II Corinthians 1:6:11-13 (NIV)

11We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.

12We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us.

13As a fair exchange--I speak as to my children--open wide your hearts also.

    Paul teaches some very basic and very important lessons about developing close interpersonal relationships in the Christian Church. The simplest way to put it is: "We must be open to one another."

    As we have noted before, there was division and controversy in the Corinthian Church. There was a group of people trying to undermine the work of Paul in the sharing of the gospel. The members of the congregation had the dilemma of deciding which one to believe --- Paul or the opposition party. Paul sets it forth simply. "We have been open to you in all of our speech and conversation. We have shared our love for you with an open heart. We have held nothing back. We have not tried to deceive you in any way. But you," said Paul, "have not been open to me."

    Why was this the case? What prevented them from openly sharing with Paul and openly receiving what Paul had to say? Paul says it was because they were allowing their emotions to run their lives and dictate their thoughts.

    You may have been in a similar situation. You have two people making opposite claims. They can't both be correct. How do you know which one is right? If you make the decision on the basis of your emotions, because you don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, you will likely make an incorrect decision. If, however, you pray about it and seek the Lord's will, and if you decide to go for the truth no matter who is saying what, you will be on safer ground with your decision.

    In the end, the only thing that works in interpersonal relationships is that which God calls us to demonstrate in our conversations with Him. We need to be loving and carefully open and honest with one another. Then God can work in the situation; we can understand one another, and Jesus' prayer in John 17 can become a reality.

14Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

15What harmony is there between Christ and Belial ? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

16What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."

17"Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."

18"I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

7Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

DAY #2:        II Corinthians 6:14 - 7:1

    This is a difficult section to describe in one or two paragraphs. Let's see if we can make it simple. We are called to remain pure. We are called to be a faithful witness to the Lord and apply His principles daily. That means we can't fellowship with pagans, heretics, etc. Does that mean we can't even walk and talk with them? Of course it doesn't mean that. Jesus associated with such people because He wanted to bring health to their sick spirits.

    How then do we walk and talk with such people without having "fellowship" with them? We must make it clear that there is a difference between us and the "pagans" with whom we walk and talk. This should be done without giving a speech about it. We need not verbally point it out. It will be obvious if we are being obedient to the Lord in all things. In fact, others will be able to see more clearly the light in our lives when it is seen glowing alongside the darkness in the lives of those with whom we walk and talk.

    Jesus put it well when He said we are to be in the world but not of (a product of) the world. That means our relationships with others who are not of the household of faith are to be "social relationships" not "covenant relationships." Whether we are talking about those in our local churches or denominations, or whether we are talking about potential marriage partners, we must make this clear. If those people are not Christians, we are only related to one another socially, not covenantally. We can be very loving people in this way and, at the same time, witness with the gentle power that the Lord gives us.

2Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one.

3I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you.

4I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.

5For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn--conflicts on the outside, fears within.

6But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,

7and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.

8Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it--I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while--

9yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us.

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

DAY #3:             II Corinthians 7:2-10

    Here we see two kinds of rejoicing as well as two kinds of sorrow. One is of the world and one is of the Lord. When a person causes others to be sorrowful and enjoys the discomfort this brings, that person is acting selfishly and, very likely, under the influence of demonic forces. Paul notes that he realizes he caused the Corinthians sorrow. And he was distressed about that. He rejoiced, however, in the result of that sorrow. It brought them to repentance. That is called "godly rejoicing" --- joy because it is evident that God transformed their sorrow into repentance that resulted in cleansing and forgiveness.

    Concerning sorrow, the world's sorrow about sin is "sadness because I got caught and must pay a penalty. I am not upset that I did something wrong. I am not distressed about being involved in sin. I do not hate evil. I hate getting caught." On the other hand, there is a "godly sorrow." This is sorrow that comes from a desire to love and serve the Lord. My awareness of committing sin distresses me because I want so much to lovingly obey and please my Savior.

