—Galatians 5.13–15—

¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." ¹⁵ If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

Because of the awesome gift Jesus gave us through his death on the cross, there is no limit to the forgiveness we can receive. However, we must be careful not to abuse this gift by continuing to live sinfully. Even though we will be forgiven, our disobedience will keep us from growing closer to God. Not only will this cause our own spiritual lives to become stagnant, but it will also prevent others from seeing God’s love through us.

So instead of selfishly indulging our sinful nature, we should focus on showing love to others. If we show love to everyone we come across, we will be showing unsaved people the love of Jesus, and we will also be bringing strength and unity to the church. Focusing on others rather than ourselves will also bring fulfillment and spiritual growth to our own lives.

—Galatians 5.1–12—

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. Brother, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!


As a man I do not find myself purchasing shampoo with much frequency. I do not possess a luxurious mane of hair to maintain. Yet occasionally I do run out of shampoo.

I find the shampoo section in the store quite intimidating. The only reason I can find to choose one brand over another is price, which is all well and good, but who knows what I could be missing in this brand, or this brand, or that brand. Part of me wants to believe that somewhere there exists a giant faucet that pours out all the shampoo in the world into a single vat to drain through an infinity of little nozzles into all the different brand names and types and specialties. Call me a shampoo conspiracy theorist.

Too much choice can lead to paralysis. Before I know it I've killed off 15 minutes staring at shampoo and still have nothing in hand.

In the race we run in pursuit of Jesus Christ, many times (if we are honest) we would prefer someone, anyone, to simply tell us exactly what we need to do. Even though Jesus deposited his spirit in us and set us loose to live, our lives still seem murky a lot of the time.

Paul is clear on what should guide us: "faith expressing itself through love."

—Galatians 4.21–5.1—

To understand this section of scripture better, I encourage you to read Genesis, chapters 15, 16, 18 and 21.

Genesis 18:21 says: Then one of them said, “About this time next year I will return, and your wife Sarah will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent nearby. And since Abraham and Sarah were both very old, and Sarah was long past the age of having children, she laughed silently. “How could a worn-out woman like me have a baby?” she thought. “And when my husband is so old?”

Genesis 21:1 (But) the Lord did exactly what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant, and she gave a son to Abraham in his old age. It all happened at the time God had said it would. (Vs. 6) And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter! All who hear about this will laugh with me. For who would have dreamed that I would ever have a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!”

So. The question of the day becomes this:
WHO WOULD HAVE DREAMED…WHO WOULD HAVE DREAMED SOMETHING SO AMAZING?
God would have, and still does.

Maybe the road ahead is uncertain, maybe your vision is cloudy, and maybe you even doubt like Sarah did.

But hold fast, young people.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 says that God has a plan for you. Plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray He will listen. If you look for Him in earnest, you will find Him.

Treasure this in your hearts.

—Galatians 5.13-15—

¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." ¹⁵ If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.


Because of the awesome gift Jesus gave us through his death on the cross, there is no limit to the forgiveness we can receive. However, we must be careful not to abuse this gift by continuing to live sinfully. Even though we will be forgiven, our disobedience will keep us from growing closer to God. Not only will this cause our own spiritual lives to become stagnant, but it will also prevent others from seeing God’s love through us.

So instead of selfishly indulging our sinful nature, we should focus on showing love to others. If we show love to everyone we come across, we will be showing unsaved people the love of Jesus, and we will also be bringing strength and unity to the church. Focusing on others rather than ourselves will also bring fulfillment and spiritual growth to our own lives.

—Galatians 4.12–20—

¹² I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong. ¹³ As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. ¹⁴ Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. ¹⁵ What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? ¹⁷ Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. ¹⁸ It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. ¹⁹ My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, ²⁰ how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

A sickly stranger comes stumbling into town with nobody to turn to. Helping hands are extended. Wounds are dressed, an illness is cured, healing is acomplished, and one sick man’s trial yields deeper healing, Godly healing, for many.

This was Paul’s situation in Galatia. His language indicates that his purpose in coming to Galatia had something to do with his broken body. Today we can only speculate what his ailment may have been, but regardless of the problem notice how God turned Paul’s trial toward His purposes.

Imagine the surprise of the Galatian caretakers when their broken down patient, certainly grateful for their services, revealed himself as the passionate, truth-speaking servant of Christ Jesus that he was. The tables were turned. The patient had become the healer and the healer the patient. To receive such a harshly worded letter as this from one to whom they had so lovingly tended, for whom they “would have torn out their eyes”, must have been hard to swallow.

