Category: 2 Corinthians

Take a moment to read 2 Corinthians 10 before reading the devotional below.

Paul’s effort to win over the Corinthians continues as he explores his “forceful” writing in contrast with his mild manner in person. It’s interesting how influential those immediately around us can be. From what we can read here, it sounds like Paul is deeply influential and important to the Corinthian church. But when he is away from them they forget his instruction and perceive his letters to be harsh. The other leaders who are pulling them away have a message that is a little easier to take.

It’s easy to gravitate to people who tell you what you want to hear. It’s a lot harder to stick with those people when they need to call you out on something. Paul is the first to admit that he’s not the world’s greatest letter-writer or speaker. But that doesn’t matter when the Holy Spirit is the one doing the work.

Here’s your freedom for today:

When you know God, you don’t need to prove yourself.

Paul is confident of one thing: God has given him good work to do. He preaches with authority because he is confident in who Jesus is. He doesn’t need to worry about whether other people like him. He is focused on the mission. While we certainly don’t need to be obnoxious (as sadly Christians sometimes are), we don’t have to prove ourselves by earthly standards. Paul’s work is either going to be supernaturally accomplished by the Holy Spirit or it isn’t. Those results will speak for themselves.

Take a moment to read 2 Corinthians 9 before reading the devotional below.

Generosity is only generous if you want to do it. Paul is continuing to encourage the Corinthian church to give generously. At times, he almost seems like he is twisting their arm. But his emphasis on their willingness indicates that he is actually trying to exhort them, not manipulate them. Sometimes we need to be called out in our faith journey, and Paul is calling them out on making sure their walk lines up with their talk.

When we think about generosity, we often forget to connect it with provision. What has God given you? What would it mean for you to view that provision as something to share with others? Who do you know that is poor? How could you go about giving out of your abundance?

Here’s your freedom for today:

Freedom comes when we act out of gratitude.

Towards the end of today’s chapter, Paul reminds us that generosity flows not only out of provision but out of gratitude. If we aren’t thankful, then we are taking our provision for granted. Staying connected to provision will result in a grateful heart. And a grateful heart is free. Free to give. Free to elevate others. Free to worship God and recognize that all we have comes from him.

Take a moment to read 2 Corinthians 8:16-24 before reading the devotional below.

Integrity matters. And it’s sadly not something we see a lot of in American society. As we discussed yesterday, Paul was asking the Corinthian church to give to their neighbors in the north, Macedonia, as they were going through a tough time financially. This gift wasn’t directly given, because that’s not how the church operated. Paul was sending Titus and another leader to come take the monetary gift from the Corinthians and bring it to Jerusalem. From there, it could be distributed to the poor in Macedonia and possibly elsewhere.

In an age without online giving and groups like the American Red Cross, money had to be physically carried from one place to another. As you can imagine, it’s important to be able to trust the couriers. Paul has spent this whole letter trying to make sure the Corinthians believe in his integrity, and now he’s asking them to trust Titus and another unnamed missionary. A lot is on the line.

Here’s your freedom for today:

Freedom is found in partnership.

Paul isn’t trying to do everything himself. He cannot be everywhere, especially when travel was as slow and challenging as it was back then. And he doesn’t send Titus alone to handle a financial gift. He sends two, which you find a frequent occurrence in the Bible. We aren’t meant to do the Christian life alone, and we aren’t meant to do ministry alone either. Our integrity remains intact with help, oversight, and accountability. Too many pastors and leaders put the whole world on their own shoulders and never ask for help. This is not the biblical model. What have you been doing for God’s kingdom lately? Who is partnering with you?

Take a moment to read 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 before reading the devotional below.

People get a bit touchy when you start talking about money. If you read today’s passage too quickly, you might think that Paul is asking for money for his own ministry. He spends a lot of time encouraging them to give, and in America we are used to that coming from greedy televangelists with private jets and mansions.

Pay attention to verses 1 and 2 and then verse 14. Paul mentions the church in Macedonia, and how much they have given. He also mentions that right now they are very poor. In the above map of ancient Greece, you can see Corinth and then the region to the north is Macedonia. It sounds like Paul is saying how much Macedonia gave to him, and how much the Corinthians should continue giving to him. But verse 14 helps us understand his real point: “Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal.” Paul is advocating for the Corinthian church to give to the church in Macedonia just as the Macedonian church has been generous in the past.

Here’s your freedom for today:

Generosity and equality are at the heart of God’s economic system.

If you live in America, you know how capitalism works. It sounds like a system of freedom — we even call it the “free market” — but it is anything but free. Oppression, greed, and poverty in the midst of wealth are rampant problems with a capitalist system. Socialism spreads more of the wealth around, but bureaucracy is a problematic issue. Communism seems to be an equalizing system, but it puts all the power in the hands of a few who often have evil and oppression in mind. No earthly system can ever compare to God’s system of generosity and equality. Without greed, a whole lot of freedom is possible. What could you do to freely give to those in need today? How could you participate in supernatural economics?

Take a moment to read 2 Corinthians 7:1-10 before reading the devotional below.

Recall from yesterday’s post that God has called us sons and daughters, setting us apart for great things. Because God has given us a new identity, we need to get rid of all the stuff that makes our lives dirty. Paul has tried to help the Corinthians with this through his letters, but as you might imagine, they have not all taken it very well.

When you need to clean up your life, you sometimes get mad at the person trying to help you do it. Having people call us out can make us defensive and upset. But Paul continues to remind the Corinthians that he is not writing for himself. It is God who wants to lead us away from sin. Paul’s just the messenger.

Here’s your freedom for today:

Genuine sorrow brings genuine freedom.

When people show sorrow in an earthly way, they just say the right words to get people off their backs. They don’t truly change their ways. But supernatural sorrow is a life-giving and transformative process. When your spirit is grieved, it leads you to repentance and genuine change. That change brings freedom because you are no longer bound by the same old ways. What are some areas you’ve been holding back from God? What would supernatural, Spirit-filled grief and sorrow over your sin look like?