    Coming to the Lord in repentance, whether it is out of godly sorrow or godly joy, is the best thing that could happen to me. It means I am taking steps to be reconciled to the Lord. That means I am going to be sensitive to His Spirit, walking in the Light, and confident in the direction of my life. The alternative is denying I've sinned. That means separation from God, walking in darkness, and confusion about the future. What is your choice?

11See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

12So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are.

13By all this we are encouraged.

14In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well.

15And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling.

16I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.

DAY #4:            II Corinthians 7:11-16

    We noted yesterday the importance of godly, as opposed to worldly, sorrow. The basic and right response that comes from godly sorrow is repentance. That is a biblical word that has special meaning. The Greek word is  (pronounced met-ah-NOY-ah). It literally means a "change of mind," but expects a new behavior pattern corresponding to the new way of looking at and thinking about things. Paul describes some behavior changes at Corinth as a result of true repentance. Hopefully, we will do better with repentance in our own lives by surveying the changes among the Corinthians.

    First, their repentance produced justification in themselves. This is not only the receiving of an awareness of being right with God. It involves knowing it in the heart and mind and --- beyond that --- living in its truth day by day. There should be no sense of a guillotine hanging over the head ready to drop because of sin. That dread has been removed. A freedom has taken its place. The presence of that true release from bondage should be evident in our daily lives . . . even in our attitude about life itself.

    Second, repentance produces indignation. This is distress over being involved in wrongdoing. But more than that, it is concern over having given in to enticement to sin, concern over being deceived into evil acts or words. It produces a hate for evil --- a right attitude about unrighteousness. It helps us beware and not want to fall into sin again.

    Third, repentance brings healthy fear. This is an awesome awareness of the presence and power of God. We come to see that we don't really appreciate the love and the mercy of God until we begin to understand what our final end would be if God were as powerful as He is and not a loving God.

    Fourth, repentance produces a longing. This is a true, deep-seated desire or hunger to do the right from now on. It is a heartfelt yearning to please Father in all ways. Sometimes we obey our earthly parents because we are afraid not to. Then there are times we want to obey our parents out of respect for them. We have a real desire to please them and make them happy.

    Fifth, repentance brings zeal. The one who has received the forgiveness of the Lord should be prompted to be zealous for obedience, putting all he has into living the Christian life. More than that, it is seen in the zeal to share the good news of Jesus with others. The forgiven sinner not only experiences the joy and freedom of the Christian life, he wants to share it. Knowing the release that comes from God's mercy, the forgiven one wants everyone else to share in that same unburdening that comes only from the Lord.

    Sixth, repentance produces vindication. This is not a sense of trying to prove "I am right." On the contrary, the forgiven sinner wants to see that any who were harmed by the sinful acts or words is taken care of. There is a desire to make amends, where possible, for the wrong done.

    These evidences of repentance working its way out in the lives of the Corinthian Christians can be instructive to us. They can help us see how we are manifesting a changed mind and changed actions to the glory of God.

    Let's examine ourselves. How are we doing? Now let's not be legalistic about this examination. If we don't always reflect all six results of repentance all the time, that is not a good reason to let Satan place false guilt upon our hearts. We need to let the Spirit of the Lord work. If there is true repentance, there must be some change in our thinking and speaking and living. The examination begins now. Let's pray for passing grades.

11See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

12So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are.

13By all this we are encouraged.

14In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well.

15And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling.

16I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.

DAY #5:           II Corinthians 7:11-16

    There is clear evidence in this passage of the love of Paul for this Corinthian Church. He is once again sharing words of encouragement in the middle of a letter that was written primarily to give words of correction. This is one of those responsibilities of the Christian life that cannot be overemphasized.

