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2 CORINTHIANS 8 THE PRINCIPLE OF FAIRNESS

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September 7

2 CORINTHIANS 8

8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For 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. 10 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. 11 So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.” – 2 Corinthians 8:8-15

2 CORINTHIANS 8 THE PRINCIPLE OF FAIRNESS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Though Christ was God and was rich, he gave it up to become poor         

It is to sample a life of simplicity that focuses on depending on God

When we are blessed with an abundance, God expects us be impartial

It is not for us to hoard and keep things as our own possessions

The principle of fairness lies in loving God and blessings our neighbors

It considers others to be as important as God loves us as well.

James 1:17 says that every good and perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James, the half brother of Jesus points us to the principle of fairness which is truly anchored on knowing that everything good we have comes from our heavenly Father. The focus is on the giver, not the gift. As humans, we get wrapped up on the gift that we received and forget the source of such blessings. When we focus on the gift, we fail to see the generosity and loving kindness of God. We start comparing the gifts we received with others’ gifts. We get into the envy trap as soon as we compare and we become discontented. Paul reminds the Corinthian believers of the principle of fairness anchored on God’s generosity.

REFLECTION

  • Why is it so easy to forget the giver and focus on the gifts we received?

2 CORINTHIANS 8 EXCEL IN THE ACT OF GRACE

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September 6

2 CORINTHIANS 8

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. – 2 Corinthians 8:1-7

2 CORINTHIANS 8 EXCEL IN THE ACT OF GRACE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you received the grace given by your Lord & Savior

You ought to exercise the same grace you received to your neighbor

You may have had an overflow of other spiritual gifts given to you

But remember that acts of grace must be excellently pursued.

Paul writes to the Corinthian believers about how the Macedonian churches have manifested grace in the midst of afflictions. The more the Macedonians were afflicted, the more they abound in their generosity to each of their brothers and sisters in Christ. It seems like the “acts of grace” that Paul was referring to in verse 7 is their offering or contribution to the less fortunate and marginalized members of the church. Paul is teaching them accountability and caring for each other, especially the needy.

In the book of James, he explains that pure religion according to God is to help the widows and orphans in their afflictions. James also talks about that faith without action is dead. He gave the example of someone asking for help to another brother and the other brother didn’t give the help at the time of asking, but just gave words to that one in need. He says that faith is dead if we are not able to attend to the needs of others.

REFLECTION

·       How does Philippians 2:3-4 reiterate what acts of grace means?

2 CORINTHIANS 7 GODLY GRIEF PRODUCES REPENTANCE

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September 5

2 CORINTHIANS 7

10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11 For 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. 12 So 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. 13 Therefore 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. 14 For 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. 15 And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you.

                                                          – 2 Corinthians 7:10-16

2 CORINTHIANS 7 GODLY GRIEF PRODUCES REPENTANCE

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you know Christ, you are not overcome with worldly sorrow

Instead, your grief brings about repentance which doesn’t include regret

It doesn’t dwell on the loss but on the hope that you have been vindicated

Godly grief gives hope that your penitence liberates you from bondage.

Paul writes in this letter about how thankful he was that the letter he wrote to them rebuking them of their sins turned out to produce repentance to them and though he was concerned that they may take it badly and be angrier at him, he was glad that he did the right thing to confront them which led to their change of heart.

Spurgeon comments “Repentance must never be thought of as something we must do before we can come back to God. Repentance describes the very act of coming to God. You can’t turn towards God without turning from the things He is against.”

Many people think that when they sin, they have to live in the shame of what they did and condemn themselves for what they did. Jesus died for us so we can repent.

REFLECTION

  • What is the difference between godly grief versus worldly sorrow?

2 CORINTHIANS 7 THE FEAR OF THE LORD CLEANSES OUR HEARTS

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September 4

2 CORINTHIANS 7

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of bodyand spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.2 Make room in your heartsfor us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 I 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. 5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. 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. – 2 Corinthians 7:1-9

2 CORINTHIANS 7 THE FEAR OF THE LORD CLEANSES OUR HEARTS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When we fear the Lord, we accept our sinful nature

We recognize that without it, we cannot mature

Without the fear of the Lord, we will be living for our flesh

It is obeying his laws that kills the flesh and cleanses the heart

The fear of the Lord comforts us in our weaknesses and grief

It gives us hope that the promises he made will be fulfilled.

