July 19th, 2020
Devotional
“Forgiveness” -
2 Corinthians 2: 1-10
Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com
Monday: “Painful Visit” - 2 Cor 2: 1-2
At the end of last week’s devotional, we reflected on how Paul was supposed to come and visit the Corinthians, but something prevented him from doing so. He believed that it was the will of God that he did not come visit.
In today’s passage, he further unpacks that sentiment, stating that it would have been a painful visit. Which is not to say that the letters that the Corinthians received were not painful letters. But the question is how to speak to them in a way where they can best hear Paul and receive his admonishment to correct some of their behaviors.
No one likes to be corrected. But Paul did so out of love for the Corinthians and concern for them. And because he knows of Christ’s love for them, which he wants them to lean on to sustain them. While correction is hard, Paul chose to do it in a way that he felt was the most loving.
How do you respond when you are corrected out of love?
Prayer: God, we thank you that you do not desire for us to remain as we are. Instead, you invite us to be transformed through the love of Jesus Christ. Speak to the places in our hearts, Dear God, where we need to be transformed the most, we pray. Amen.
Tuesday: “Abundant Love” - 2 Cor 2: 3-4
Perhaps what we need, like the Corinthian Church needed, is a reframing of what correction means. For some they respond defensively because they feel that they are being attacked. Others retreat out of fear or pain. Still others become paralyzed by what they hear and do not know how to respond.
But what would happen if we saw correction as coming from a deep place of love? Would that change our response at all?
Paul clearly tells the Corinthians that he does not want them to suffer pain because of him. But he also recognizes that something in the community caused him distress and anguish and that it needs to be addressed. Not from a place of hurt, but rather because of the abundant love that he has for them.
What does correction in love look like to you?
Prayer: Lord, we confess that we would love to live in a world where no one causes one another any pain - but that simply is not our current reality. O Lord, as others cause us pain, may we figure out how to respond with your love, as you have responded to us when we were yet far from you. We pray this in Jesus’s name. Amen.
Wednesday: “All of You” - 2 Cor 2: 5-6
Think back to one of the well-known passages from 1 Corinthians. Paul compares the body of Christ to a physical body, where all parts are needed. But here is the other part of the body - when one part suffers, the whole body suffers.
Think about when you have a cut on your hand. If you do not address the cut on your hand, does it stay just a problem with the hand? Probably not. If it is severe enough and is left untreated long enough, an infection can go through the whole body.
So it is with pain that we cause one another in the body of Christ. If it festers, often people will try to draw others in to their side so they can “win” the argument, which results in an even larger problem. It would seem like this is the case in Corinth, as Paul is not recommending that they deal with the issue one person to one person, but rather the body needs to deal with it because the body is involved.
How can pain to one person become pain to the body of Christ?
Prayer: God, we confess that at times we are no better at dealing with conflict and hurt within the local church than people are in the outside world. Lord, remind us that we are bound together by your Lordship, and therefore, we need to treat each other as one body. Teach us to love anew, we pray. Amen.
Thursday: “Forgive” - 2 Cor 2: 7-8
All of a sudden Paul makes a hard pivot towards forgiveness. At one moment he is speaking about punishment, and in the next he is calling for the body to forgive and console this member that is causing pain.
Paul is essentially asking the body what will do the most good for the body as whole. Is it better to seek justice or to show mercy? What do they hope to achieve and how can healing be possible.
It is interesting that Paul is the one calling for forgiveness, because some scholars believe that the person being written about has wounded Paul - probably by calling into question his teachings. But Paul is quick to remind people that when one suffers, all suffer.
Can you think of a story that reflects the idea that when one suffers, all suffer?
Prayer: Lord, when we want to be people of justice. We like the idea of people being punished - as long as it isn’t us. If we are wronged, we often want vengeance. And when someone hurts a person we love, we want to seek justice on their behalf. Yet, you speak through your apostle of forgiveness and mercy. O Lord, have mercy on us, in our struggle with forgiveness, we pray. Amen.
Friday: “Your Sake” - 2 Cor 2: 9-10
Paul again affirms that all he has done, he has done out of love for the Corinthians. What he wrote them, he did so out of love. Not being able to come in person, was done out of love, for it would cause more pain. And now, calling them to forgive, that is also done in love.
What we need to remember is that all that is done in love, is not by our own strength or power. Instead, it is done through Christ, who first loved us. The love that is reflected by Paul throughout this passage is the love of God, that is only possible through us, as fallen human beings, by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.
What allows you to love?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving us. And thank you, even when it is hard, for inviting us to love and forgive others. May we find true freedom, the freedom to love, through your grace, we pray. Amen.
Saturday: Preparing for the Word
You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic: “Treasure in Clay Jars” - 2 Cor 4: 1-18
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