    It is so natural for us to be critical of others. When we think about our relationships with any number of people, it is so easy to remember the negative things that we have experienced. Why is that so? My theory is this: In most relationships, there are mostly good things going on. Therefore, the bad or negative events show up so much more dramatically. In addition, negative experiences usually carry deeper emotions. That often causes them to remain in our minds for a longer period of time.

    The fact is, however, that most of what we encounter in our relationships with others is positive in nature. Perhaps we need to follow Paul's example and intentionally give notes of thanks and encouragement --- or positive phone calls --- to those about whom we care.

    This is not something that is going to happen naturally or by accident. We need to see the importance of encouragement, recognize it is God's will for us, and make specific plans to do something about it. Let other people know how you feel.

8And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.

2Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

3For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,

4they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.

5And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.

DAY #6:         II Corinthians 8:1-5

    Chapters 8 and 9 deal specifically with the subject of "Giving and Receiving," of "Sowing and Reaping." This will be our focus for the next two weeks.

    Paul continues in an attitude of encouragement. He notes the generous giving of the Macedonian Christians to those who are needy in the church. Paul reminds the Corinthians of their similar commitment to sacrificial giving. He goes on to use these generous disciples as an astounding testimony of how Christians give freely, whether they have a lot or a little, when the Spirit of God is allowed to guide them. If we allow only our view of the extent of our material blessings to dictate how much or how little we should give, we will be using only the world's standards. We must consider those standards. Having done so, the prompting of the Holy Spirit should be our final authority.

    God knows what we have to share as well as what we will be receiving in the future. Therefore, if we are convinced God is convicting us to give more than our limited perspective tells us we should give, perhaps we need to trust Him and confidently respond to His call. He will see that what we need in the future is provided in the right way and at just the right time.

    Paul tells us these Christians were so committed to generous giving because they first gave themselves to the Lord. The Lord really doesn't want only what you can give Him. He wants you. Once you have given yourself to Him, all that you might have to give Him is available as you respond to His will for your life. Remember, Jesus doesn't want only what you can give Him, He wants you. All of you.

    In the same way, we shouldn't only seek what the King can give us, we should seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness. All other concerns will fade away and be surprisingly met by our loving Savior.

II Corinthians 2:1-4

1So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you.

2For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved?

3I wrote as I did so that when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy.

4For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.

    We have already noted the pressures that Paul was experiencing in dealing with some of the Corinthians. Some of those pressures were from the people themselves. Others were from Paul's own personal needs and thoughts about himself. That is, from time to time he imagined how he might look to other people. The most significant pressures he sensed were from the Lord. He wisely allowed these latter pressures to guide him in deciding how to minister to the Corinthian Church.

    Therefore, his basic motivation for the church was love for them, doing that which the Lord told him to do.  In verse 4, Paul notes he did this with many tears. It saddened him to have to confront them so strongly and so many times with their wrong attitude and actions. If he was to be submissive to his Lord, he really had no other choice.

    He did not want to cause them any sorrow. His primary concern was their well-being. If he were to write from a self-centered standpoint, it is very likely he would not confront them at all. He would probably try to avoid the issue entirely. He knew the sorrow this would bring to their hearts and the possible further strain upon his relationship with them. He also knew some of his critics in Corinth might use his words of confrontation as weapons against him. He also knew, however, that not to confront them with their errors would, in the long run, cause even more sorrow than this confrontation.

    We all need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and His prompting of our spirits in order to rightly minister with His love and justice in our interpersonal relationships. We need to be willing to sacrifice self and personal reputation at the present time, in each strained relationship, for the purpose of achieving God's long-term goals, whatever they might be. That is one reason why it is so important for us to know Him and His word intimately, that we might know His will at any moment. Keeping the intimacy of that communion with God going and growing should be our primary motivation. Pray today and every day that we will grow in our ministry with and for Him.

5If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent--not to put it too severely.

6The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him.

7Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

8I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.

9The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.