Proverbs 9:10 says that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” Solomon wrote the book of Proverbs as a guide to the people of God to grow their fear of the Lord.  No wonder he focuses on the importance this fear for God as the firm foundation of the Christian’s life.  Paul reiterates the wisdom from Solomon’s book of Proverbs by reminding the Corinthian believers that without the fear of the Lord, they will remain corrupt and unclean.

REFLECTION   

  • How has the world corrupted the meaning of the “fear of the Lord?”

2 CORINTHIANS 6 SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM THE WORLD

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September 3

2 CORINTHIANS 6

11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What 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.17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.– 2 Corinthians 6:11-18

2 CORINTHIANS 6 SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM THE WORLD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When God has elected you to belong to his kingdom

He gave you his word so you can expose what is wrong

The Lord expects you to stay pure and undefiled from the world

Separate yourself from the impurities and all its unrighteousness

Do not have fellowship with those who don’t believe in God

Keep it holy since the Spirit of the Lord dwells inside you.

In this letter, Paul continues to guide the Corinthian believers how to live for Christ. He presents to them the two worlds at war which is God’s kingdom whose principle is righteousness and the world system which is lawlessness. Paul spoke of God as light and Satan as darkness in verse 14-15. He says that they cannot be together in one place. In John 1:5, it says that light covers the darkness. Where there is light, darkness no longer exists. In other words, when we believe in Christ, we are defeating Satan.

Paul also warns the believers that they cannot mix the world system with God’s kingdom. To do so would be defiling the purity and holiness that God has granted those who belong to him. We cannot follow the world’s ways and say we believe in God. It is an oxymoron.

REFLECTION

  • Show how Christians can unknowingly mix the world system with truth?

2 CORINTHIANS 6 BE FAULTLESS SERVANTS OF GOD

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September 2

2 CORINTHIANS 6

Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For 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. 3 We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. – 2 Corinthians 6:1-10

2 CORINTHIANS 6 BE FAULTLESS SERVANTS OF GOD

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When you were called by God to believe in his Son

You ought to receive his grace with a grateful heart

Do not let any obstacles or hindrances get in your way

You must also be able to endure hardships and trials

God’s people rejoice when they face tribulations

Press on and continue to be faultless in all situations.

Paul pleads the Corinthian believers to ensure that they do not take for granted the grace that God has given them. To take God’s grace in vain would be to deny the sacrifice he did on the cross for us to be freed from the wrath of God. Paul lays down the foundation of what is required to accept God’s grace in awe and gratitude. One of them would be to guarantee that we do not become an obstacle to ourselves or to anyone in the growth of the faith in a believer’s life. He gives the formula for being a faultless servant of God. To be pure and holy, to die to our flesh and to endure persecution and hardships for the sake of the gospel.

REFLECTION

·       What is a faultless servant of God & why is it different from perfectionism?

2 CORINTHIANS 5 PROOF THAT YOU ARE IN CHRIST

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September 1

2 CORINTHIANS 5

16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. – 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

2 CORINTHIANS 5 PROOF THAT YOU ARE IN CHRIST

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

Jesus Christ died so we can be reconciled with God

All those who belong to him, follows his path

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation

He no longer follows his flesh, but the Spirit’s transformation.

In this letter, Paul warns the Corinthian believers to no longer follow their old patterns which are conformed to the systems of the world. He talks about God’s ministry of reconciliation which was manifested when he gave his only begotten Son Jesus to us all. When God created mankind, it was to be able to have a full relationship with man, but the sin of Adam and Eve changed that plan. Because their loyalty changed from God to Satan, everything became twisted and corrupted. Since God is love, he cannot tolerate sin and disobedience, so they were cast out of the garden of Eden. The consequences of their sin were passed on to all human beings. As sin progressed, God’s anger got to its fullest and he annihilated those first humans he created in a flood and left only Noah’s family because he found favor with God. God still wanted to have his plan of being with us, so he knew that we cannot save ourselves from the sinful nature we inherited from our original parents. So, he gave his only Son, Jesus so the sinful nature and God’s wrath will be appeased. When we believe in Jesus, we become a new creation.

REFLECTION

  • Share how the process of transformation happened in your life as a believer.

