2 Corinthians

Praise God for all He is doing in and through us as we read a Chapter a Day together. Our group of ladies keeps growing. We are being changed by the power of God's word through His Spirit. Glory be to God! These responses are taken from our group!

Chapter 1

We know that whatever we go through whatever life has in store for us He will always be with us and he will comfort us. We in turn must comfort others in their afflictions. We can stand steadfast knowing that He will deliver us like he did Paul time and time again. We shouldn't rely on ourselves or our own understanding but rely on Him. God allows us to get in situations that are hopeless and we can't see our way out on our own accord we have to rely totally on Him. We see at the end of the chapter that we are told that He has given us a guarantee, He has placed The Holy Spirit in our hearts as a sign or as a deposit of the fulfillment of His Promise to us. When God gives you a guarantee how can you not be comforted.

Chapter 2

Paul is so grieved about this situation with Corinthians because he loves them dearly. What I see is how the action of one person can affect a whole community of believers. But he clarifies that although he has sinned, he apparently was rebuked and he repented, so it was time to forgive and comfort him. In Christ, this community would then be healed.

This makes me think how sometimes our own emotions can hold us hostage making us think we have the right to speak harshly or hold some grudge. But scripture says “we are to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ “ 2 Cor 10:5. This is something I work on repeatedly as I respond to my husband in a Liz way instead of a Christ way. In Christ’s way, Satan then would have no way to take advantage of us (verse 11).

Regarding the Fragrance of Christ, here’s just something I’m always reminded of when I walk by the coffee aisle in the grocery store. I love the smell of coffee beans. It makes me want to stop and breathe it in. So in my life it reminds me to stop and breathe Him in, my God... to breath in the aroma of the knowledge of Him and the example I exemplify to others. Because…He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. v 14-15. NLT

Chapter 3

Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

2 Cor 3:3-5 (KJV)

I love this! We should be like this. We do not need a LETTER or someone telling others that we are Christians, anyone we meet should know that there is something different about us. We need to be the light of the world. As Paul says that the church of Corith was his letter. What we do as christian is written as in the hearts of others not a piece of paper. It is for the Lord not for ourselves. What we do is only done because of the love of God and the gifts he gives us. Our reward is in honoring and serving the Lord not from man because Our reward is eternal whereas if it is written in a letter it only will last for a short season.

Chapter 4
⁶For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"^[a]made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

As Gods creation started from darkness to light, he also brings the light bulb to new believers. The hearts are open by this light so their eyes can see the goodness that they were living without. A new believer is on fire from the heat of the light!
As we continue to live in the goodness of our Lord through his mercy and grace this light will continue to stay lit. May we pray for those that are living in the darkness and blinded by Satan.

As we continue are holiday weekend Lord, give my sisters this light to shine as we walk in your path of righteousness. May our light shine bright, so we can give You glory Father.

Chapter 5

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone and the new has come!" vs.17..NIV

After reading this again, it reminds me of what Christ has done for us, He stripped away our sins, the dirtiness that covered our bodies and has cleansed us. He had made us like beatuiful butterflies. The old is gone and the new shines forth!Praise God!!

Chapter 6

"I urge you not to recieve the grace of God in vain" vs 1

"Dont do anything to discredit the ministry" vs 3

But in all things ( vs 5-10), through the storms of life respond in truth with the power of God. Paul is responding to all that was being said about him and done to him. He carries on using his life as the response to the slanderers and faithfully continues on for Christ.

"You are not restrained by us, but by your own affections" vs 12 Ouch! The only thing holding us back is us...no excuses.... I heard someone say "You are as holy as you want to be" What, no way! I want to be closer to You, hear more from You, dive deeper into You....but in just a minute...I gotta take care of something else first Lord. I remember my kids when they were little saying "mom, mom.." and I would say "just a minute" while trying to finish whatever I was doing before I got back to them...and it always took more than a minute...and sad to say I probably never got back to them many times as they were onto something else quick enough.Now, I loved my children and always said I would do anything for them but many times I put them after some project or phone call...etc. You get the point I hope!

I always remember that because its so true, if we look at what we spend our time doing we find the affections of our heart. I always pray to be closer to the Lord, to have more of Him in my life....but then I look at what I spend my time doing and realize I must not want Him more than....whatever it is I am doing at that moment...

