul and for the understanding that even though we are so different from this ancient Corinthian people, there is much that hasn’t changed. Help us to stand firm in the faith, be courageous and strong, and do everything—yes, everything—in love. Be with us every step of the way, Lord. Help us to shine Your light. Amen.

1 Corinthians 16:24 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Have a blessed day.

1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

I would encourage you to pause here and go read this chapter for yourself. Paul lays out several logical, convincing arguments in this chapter. I can add nothing there, so I want to talk about the overall tone of hope in this chapter, and not just any hope, but hope in Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

Because of God’s grace, we are who we are. Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, we have hope for eternity, including victory over the grave. As long as we are working for the Lord, we do not labor in vain. Thank You, Jesus!

1 Corinthians 15:56-57 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord, Through You, in You, because of You, I have so many blessings in this life—grace, hope, love, purpose. Thank You. Help me, daily, to put those gifts to work, glorifying You and comforting Your people. Amen.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Have a blessed day.

1 Corinthians 14:3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

Today’s scripture seems to speak of the difference between personal devotional time and corporate worship. In our personal devotional time, it is right and good that our focus is on strengthening our personal connection with God; however, when the church body worships together, the focus should be, according to this chapter, on the edification of others.

1 Corinthians 14:4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

This distinction gives me pause as I’ve always viewed the goal of both personal and corporate worship to be the strengthening of *my* faith. Spurgeon, as quoted in commentary, calls this attitude “spiritual self indulgence,” “a monstrous evil.” Spurgeon’s take, to me, seems a step too far, but the thought that Sunday worship should accomplish more than just individual edification makes sense.

1 Corinthians 14:12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

Lord, Thank You for this scripture and for the ideas that today’s reading and studying have introduced. Help me, through this time, to draw closer to You and stronger in my faith. Help me, always, to glorify You and comfort Your people. Amen.

1 Corinthians 14:17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.

Have a blessed day.