10If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven--if there was anything to forgive--I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,

11in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

DAY #2:            II Corinthians 2:5-11

    Forgiveness is not only a nice thing to do. It is the action and the attitude that releases us and those with whom we have a strained relationship. It releases us: from wrong attitudes; from being bound up in the events of the past and thus being prevented from moving effectively in the present and toward the future; from thoughts of vengeance; and it releases us from being open to the destructive work of Satan in our lives and in our relationships. On the other side of the ledger, unforgiveness opens us up to all the negative aspects of these same areas. We are particularly vulnerable to the divisive and deceptive work of the enemy.

    Forgiveness and reconciliation, peace and unity are signs of God's victory through Jesus being manifest in our daily lives. Unforgiveness and division show Satan has gained victory. We can learn from Paul's example how to deal with the conflict and how to defeat Satan in the process. Followiwng are five steps he followed in dealing with the Corinthians (By the way, these principles are for leaders of churches to use in relationship with the members of their congregations. They are also equally effective when used by parents in relationship with the children under their authority in the home.) Think and pray about them. See if they don't make sense to you.

    (1) When you confront, confront tearfully. If you find great joy in facing people with the errors of their ways, you are working out of selfish motivations. God's healing will not work through that kind of attitude.

    (2) Don't take the attacks personally (even if they were meant that way). Focus on the person who is in error, not on yourself and how you feel. This releases you from self so the Lord can actually use you to minister effectively in the person's life.

    (3) Your goal should be to bring correction to the person, not vengeance. Be concerned for the entire church or family unit as a whole as well as the individual who was offensive. You want to bring healing, not destruction. Humiliating or destroying the offender does not unify the family. It can actually decimate the group.

    (4) Aim for the purpose, therefore, of restoring the person to loving fellowship. Invite him as soon as possible back into active involvement in the ministry of the congregation or into the social life of the family.

    (5) Reaffirm the restored Christian brother or sister or family member and build that person up in the Lord. Let him or her know that the correction was out of love and you continue to love him or her in the Lord and look forward to continued times together in the Lord.

    Consider this example of Paul. See how the Lord would have you adapt these principles to your own personality and situation.

12Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me,

13I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to them and went on to Macedonia.

14But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.

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

16To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?

17Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.

DAY #3:         II Corinthians 2:12-17

    One of my favorite aromas is when I arrive home just after my wife takes freshly baked bread out of the oven. Somehow, oven-fresh bread has the aroma of warm family love. That is what I think about when I read this passage. It describes how we, as Christians, should exude the sweet aroma of our Christian witness for the Lord. It should be an aroma that is pleasant and attractive.

    I see all these advertisements in magazines or on TV for new perfumes. They are names for emotions or personalities. It seems to me that instead of "Obsession" or "Passion", the Lord is calling us to have the fragrance of "Peace" and "Compassion" and "Jesus."

    You would think that everyone would respond to such fragrance with enthusiasm. Not so! Paul tells us that for some it brings life and for others death. That is not, however, the fault of the fragrance. It flows from the reaction of those receiving the fragrance. Some don't like the smell. It reminds them of their separation from God or from another person. That is because the fragrance is, in fact, not the aroma of you but of God flowing through you. In these people, it is a matter of rejecting the conviction of the Holy Spirit, not rejecting you or your witness. We have to pray even more than before for such persons. On the other hand, there are those who love the aroma and for them it is moving from life to life. They are drawn into a deeper relationship with the Lord as they positively respond to the sweet smell of the Lord.

    When the aroma of life is accepted, it brings more life. When the aroma of life is rejected, it becomes, for those who reject it, the odor of death.

14But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.

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

16To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?

17Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.