2 CORINTHIANS 5 THE LOVE OF CHRIST CONTROLS US

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August 31

2 CORINTHIANS 5

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

                                                        – 2 Corinthians 5:11-15

2 CORINTHIANS 5 THE LOVE OF CHRIST CONTROLS US

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

If we truly believe in God, we’ll have the fear of the Lord

We’ll trust and obey Him and not follow this world

For it is the love of Christ that controls us

It makes us discern what is right from wrong

Since he died for us so we can be raised

Believing in him makes us receive his amazing grace.

Paul once again teaches the Corinthian believers what one is supposed to boast about. Unlike those who do not know Christ, their boasting should be different from unbelievers. Those who are not serving Christ are concerned with worldly things and their boasting is focused on what they see outwardly. The believer on the other hand should boast inwardly about spiritual things.

Paul alludes to the two kingdoms that are very different in their focus: the kingdom of God and the world system. Those who know and believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ do not focus on boasting about physical or material things. Instead, they only focus on depending on the greatest sacrifice done for them so they can be reconciled with God.

They give credit to the only one who can boast about the greatest gift and work of salvation that no human being can be able to surpass.

REFLECTION

·       Share insights how the love of Christ must be the one controlling our lives.

2 CORINTHIANS 5 WALK BY FAITH NOT BY SIGHT

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August 30

2 CORINTHIANS 5

6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. – 2 Corinthians 5:6-10

2 CORINTHIANS 5 WALK BY FAITH NOT BY SIGHT

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

As children of God, we live as people of courage

We do not dwell in fear because we are freed from bondage

Even though we are still living in this corrupt world

We look beyond the conditions we go through

We live knowing that though we don’t see

God is faithful to walk us through all our misery.

Hebrews 11 defines faith as this: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen.” We believe even though we don’t see. Interesting how the world twisted the meaning of faith. The Oxford dictionary defines faith as trust in someone’s ability or knowledge. That definition is very different from the bible definition of faith. It eliminated the phrase “the conviction of things not seen.” As human beings, we are very limited with our understanding. We can easily think that we can fabricate faith and believe in someone or something on our own strength. The difference of believing in God who is sovereign, omnipotent and omnipresent is huge. To believe in a person or in whatever they promise, they may not be able to pull through with the fulfilment of that promise. But God is a promise-keeper and whatever he says he would do, it will come to pass. Those who do not know God and believe in him will have a hard time truly comprehending the meaning of true faith. Even believers struggle with the human condition of trying to understand things and get a guarantee from who or whatever they are believing in. Sadly, when we believe in earthly things, we will not have that complete assurance because they are temporary. God, on the other hand is eternal.

REFLECTION

  • Why do you think some people lack assurance when they claim they believe?

2 CORINTHIANS 5 A HOUSE NOT MADE WITH HANDS

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August 29

2 CORINTHIANS 5

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it onwe may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. – 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

2 CORINTHIANS 5 A HOUSE NOT MADE WITH HANDS

A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses

When God chose his people, he provided everything for them

As they are still in their earthly bodies, it is their tents

But the Lord God made a house for them not made with hands

Unlike their tents, God’s heavenly home is not temporary but is eternal

While we are in our earthly tents, we will experience challenges in life

As his children, let us long for that eternity that we only receive from God.

Paul likens our human bodies to tents. God’s people lived in tents and are nomadic especially during the time that God was moving them towards the Promised Land. Abraham led God’s people as he was prompted to and left his pagan country Ur to a place where he had no clue of at the time he was called to do so. He lived in tents with his flock and herds and entire household. Imagine the instability of the nomadic life. How inconvenient it was for the Israelites to do. In Genesis 12, we have an account that Abraham was seventy-five years old when God called him and promised him that he will be blessed with a great nation and a great name. Genesis 21:5 indicates that Abraham had his son Isaac at a hundred years old. It took twenty-five years before the fulfillment of the promise came about. The Israelites didn’t enter the promised land while Abraham was still alive. The bible tells us that Moses led them and eventually Joshua moved them into the Promised Land. While we are still living in our tents, which are our bodies, we will experience difficulties and challenges while we wait for the time when Jesus comes again and gives us new heavenly bodies. It will be a new earth where we will worship him only.

REFLECTION

·       Why is it important for us to long for God’s promise spoken in Revelations 21?