SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 1:1-22
OBSERVATION:
Some in Corinth were questioning Paul’s commitment to them, in part because he didn’t come to them sooner, and also because of a previous letter that offended them.
Paul tells them of his hardships for their sake, and how God rescued him through their prayers, so that he might strengthen them in their faith again.
Paul begins to explain that his original plans changed, that he had intended to visit them sooner.
He reminds them that no matter what happens, it is always a part of God’s ‘yes’ to us.
The heart of this passage is that no matter what happens, God is at work in us and through us by His Spirit to accomplish His good purpose.
Paul takes the focus off what he did or didn’t do and put it on God, His deposit guaranteeing what is to come.
APPLICATION:
I can relate to Paul’s being misunderstood, therefore I also need to remember God’s ‘yes’ to me, even when facing hardship or misunderstanding.
If having the Spirit is a deposit, to encourage me to hang on, how do I experience this? it sounds as if Paul is saying we are experiencing something right now that ought to be felt, the evidence of God.
Am I missing something, is there an experience of the Spirit that I am resisting?
My confidence needs to be in God’s unshakeable promise, not on my experiences; I can pray for that experience, but I need to trust God’s purpose, no matter how He answers my prayer.
PRAYER:
Lord, again and again You say YES to me. I desire to know You better, and to be filled with Your Holy Spirit so that no matter what happens, I find my strength in You. Thanks You for the faithful support and prayers of others. Amen.
In being an encourager, one must also be able to speak of life experiences. In speaking words of comfort and hope, one must have walked in someone else’s shoes. God did just that for all His people in Christ Jesus. I too need the patient endurance to share in the sufferings and joys of God’s people. If one suffers we all suffer and if one rejoices we all joice since we are all part of the body of Christ My prayer life must increase for the prayers of His people.
It is the Lord who tells us Let your hearts not be troubled. On our journey, He keeps me close so that I rely on Him for God is my Helper and Strength. I sing of the mercies of the Lord forever because He is able. He is able to bind up the broken hearted and set the prisoner free In our trials and in experiencing God’s mercies, I too must praise God. My heart direction needs be God focussed. In all of my relations, I must be God focussed. Then I/you can together boast of one another in the Lord of the wondrous works the Lord has done.
It is the power of His Spirit within me Who makes it all possible for me/you to stand firm in the Lord. As He is faithful, I too need to faithfully continue in His work.
I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever:
I will sing, I will sing.
I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever:
I will sing of the mercies of the LORD.
With my mouth will I make known
Thy faithfulness, Thy faithfulness.
With my mouth will I make known
Thy faithfulness to all generations.