DAY #4:        II Corinthians 2:14-17

    Paul was apparently being accused of preaching the gospel for his own selfish ends. It is very likely that even his attempts at reconciliation, as painful and anguished as they had become, were only seen as, or interpreted by his critics as, efforts to make them indebted to Paul. They may have suggested he only wanted to get more out of them to fill his pockets and that he really didn't care for their needs.    There are certainly people with such selfish motives today, as there have been throughout the history of the Body of Christ. Occasionally we see people using a sales pitch or technique that sounds like the con artists on the streets of some big city or in tourist traps across the nation. Although we must be careful about judging the motives of such people, on the surface they seem to be "hawking" a product rather than offering people the free gift of eternal life through Jesus.

    Paul maintains that his motivation was for the benefit of the church and not for personal gain. In fact, we know that many times he let people know he never asked for financial support, although some gave it to him. He worked to earn his support by making tents. He had all he needed in Jesus and did not depend upon people for those needs (see Philippians 4:10-19). His primary motivation, in sharing the gospel, was his grateful response to the kindness of the Lord in saving him. He was so thankful, he wanted others to have the same joy and freedom he was experiencing in Jesus.

    Each one of us should have that same gratitude that Paul had. Indeed, each one of us should want others to have the same joy and freedom we have. We should boldly and expectantly and excitedly tell as many as possible the good news of Jesus.

    Peddlers and hawkers will lie about their product to trick us and to get something out of us for an item that will soon fall apart. The Christian witness is the one who lovingly tells the truth, in simple terms, about his "product" so that the "buyer" might benefit eternally. So our calling is to be witnesses as Paul was. If anyone asks what we do in the church, we should just tell them, "Oh, I'm in sales."

14But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.

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

16To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?

17Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.

DAY #5:           II Corinthians 2:14-17

    We have already noted that Paul was motivated by love for God and love for his fellow man in the sharing of the good news of Jesus Christ. He really did want God's best for those he met day by day in the world.

    In verse 17, we see two more aspects of Paul's evangelism. First, he said, "we speak in Christ." He is trying to say that it is by the Spirit of the living God that he is ministering the truth. We are all called to abide in Jesus (see John 15, for example) and to live out of that abiding relationship. That kind of living in communion causes us to have the motivation and the power to share the truth about Jesus by what we do and what we say. In Christ, we live with power and love. In Christ, we speak the truth in love.

    Second, Paul says "we speak in Christ in the sight of God." Why is that important? It is Paul's way of saying, "I am accountable to God, not just to you, for what I do and say." And the Lord looks upon the heart to see why we are doing what we are doing in our Christian witness. When we have that awareness of the Lord looking over us and being with us, it causes us to be bold because we have His power. It also causes us to be very careful and responsible because He will hold us accountable.

    When you make decisions about what to do and what to say as you go through your daily routine, do you think about this fact? God will help you make the right decisions and empower you to follow through on them. Do you keep in the front of your mind the truth that He not only knows what you do? He also knows your heart. Don't try to fool or con our omniscient ("all-knowing") God. He does know all things. Obey Him and be blessed.

1Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?

2You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody.

3You 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.

4Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God.

DAY #6:          II Corinthians 3:1-4

    Hundreds of times, over the years I have been in the ministry, people have come to me and asked me to write letters of recommendation for them. And I try my best to be impartial and honest. Actually, the word has been out for years to take the recommendations of pastors with a grain of salt. It is believed they only say nice things about people and avoid mentioning any needs for improvement. With this impression of pastors in mind, I try to be balanced in what I say about a person in any recommendation I write. If I can't think of anything negative, I note that I would if I could, but nothing has come to mind. Therefore, any negatives are either unknown to me or so minor that they are not worth remembering.

    Basically, letters of recommendation are for the purpose of listing all the good things that a person has done or is capable of doing. There is a similar purpose in a person's "bio." That is the list a person makes of all he has done in life and what he is now doing in his profession. The purpose is to impress people with his accomplishments. There is good reason for such information being shared. It helps us get a handle on who the person is and where he is coming from. It makes us better able to relate to him when he arrives.