But the truth transcends Galatian defensiveness. They needed someone to keep them grounded in the narrow path that Jesus blazed toward God, even when strong words were necessary.

We all still desperately need this remedy.

—Galatians 4.8–11—

⁸ Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. ⁹ But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? ¹⁰ You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! ¹¹ I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.


Back when I was an undergrad, I coached an intramural flag football team. One of the guys on the team was very fast and had really good hands, so it was natural that he would be a receiver. The only downfall was that he was about 5 feet 5 inches tall. Our quarterback was only about 5 feet 7 inches, so he had trouble seeing him on long routes.

As we got into games, I felt that a player with his talents should be getting more catches than he was getting. So, during practice one afternoon, I worked really hard on teaching him to run short routes across the field rather than long routes down the field and then use his speed to evade the defenders. We worked and worked and worked on it, and he seemed to catch on. But, in the next game, he went right back to running the deep routes.

It doesn’t feel good to put in all that time into someone and then have him or her go back to the old ways. Paul feels this way about the churches in Galatia. They had seemingly made so much progress, only to end up falling into the same things they did before they became Christians.

What is an area that you have lost some ground in? What do you need to do to regain it?

—Galatians 4.1-7—

¹ What I am saying is that as long as heirs are underage they are no different from slaves, although they own the whole estate. ² They are subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by their fathers. ³ So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. ⁴ But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. ⁶ Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." ⁷ So you are no longer slaves, but God's children; and since you are his children, he has made you also heirs.


I was once lost and a slave to this world
No purpose was found in my life
He was my father and wanted to give me everything
Everything in the world held me in bondage
Redemption was what God offered me through his son
I said I believed and asked for forgiveness
The Holy Spirit came upon me because of the sacrifice of my lord
And a new life began
Now I am God’s heir
Certain of the inheritance of heaven
Eternal life with him

If you have not found him yet, he is waiting…
Ask God into your heart and receive his full inheritance.

—Galatians 3.19–21—

¹⁹ What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. ²⁰ A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one.²¹ Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.

The law and Promise
What was the purpose of the law? The law was put in place to bring us to Christ so that we might believe and trust in God. We can’t live by the law alone,but by faith in Christ and believe that Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross. Threw faith we can receive the promise of the Spirit. By faith we have been set free from the law and no longer have to be a prisoner because Jesus took our sin. Jesus died on the cross so that we may be set free in order to receive God’s promise. The ultimate sacrifice so that we might live and have eternal life.

—Galatians 3.15–18—

¹⁵ Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. ¹⁶ The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ. ¹⁷ What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.


In this book, Paul is responding to an important controversy that was developing in the church at Galatia. Some people were telling the members of this church, mostly Gentiles, that faith in Christ was not enough. They said that to be truly saved and enter the kingdom of God, a person also had to follow the old Jewish Law. Paul has been striving for the last three chapters to correct this misunderstanding.

Here, Paul tries to explain that the Law does not matter by taking an example from the legal world. He said that the salvation offered through Jesus was not something new, but a fulfillment of the ancient covenant, or legal contract, that God had made with Abraham. God promised Abraham that he and his offspring would be God’s children, and that all nations would be blessed through them. This is fulfilled in Jesus. The Law did not change that promise or that plan.

Think of it this way: when a family adopts a child, they enter into a legally binding agreement that they will love and care for that child as if s/he were their own, and that that child will forever be a part of their family. If, later on, they assign that child a list of chores or a curfew, the child’s performance or neglect of those duties does not change the adoption agreement. No matter what, the child is promised a place in the family. God’s covenant with Abraham allowed him to adopt all people into his family as his children through what Jesus did. The Law set curfews and boundaries to protect the people and gave them chores to develop their characters. However, doing or not doing our chores does not affect our position in God’s family. God drew up the contract, Jesus paid the fee. Once we sign on the dotted line, we’re in. God loves us no matter what. We cannot earn that love, it is freely given. Rejoice in that today.

—Galatians 3.10–14—

¹⁰ All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." ¹¹ Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because "the righteous will live by faith." ¹² The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, "Whoever does these things will live by them." ¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole." ¹⁴ He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.