God is saying " Mary, Mary" and it is up to me if I answer His call or say "In a Minute Lord"

Chapter 7
(vs 9) I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner.

Paul regretted that he had to write a "severe letter" to the Corinthians. But since it caused them to repent and turn to God, his sorrow was transformed into joy. Their sorrow did not stop at just feeling sad about getting caught or suffering the unpleasant consequences of their sins. Their sorrow was godly sorrow, a genuine remorse for their sins. This led to repentance, a change in their thinking that led to a renouncing of their sin and turning to GOD. Their repentance ultimately led to deliverance from their sinful habits.

When we trust Jesus as our Savior and wholeheartedly repent of our sinful tendencies, the Holy Spirit creates within us a new desire to do what is pleasing to GOD. Thank you Jesus!

By one MAN's obedience many will be made righteous. Romans 5:19

Chapter 8
VS. 5&9

"And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God."

(9)"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich."

Paul is letting us know that we should be as the Macedonians... they had very little as far as earthly possessions, but they gave of themselves, and what little money they had, completely to the Lord. Paul was hesitant to accept money from them because they had so little, but because they were so willing and insistent, he had no choice but to accept.

Paul wants us to see that this is one way we should show our thanks to God, for giving us His one and only Son. After all... He became poor, by suffering for our sins as He did, so that we might have all the riches of heaven that God has to offer us. The least we could do is give joyfully to the Lord and not feel obligated... because He did it out of love... and so should we.

Have a wonderful day giving yourself completely to the Lord,

Chapter 9
V:13 "Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else."

What an encouragement to serve, share, and be obedient.

Lord, that service, generosity, and obedience would simply flow from me, not be something that I have to think about doing and putting into practice, but rather come instinctively, effortlessly, thoughtlessly. You are worthy to be praised. Praise to the Living King, You are my everything and I will adore You.

Chapter 10

Our strongest weapon and defense is having God and knowing His word. It helps us fight against any issues we may have. Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ...with every thought we have, we need to remain in Christ [at all times]. we shouldnt' compare ourselves to each other but stay true to God's word. we are not to take the glory but to give it to God, the rightful owner of all the glory, for He is the one who appointed us!

I love our savior God. I praise Him daily as He deserves it!

Chapter 11

1-3 (Paul was passionate in his desire for others to continue growing in their relationship with Christ)

4-6 (People were drawn to the deceitful teachings because of their impressive words and dismissing the truth of the gospel because it wasn’t given as demonstratively)

7-12 (Open and honest communication is necessary among believers. We need to be transparent)

12-15 (With so many teachings out there – we need to know what group we are lumped with when sharing the gospel. Make a point of having others know that the God we serve is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; that Jesus is the Son of God – Jesus is Lord and that the Holy Spirit equips us to serve)

16-21(Paul began to get down to their level to draw them up to Christ’s. He made sure they knew that boasting wasn’t a fruit of the Spirit, but a foolish fruit of the flesh)

21-23 (How frustrating it is when you know they know truth, but, they choose to follow a lie because it is more exciting. True followers of Christ hear His voice -- John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me”)

23-29 (What have I/we been willing to suffer for the sake of the cross? Let’s count it all joy – James 1:2-8)

Chapter 12

The one verse that spoke to me is v10 “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

I am at a point in my life where I am depending on the Lord more then ever. At work I am persecuted and sometimes it is really hard to walk into this place on a daily basis but I know that I have to and it only makes me a stronger person and deepens my faith. My life is full of difficulties I mean whose isn’t? We all have trials and things that we are facing now but we have to remember that they are only temporary and will soon fade away. Whether it be a hardship, insult, or persecution I count it as a blessing for I know my God is with me.

Chapter 13

11 Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

Paul had made 2 trips to this Church, admonished them and reviewed and reviewed God’s ways and words. I love his final words that still stand today for us. “Aim” for perfection- If we awake every morning and just aim for the perfection of our Lord; If we aim to be of one mind with our Lord- Think as He would have us to think and present ourselves in His ways- We would end up in peace at the end of the day.

Peace to you all,