    Paul notes that he could probably have lots of positive things said about himself on such letters of recommendation. Paul, however, does not want to draw attention to himself. He says the only "letters of recommendation" he needs are not written on paper or chiseled in stone. He claims to have thousands of "letters of recommendation." They are the lives of the people who have responded to the message of the gospel as Paul shared it and, thereby, have had their lives radically transformed.

II Corinthians 1:1-11 (NIV)

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:

2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

6If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.

7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

8We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.

9Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

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

11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

For the Week of January 2-8, 2012

WEEK #18-1

DAY #1:          II Corinthians 1:1-11

    The clearest impression we receive from reading this first portion of the letter is the many times the word "comfort" is used. Some translators were apparently concerned that we would get tired of reading the same word over and over again. They think they have done us a favor by using more than one word in English to translate the one Greek word for comfort whose root word is  (pronounced pa-ra-ka-LE-o). Some translations use the word "console" or "consolation." The word "comfort" is the accurate translation.

    It is clear that Paul wanted to use this particular word. Of all the choices he had, and as gifted as he was in his use of the Greek language, he certainly would have used more than one word if he felt inspired to do so. On the contrary, , in its various forms and tenses, is the only word used; and it should be translated consistently each time it is used. Your translation should have the word "comfort" written 10 times in verses 3-7. Today, we will look at the "source" of all comfort and tomorrow, the "ministry" of comfort.

    God is the source of all comfort. As James has written in his letter, "every good and perfect gift comes down to us from above." Certainly comfort is a gift of God. It is so much a part of His nature that Jesus uses it to describe Himself and the Holy Spirit. In John 14, Jesus instructs His disciples that He is going to send them "another Comforter." Not just "a" comforter, or even "the" comforter, but "another" comforter. To have another one, we have to already have one. Right? What does Jesus mean by this unique use of these basic words of the faith?

    It is clear that Jesus is already ministering with comfort to His disciples. He is preparing them for His death, resurrection, and departure from their side. He is comforting them about His impending removal. But, He tells them, He is sending them another comforter who cannot come unless He leaves. Because when He leaves, He will send this other comforter to them. This other comforter is, of course, the Holy Spirit.

     (pa-ra-ka-LE-o), and the noun form "paraklete," is a compound word. The first half is "para" which is used in the word "parallel," a word that describes two lines that are always alongside one another. The second half of the word is a form of the Greek word "kaleo" from which we get the English word "call." The paraklete, the Comforter, is the one who is called to come alongside of you and always be alongside of you. His ministry is to help, encourage, and strengthen you while He offers to carry all of your burdens for you. One idea is that He not only will carry your burdens. He is able to carry you as well.

    The idea of having someone carry us goes right to the core of the idea of comfort. I can't handle all that is bombarding me from within and without. I need a helper, one who will carry me through. The Lord tells us He will do that for us by His Holy Spirit.

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:

2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

6If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.

7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

8We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.

9Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

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

11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

DAY #2:     II Corinthians 1:1-11

    The Source of all comfort is God Himself. This is revealed to us throughout the centuries by the manifestation of God's nature through countless revelations to mankind. It is most clearly seen in the ministry of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. While the Source of all comfort is the Lord, He shares that important ministry with His people through individuals who have responded to His call. In that call, God says, "Come on up alongside these hurting persons and help them carry their burdens. I will give you the sensitivity to discern their needs. I will give you the strength to carry their burdens. And I will be your strength as you lift them up and carry them through this experience."

    Paul notes that it is in the many sufferings we experience along the way in life, and by the ministry of comfort we receive from the Lord and His children, that we learn the benefits of comfort. More than that, we also discover the way in which we can comfort others at the call, and in the power, of the Spirit of God.

    Think back to a time when you needed comfort. I am absolutely sure you can remember a person or one specific incident that, whether big or small, made a loving and lasting impact on your life. In fact, I would not be surprised if you told me that you had the opportunity to minister to someone else in a similar fashion as the Lord gave you sensitivity and the desire to minister His love.