You are a carpenter. Your father and grandfather were both carpenters, establishing the family trade. Everyone knows your talent and customers flock to your name and reputation. Carpentry is your life and your identity.

One day you and your father are reflecting on the family business. “I built 2 houses in the same city block one year,” you remember. “Termites moved through the whole block the next year, ate ‘em up one by one.”

With a knowing “sigh,” your father offers a suggestion. “We should’ve known son. Wood rots. It just can’t do anything else.”

Just as the limitations of wood undermine the work of a carpenter, the Apostle Paul can look at his people (he was a Jew, after all) and see that their own scriptures spoke of a “curse”, a ticking time bomb of sorts that was embedded in their Law. But unlike the carpenter and his wood, Israel’s problem was not their Law—it was themselves.

Paul could see that the entire history of Israel told the story of a people who fell short of their goal to be God’s light to the world—a people who missed what God wanted of them amid the cursed and rotted ruins of their religion—a people who believed they had God in their pocket. And yet, miraculously, God still accomplished his purposes...not according to any law, but according to a promise made to Abraham.

We would do well to pray not to make the same mistakes.

—Galatians 3.1–9—

¹ You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. ² I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? ³ Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by human effort? ⁴ Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? ⁵ Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by your observing the law, or by your believing what you heard? ⁶ So also Abraham "believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

⁷ Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. ⁸ Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." ⁹ So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

The beginning of Galatians three talks about the fact that works aren’t enough, you have to have faith. As is the case today, many of the people were trying to earn their way into heaven and that just isn’t possible.

Of course actions are important to, as James 2:26 says, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” It is impossible to have faith without deeds, but what Paul is saying is that you can have deeds without faith.

We like the Galatians sometimes need to be reminded that the deeds are only important if we have the faith to back it up, because we are saved through faith. It is also much harder to strengthen your faith that your deeds. Faith requires a long-term commitment to wanting to know and follow God’s plan and there are several ways that we can do this. Reading, memorizing and meditating over God’s word is a great way to see His faithfulness and begin to build up more trust in Him. The biggest thing you can do is to pray, how can you have a relationship without communication? God is always there and he loves to talk to you.

Galatians 2.18-21

¹⁸ If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.

¹⁹ "For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. ²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ²¹ I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

There is only one way to heaven. That is the purpose for Christ dying on the cross for us. If there were any other way then what would be the point of striving to be like Christ. We have to live by faith not knowing what will happen next but knowing that if we trust in Christ, He will always lead us in the right direction. Making sure we are always striving and not going back to the way we were before Christ came into our life is important because we need to show Christ that we are faithful to him always.

Galatians 2.14–17

¹⁴ When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?

¹⁵ "We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles ¹⁶ know that a person is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

¹⁷ "But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn't that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not!

Have you ever read through some of the rules and regulations in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy? It’s kind of interesting to read through it. Some of the rules in there you are quite aware of (such as do not lie, and do not steal). Others you probably aren’t aware of (such as do not lend money with interest or that land that is sold has to be returned to it’s original owner every 50 years).

Have you ever wondered why we follow some laws and ignore others? Paul, in this passage, is wondering the same thing. If you look back in Acts Chapter 10, Peter has a vision from God about Gentile converts. In it, God tells him that he can eat any animal, regardless of whether or not that animal is considered ceremonially clean or unclean (some more of the obscure laws from Leviticus that we have put into the “ignore” category). In Acts 15, Peter, on the basis of this vision, claims that Gentiles can become Christians without circumcision (yet another law from the OT).

Now, it seems, Peter has decided that circumcision is mandatory for salvation. But, he seems to be content to continue eating “unclean food. Paul reminds us that it’s not any of the old laws that save us, but faith in Christ.

What laws are you using to gauge the “Christianity” of others?

Galatians 2.11-13

¹¹ When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. ¹² For before certain people came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. ¹³ The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

In this passage, Peter is eating and hanging out with the Gentiles but separates himself from them when friends of James arrive. If you have to hide your actions from other people like Peter in this passage, you probably shouldn’t be doing them at all! If you read on in verse 13, Peter’s hypocrisy even causes Barnabas to sin as well. Leading a double life like Peter did might work at first, but it will always catch up to you and someone will eventually find out. If you know of someone who is doing something similar to Peter, perhaps hiding something from their parents or living differently on Friday night then they do on Sunday morning, I encourage you to confront them much like Paul did in our passage. If this person is you, pray that God will forgive you and make a conscious effort to change.

