July 26, 2023 | Be On Mission
Commending Yourself to Others
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6(NIV)
1 As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says,
“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What 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 And,
“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”
Devotional
In the closing part of the previous chapter, Paul told the people of Corinth, “We implore you on Christ’s behalf: “Be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20). This blends into the opening verses of this chapter: “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). When originally written this was one continuous letter, as chapters and verses were not added to the Bible until hundreds of years later. Sometimes it is good to read a book of the Bible all in one sitting, as it was originally written and received.
Earlier in chapter 4, Paul wrote, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). Here in chapter 6, he continued with similar language. Take a look at these examples:
“Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;” (2 Corinthians 6:4-7).
“…through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything” (2 Corinthians 6:8-10).
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16).
Compare and contrast these declarations. How is the form of the paragraphs similar and different from the others? What is the point Paul is making? What is this saying to you?
Poem
No Obstacles
No matter afflictions
Calamities hard
No matter the labor
Despite ill regard
In purity, move we,
With knowledge and grace
With patience and kindness
At the Spirit’s pace
No matter what blocks us
We move, forward on
With honor, rejoicing
We lift vict’ry’s song
In poverty, richness
In dying, we live
For nothing can stop
What the Spirit can give
Tho’ stones block the highway
Tho’ walls bar the way
We’ll bring light to darkness
Shout life from the grave