    One unique characteristic of the ministry of comfort is that it does not take your burdens away from you. Nor does it remove you from your burdens. It helps you work it through. The Comforter does not help you escape your burdens or hurts. He helps you through, knowing you will be strengthened in so many ways because of the experience. This is what occurs through the ministry of comfort.

    Have you thanked the Lord for the comfort He has given you? Have you ever thanked one of your comforters? Have you asked the Lord to help you minister comfort to others? He will use you if you offer yourself for His ministry of comforting love.

    Read back over that last paragraph. You will find there three clear assignments for taking the principle of comfort and making it a part of your life as a disciple of Jesus Christ. That is our assignment for this week . . . perhaps for this life.

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:

2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,

4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

6If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.

7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

8We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.

9Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

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

11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

DAY #3:    II Corinthians 1:1-11

    Toward the end of this portion of Scripture, Paul notes the dependable nature of God. He will comfort us at all times. Whenever we need His grace or comfort or mercy, He is absolutely reliable. The One who promises is the One who keeps the promise. And He always keeps His promises.

    How far can I trust Him? Paul says no matter how bad things get, God is dependable. Even when I get to the point where death is staring me in the face, even when it seems I have no hope, God is always there. When it becomes clear that a situation is way beyond anything I can handle, I discover God is always trustworthy.

    This fact prompts Paul, then, to tell the Corinthians that God's faithfulness is an example for us to follow. Indeed, says Paul, "Just so have I been faithful to you. And I trust you will be faithful as well to us and to the gospel we taught you when we were with you." He goes on to encourage them to pray for one another.

    Let's ask ourselves some important questions:

    How are we doing in our ministry to others? Are we dependable?

    When someone asks us to pray for them, and we say we will, do we follow through? Or does it slip our minds right away?

12Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace.

13For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that,

14as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.

15Because I was confident of this, I planned to visit you first so that you might benefit twice.

16I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea.

17When I planned this, did I do it lightly? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, "Yes, yes" and "No, no"?

18But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not "Yes" and "No."

19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not "Yes" and "No," but in him it has always been "Yes."

20For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.

21Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,

22set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

23I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.

24Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.

DAY #4:             II Corinthians 1:12-24

    The prophet Isaiah notes, inspired by the Holy Spirit, that God's ways are so far above our ways and His thoughts above our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). Paul has noted in I Corinthians 2:10-16 that we can only know and understand the things of God when we have His Spirit working within us. And Jesus noted that many in the world would hate us as we do the things of the Lord because those in the world do not comprehend. Have you ever experienced that truth? Have you discovered that when you act by God's principles, the world and its leaders will usually misjudge your motives and misinterpret your actions?

    Paul experienced this when he responded to a particular call of God upon him. He felt God telling him to hold off on his visit to Corinth until a later date . . . a postponement that was really for the benefit of the Corinthians. Those who opposed Paul said, "See, Paul is unreliable. He consistently vacillates from one plan to another. He just never keeps his promises. You can't depend upon the man." Those who believed that God does change our plans from time to time could see the Lord working in the delayed visit. Those who were into self and the ways of the world chose to see things differently or could not see the truth at all. (Consider the experience of Paul in Rome while talking to the Jewish leaders [see Acts 28]. Some believed him while others "would not believe." Here is a willful decision to reject what Paul said no matter what he said.)

    Not too long ago, I was talking to a woman about the difficulties she was having in her marriage. She understood some of the scriptural principles I was sharing with her. She was excited about applying them in her home. She saw some good results from putting these principles into practice. She suggested I might want to talk to her husband about these ideas. This was, of course, her request and not her husband's. I offered to pray about it, to see what the Lord would have me do.

    In the natural, my strongest inclination was to make an appointment with the husband. Yet, whenever I talked to the Lord about it, I had absolutely no peace at all about the matter. My only conclusion was that, for reasons I do not clearly understand, it was not the Lord's plan for me to talk to the husband. God had a better idea.