Galatians 2.1–10

¹ Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. ² I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. ³ Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. ⁴ This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. ⁵ We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.

⁶ As for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message. ⁷ On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. ⁸ For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles. ⁹ James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. ¹⁰ All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.

In this passage Paul secretly visits the leaders in Jerusalem to reveal the revelation he has received from God concerning the freedom we have in Christ. Recognizing the grace bestowed upon Paul, the Jewish leadership extended fellowship to Paul and blessed him to continue his mission to the Gentiles. What was this freedom that Paul felt so important to express to the Jewish leaders? Given in this passage as an example of Old Testament law was circumcision. To be a part of God’s people circumcision was required to show that one was set apart to God. But Paul wanted to let everyone know that Christ’s death had changed everything. No longer is anyone subject to living to the letter of the law to be considered God’s people. In fact, it was now the acceptance of Christ’s death, the one perfect sacrifice, for the spiritual “circumcision” of our hearts that allows us to be called God’s children.

Galatians 1.18-24

¹⁸ Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord's brother. ²⁰ I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.

²¹ Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. ²² I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. ²³ They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." ²⁴ And they praised God because of me.

What sticks out to me in this passage is the attitude of the church toward Paul (formerly Saul, the persecutor).

What would you think if someone who was previously your worst enemy now claimed to be your strong advocate and encourager? What if Osama Bin Laden suddenly decided to rebuild the part of lower Manhattan he once destroyed? Would I be inclined to accept and approve of his offer?

Paul "saw the light," so to speak. And the response of the church was to praise God. Talk about being on the same page with God in His work of redeeming lives and turning them toward His purpose.

Am I on that page?

Galatians 1.11-17

¹¹ I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. ¹² I did not receive it from any human source, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

¹³ For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. ¹⁴ I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. ¹⁵ But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased ¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. ¹⁷ I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.

Paul is concerned here with the authenticity of his ministry. He wants the Galatians to realize that what he does is not motivated by any earthly thing, but motivated by a special calling from Jesus Christ.

I wonder if my ministry is authentic in that sense? Is it a thing that comes about because I have willed it to, or is it only attributable to God and his plan and grace? I wonder if I take too much credit for what God has done and is doing...

Paul is also concerned with drawing a sharp distinction between his former life as an enemy of the church (and of God, by extension) and his present life of humble service. Even though Paul expended a lot of effort persecuting the church, he STILL views his whole life in view of God's purpose...despite the roadblocks, GOD STILL SET HIM APART AT BIRTH!

Oh, the mystery and wonder and unsearchableness of the Lord God Almighty!
Who has known his mind that he might counsel him?

Galatians 1.6–10

⁶ I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— ⁷ which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let that person be under God's curse! ⁹ As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let that person be under God's curse!

¹⁰ Am I now trying to win human approval, or God's approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Today it seems there are people who used to have beliefs a few years ago, and now have changed their minds to believe in something totally different. How do people get so caught up in beliefs that are not of Jesus? I hear about people I use to know in my high school days and I wonder what or who has gotten a hold of them. I looked up to these people because of their faith. They relied on God everyday and I prayed I could have enough faith to know and believe the bible is true. But someone or thing has put doubt in their mind and they follow another religion or group like Mormons or Jehovah witnesses. They still read the bible right but then they have other beliefs and doctrine that they believe that’s not part of the Christian bible.

Galatians 1.1–5

¹ Paul, an apostle—sent not with a human commission nor by human authority, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— ² and all the brothers and sisters with me,
To the churches in Galatia:

³ Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴ who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, ⁵ to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Our devotional efforts today take us to Paul’s letter to the churches in Galatia, which is also a letter to us.

As we read through this epistle we’ll find some of the words to be pretty harsh, but here in the beginning Paul reminds us of the compassion of our God. The greeting wishes us grace and peace. Paul then reminds us that Jesus is the one who gave himself up to rescue us from the present evil age.

The first century could be called a “present evil age”. It was a time of violence, a time of uncertainty, a time in which Christians were being harshly criticized; sounds a lot like the twenty-first century. Just browse the internet and you will be flooded with stories of violence, uncertainty and it is easy to find those who are harsh toward Christ’s church.

Take time to examine Jesus, investigate his claims, and then take time to thank him for his willingness to be our eternal life rescuer.

2 Corinthians 13.11–14

¹¹ Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

¹² Greet one another with a holy kiss. ¹³ All God's people here send their greetings.

