Today's reading: 1 Corinthians 11:16-33

'And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.' - 2 Corinthians 11:28 ESV

As you read through our passage for today, you may have noticed the heavy sarcasm that Paul uses at the beginning. The "so am I" statements are then followed by a laundry list of difficulties he faced. Paul uses the word "danger" nine times in all of his letters and eight of them appear here in 11:26.

Talk about being vulnerable. Paul is laying his heart on the line to convince these Christians in Corinth that he is the real deal.

Craig Groeschel is quoted as saying, "People would rather follow a leader who is always real than one who is always right."

Haven't you found this to be true in your life? Someone who seemingly has it all together is nearly impossible to identify with. This is because we all struggle.

Paul admits to feeling "pressure" and "anxiety" when it came to caring for these churches. These feelings do not disqualify us; they actually can help us become better leaders.

Today’s reading: 2 Corinthians 11:1-15

'And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.' - 2 Corinthians 11:14 ESV

Knofel Staton makes an interesting point when writes the following about this verse: 'The word serpent in Genesis 3 is a Hebrew word that can also mean brightness. Satan masqueraded himself as an "angel of light" as far back as the Garden of Eden.'

This a frightening thought that may make us wonder if we can trust anyone who claims to be a Christian leader.

The key it seems is found in a word Jesus and Paul used quite often as they taught: gregoreo. It can be translated as "awake" or "watchful" or "to be alert."

We cannot become lazy and just accept whatever someone tells us is true. We need to fact check everything against Scripture and pay attention to motives. Our enemy, Satan (Devil), will not be backing down till Jesus throws him into the lake of fire (see Revelation 20:10). He will also present well -- not with cape and horns.

May we ask God for discernment to know whose are His!

Today’s reading: 2 Corinthians 10

“Our goal is to stay within the boundaries of God’s plan for us.” - 2 Corinthians 10:13 NLT

Commenting on this verse, William Baker writes, “In contrast to his opponents, he will seek a standard of assessment that is true and measurable. This measurement comes from God himself, not some mere human contrivance.”

Self-promotion is something that our culture puts a high value on. Even in the first century, some were seeking fame and authority by way of Christianity.

Yet our goal should not be to promote ourselves; it is to glorify Christ’s greatness.

God is the one who sets the standard, and we are the ones to boast in Him gratefully.

The word for measurement (boundaries) in this verse is kanon, which would later be used in deciding which books would be included in the New Testament.

Jesus, we commit ourselves to boast only of what You have done. We are instruments in Your hands. Use us as You see fit and as what will bring You the maximum glory.

You bring the flash; we will bring the obedience.

Today’s reading: 2 Corinthians 9

“And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” - 2 Corinthians‬ ‭9:8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Generosity is a contagion. When we get close to those who are generous with what they have, we see the joy it produces in them and the difference it makes in others. More than anything else, we see how it glorifies God!

Giving may decrease the balance in our checking accounts, but it also reduces the amount of greed in our hearts.

This wasn’t just about a gift being collected for the needy Christians in Jerusalem; this was also about the church in Corinth stepping into a lifestyle of seeing “opportunities to do good.”

So, how does one get started in this? You have to start small and with intentionality. Pick a percentage of your income and give it consistently to your local church. Then once you experience God’s blessings, you won’t want to stop. You’ll increase, and you’ll feel God break away all selfish ambition.

Today’s reading: 2 Corinthians 8:16-24

'So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men.' - 2 Corinthians 8:24 ESV

Love was never intended by God to be something concealed. The whole point of love is for it to find expression to God and others.

The word for "proof" that is used here is endeixis in Greek. It can also be translated as "demonstration" or "to show."

Paul is encouraging the church in Corinth to demonstrate their love by showing hospitality to some important incoming visitors. One thing that is so amazing about this passage is that it shows, yet again, how well the early church worked hard to show synchronicity across the Mediterranean.

As Paul had written earlier, they were one body with many parts (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).

This is not a basketball game where some sit on the bench and others play. All of us are important contributors to this work of love. We are here on earth, as Jesus' followers, to show the world just how much God loves them.