    The beauty of it all is that the wife, who is a Christian very much sensitive to the Holy Spirit, immediately understood and accepted what the Lord told me not to do. I am sure, however, that many Christians and most non-Christians would not understand. That is what we must expect, says Paul, when we obey the Lord.

12Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace.

13For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that,

14as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.

15Because I was confident of this, I planned to visit you first so that you might benefit twice.

16I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea.

17When I planned this, did I do it lightly? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, "Yes, yes" and "No, no"?

18But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not "Yes" and "No."

19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not "Yes" and "No," but in him it has always been "Yes."

20For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.

21Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,

22set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

23I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.

24Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.

DAY #5:           II Corinthians 1:12-24

    In Jesus, all the promises of God are YES and AMEN. What in the world does that mean? Very simply, Paul is saying that God is not "two-faced." In some of those old western movies of yesteryear, one could hear the Indian say to his trusted companion, "White man speak with forked tongue." Others have said such people talk out of both sides of their mouth. Just like being two-faced, the description is of a person who says one thing and then does another. Sometimes what is done is just the opposite of what had been promised.

    Paul was accused of being "two-faced" by the opposition party in the Corinthian Church. In effect, they had accused him of "lack of integrity." To have integrity is to be reliable and trustworthy. It is to say "Yes" when you mean "Yes" and "No" when you mean "No." God demonstrated most clearly His plan to fulfill all of His promises in the Old Testament when He sent Jesus into the world. He kept His promises and completed His plans in Jesus.

    So many people do not display integrity. When that happens in the Church, it can cause great pain and discouragement, not to mention the disunity and division that can result. Some knowingly mislead people for their own gain. Others try their best but set their own goals rather than God's goals and, thus, fall short of God's best. If we are to reflect the character of God in our daily lives for the Lord, we must do our best to be faithful to His commandment to only say "Yes" when we mean "Yes" and "No" when we mean "No." Our integrity will bring glory to God.

12Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace.

13For we do not write you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that,

14as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.

15Because I was confident of this, I planned to visit you first so that you might benefit twice.

16I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea.

17When I planned this, did I do it lightly? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, "Yes, yes" and "No, no"?

18But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not "Yes" and "No."

19For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not "Yes" and "No," but in him it has always been "Yes."

20For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.

21Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,

22set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

23I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.

24Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.

DAY #6:           II Corinthians 1:12-24

    On DAY #3 of this week, we looked at the truth that God is trustworthy, faithful, reliable, dependable. In verses 21 and 22, Paul uses a simple and very powerful illustration to make this point more clear. At the same time, we see the wonder of all God has yet to release to us when we reign with Jesus in heaven.

    Paul notes that Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit as a pledge, a down payment, "earnest money." This is business language that carries powerful implications. When a person plans to buy a home, once an offer is made on the house, the buyer is expected to provide "earnest money." This is technical language that means a down payment is given with this understanding: the rest of the money will be forthcoming. It is a tangible pledge, a small token of perhaps 10% that promises that the 90% will be available at the appropriate time.

    This is what it means to receive the Holy Spirit and to live in newness of life by His power. Such in-dwelling power radically changes our lives. We are totally new creatures in Christ, living differently, ministering confidently, sharing profoundly, praying expectantly, and so much more. That sounds pretty exciting. And it is God's normal Christian life for those who will respond to His prompting and live by His principles under His authority and by His power.

    Exciting as this may seem, Paul says it is only a tiny amount of what God has promised us. It is something like earnest money. The Holy Spirit and His ministry through us now is only a pledge. It carries with it the assurance that much more is coming. And it is definitely coming in His perfect time. We need to trust God for that perfect timing. He knows what He is doing and when He should do it. Meanwhile, we need to trust His integrity and His trustworthiness. What He has promised, He will do.