¹⁴ May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

In this section Paul is basically saying good-by and finishing his letter, but there are some important last minute reminders that he wants to bring up. He says to aim for perfection; a simple reminder that our standards are to be higher than those of the world. He says listen to my appeal. Basically, make sure that you take the advice in this letter to heart and put it into practice. Be of one mind—focus on the things of Christ in your thought life. And, finally, live in peace; be concerned about others even more than you care for yourself.

He goes on to say that they should greet each other with a holy kiss which would be kind of awkward in CCF so I wouldn’t recommend it.

Lastly, he reminds the church that the saints say hello and the most important thing, that no matter what happens God and Jesus are always there for them just like they are here for you and me.

II Corinthians 13:5-10

5Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? 6And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. 7Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. 8For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection. 10This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.

I once had a boss who most of my co-workers didn’t like. But, he was one of those bosses who didn’t really care if we liked him or not. He was one who wasn’t afraid to be tough on you or yell at you when you were screwing up. He could be a real pain at times.

I never had much of a problem with him, though. The thing was, I was good at that job, and did what I was supposed to do. Thus, he never had to show his “tough” side, so we got along pretty well.

Paul’s giving a warning here: he can be the tough boss. He doesn’t want to be, but he will do whatever keeps him on the side of the truth. His preference, though, is for the Corinthians to do what is right, and thus the natural reaction to be on of gentleness and joy.

What do you need to do to keep the boss on his “lighter” side? Who do you need to be “tougher” with?

II Corinthians 13:1-4

“This is the third time I am coming to you EVERY FACT IS TO BE CONFIRMED BY
THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES.
2I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone,
3since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me, and who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you.
4For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you”

The Apostle again gives us two principles for Christian living as
relates to our interactions with other people. First, it is important for the Christian to live his/her life based on facts rather than rumors or gossip. Don’t trust whatever evil is said of someone else unless you have concrete
evidence of the same i.e. unless it is “confirmed by the testimony of two or three” others. Always give others the benefit of the doubt! The second point the Apostle raises is the service towards others. Jesus modeled this for Apostle Paul who models it for us that we become weak for others just as the Son of God left His lofty throne to serve our needs. In this sense, Jesus is our eternal contemporary. How well are you serving other brothers and sisters in Christ? What about the hurting word at large? This is the real deal!

II Corinthians 12:19-21

19Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? We have been speaking in the sight of God as those in Christ; and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening. 20For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. 21I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.

Paul, one of the most famous of Christ’s apostles, who endured beatings, shipwrecks, hunger, thirst, ridicule, and all other forms of persecution without showing fear, admits here to being afraid. What is he afraid of? He is afraid of failings. He knows that the Corinthians have had failings in the past: quarrels, jealousy, gossip, and other problems. He fears that he has failed to correct these problems and that he is not capable of correcting them. This fear of facing the failings in ourselves and others still plagues the church today. The band Casting Crowns wrote a song about it called “Stained Glass Masquerade.” As you read the lyrics, consider the message and what should be done.

Is there anyone who fails? Is there anyone who falls?
Am I the only one in church today feeling so small?
‘Cause when I take a look around, everybody seems so strong.
I know they’ll soon discover that I don’t belong.
So I tuck it all away like everything’s okay.
If I make them all believe it, maybe I’ll believe it too.
So with a painted grin, I’ll play the part again so everyone will see me the way that I see them.

Are we happy plastic people, under shiny plastic steeples,
With walls around our weakness and smiles to hide our pain?
Cause if the invitation’s open to every heart that has been broken,
Maybe then we’ll close the curtain on our stained glass masquerade.

II Corinthians 12:14-18

14Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? 16Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! 17Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent you? 18I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not act in the same spirit and follow the same course?

One thing about my parents is that they weren’t the type to always tell me what I wanted to hear. I can think of so many times growing up that I would listen to just about everybody but my parents. Seeking that type of independence is part of growing up, but the hardest lesson is the realization is that we should listen to our parents because they are the ones who are no matter what looking out for our best interests over their own.

Paul is dealing with the same thing with the Corinthians. Other pastors have come in and undermined what he has taught. Part of their tactic is to point out how impressive they are and how unimpressive Paul is. Paul points out that all he has ever done is love them and acted in their interests rather than talk about how great he is.

Who are you listening to? Who should you be listening to?