"Prove" your love today!

Today's reading: 2 Corinthians 8:1-15

'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. We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia,' - 2 Corinthians 8:1-2 NLT

There are all kinds of words in these two verses that generally aren't paired when we hear people speaking.

Affliction >> Joy

Poverty >> Generosity

These churches in Macedonia had been given (by God) a greater perspective on what it means to live the best life possible. Affliction and joy, for most people, don't belong together. We weather the distress to someday get to the joy. When we lack funds, we usually aren't angling as to how we can bless others financially.

Yet this is what happens when Jesus steps into our hearts. He reorders everything. The last are first; the first are last. We start counting it joy when we face trials of many kinds.

We start, for the first time, to live in complete freedom.

We cross from bios (mere earthly living) to zoe (eternal living).

Today's reading: 2 Corinthians 7:8-16

'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. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.' - 2 Corinthians 7:9-10

R.C. Lenski, writing on this verse, said, "A surgeon may cause severe pain; he rejoiced when he sees the cure that this pain has produced. I ti snot the pain as such but the pain as being productive of the cure that rejoices him."

Many of our prayers for others and for ourselves seem to default in a certain way. We are praying for a way around pain. "God, please keep them safe." Now, there is nothing wrong with this kind of prayer, but it is not usually the most useful kind of prayer.

Many times what we need is not to sidestep the pain, the sorrow, but to walk right through it. Pain is productive if we will allow it to do what it does best. It shakes us out of our complacency, especially when it comes to unrecognized sin.

May God lead us further into salvation without regret.

Today’s reading: 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, 7:1-7

'Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?' - 2 Corinthians 6:14

You will not find another verse that is used more to advocate for Christians not marrying non-Christians than this one. Though there are plenty of verses to advocate for that, this probably isn't one of them (context-wise).

Ben Witherington, about this verse, writes, "Paul apparently believes that the Corinthians are in danger of becoming spiritually linked with the demonic forces resident in the (pagan) temple."

Christianity wasn't something that could be a good compliment for another religion. The Paganism in Corinth and the way of following Jesus were mutually exclusive according to Paul.

How often do we intermingle our Christian faith with lies that the world pumps our direction?

Do not be surprised if you find something in the Bible that contradicts with what you hear in the mainstream. Light and darkness have nothing in common.

Today’s reading: 2 Corinthians 6:1-13

“We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.” - ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭6:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

How is it that you try to prove yourself on a daily basis? Unfortunately, many in our world today are using posts on social media to prove their point.

What would happen if we instead chose these six two prove ourselves instead of going the route of humanity’s default?

Can you imagine, at the end of your life, being known for your...
- Purity >> Sincerity
- Understanding >> Seeking to know
- Patience >> State of emotional calm
- Kindness >> Goodness
- Being known as Spirit-led
- Sincere >> Unhypocritical love

Who doesn’t desire more people in their life who are like this? As we become more like Jesus, our integrity takes on new heights. We represent the sweetness of Christ, no matter where we find ourselves.

Ready to prove yourself in the best way possible? Take to prayer and Scripture before taking to a rant.

Today’s reading: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21

"So we have stopped evaluating others by what the world thinks about them." - 2 Corinthians 5:16

When we come to Jesus by faith, He makes all things new. God no longer sees us as who we were. He sees us as who we are: His children.

The world sees who people are and says assertively, "People never change!" They add, "Sure, people can fool us for a while, but they'll always go back to their default ways."

Yet this kind of view dismisses the transformative power that God possesses.

Commenting on this verse, W.R. Baker says, "The typical human approach to personal relationships is disgustingly insufficient."

Insufficient isn't a proper word to use to describe God. We believe He is all-powerful and thus able to change any heart. Maybe we should pray this prayer today:

God, do what You do.
Afterward, please help me to see what You see.
Thank You for not just temporarily changing me.
Thank You for restoring my soul permanently.
Now, help my daily life to match my regenerated soul.
In Jesus' name, Amen.