II Corinthians 12:11-13

11I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing. 12The things that mark an apostle—signs, wonders and miracles—were done among you with great perseverance. 13How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!

When we were younger our parents looked out for us and took care of us. They knew what was best for our lives when we were little children. We were dependent upon them to take care of us and knowing what was best for our lives. Our relationship with Christ should be the same. We should rely on Christ to guide us daily as in the direction we should go. For by ourselves we are nothing, but with Christ we can do anything. Christ can give us the strength to do the things we need to do we just need to remember that we need Him in our lives so that He can help us.

II Corinthians 12:7-10

7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That 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.

From lemons to lemon drops

We can’t be entirely sure what the thorn in the flesh was that Paul spoke of, but it was a physical affliction of some kind. In any case, we are still able to apply the lessons Paul learned to our own afflictions, physical or otherwise.
In our lives, we receive many of our blessings through transformation, rather than substitution. When Paul prayed three times for the removal of his affliction, he was saying “God, give me health instead of sickness, deliverance instead of pain and weakness.” But many times, instead of removing what burdens us, God gives us grace so that the affliction works for us and not against us.
That reminds me of my favorite verse of scripture: Romans 8:28. My paraphrase of it goes like this: God causes everything to work out for those that love Him and are seeking to live according to His purpose for them.
I have endured a great many trials in my life, and through every one of them, God has been faithful to help me embrace this verse which assures me that He is with me through ALL things, not merely some or most of them.

II Corinthians 11:21-29

What anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. 22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. 23Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?

Everyone loves to be praised. Some crave this praise more than others. Many strive to be stronger, faster, prettier, smarter, and better than everyone else so that they can have more praise. When others do not give forth praise, it is human nature to boast and praise ourselves. Such boasting leads to pride, and pride goes before a fall. Therefore, God instructs us not to boast about ourselves or our possessions or our plans. Ultimately, we cannot control any of that. Therefore, we are instructed to boast in the Lord.
So WHY is Paul boasting here? Even he admits that it is foolish to do so. However, note the topic of his boasting. At first glance, this is not something to be proud of. Paul’s life was full of trials and pain. Still, this serves the purpose of showing his merit, his perseverance. Paul suffered freely and frequently for the sake of the gospel and when he boasts, he boasts not of how many churches he has planted, or how much he gave to the poor, or how many people he led to Christ. No. Instead he boasts about his weaknesses. God strength shines best through our weaknesses, not our strengths. This is a message every Christian martyr can testify to.
What do you boast about? Strengths or weaknesses? Does the light of God’s strength shine through you? Be aware. If you boast, do it for the right reasons and give the glory to God.

2 Corinthians 11:16-21

16I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. 17In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. 18Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. 19You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! 20In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face. 21To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!
What anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about.


Why is Paul talking so much about his own suffering?
It wasn’t the kind of boasting that expects praise in return. No. I think Paul spoke of his suffering because he wanted people to know how passionate he was about the church. “Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of how the churches are getting along. Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?”
They were aware he had suffered, but the very specific accounts of the offenses against him were sure to attract attention and assure them that he was suffering because he was completely committed to seeing the truth of Christ spoken everywhere he went.
Paul’s ministry and suffering still speak. His testimony, teaching and suffering has been an example to an untold number of people over the past two thousand years. We’ve been charged with taking the truth to the ends of the earth, and Paul is one of the greatest examples of someone who was not ashamed or afraid of doing that.

—II Corinthians 11.13–15—

¹³ For such persons are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. ¹⁵ It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

Masquerade
Satan does a good job of deceiving people from God’s truth. Satin uses our human desires to influencing us into sinning against God. It starts out simple with the small things, but before we know it part of our everyday life. This is why we as Christians need to spend time in the word of God, the Bible. Studying the Bible will help us understand how to avoid falling into Satan’s trap. The Bible tells us how Jesus lived his life, the true example of what our live should look like. It is also important that we have fellowship with other believers, so that we can be held accountable. In the Bible it says that in the end we will get what our actions deserve. We should keep this in mind as we go about our live and know that some day we’ll have to answer to the things we have done.

2 Corinthians 11.7-12

⁷ Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? ⁸ I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. ⁹ And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers and sisters who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. ¹⁰ As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. ¹¹ Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! ¹² And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about.

The college life in Iowa City can be so wonderful, but at the same time harmful to each persons Christian essence. In Paul’s 2nd letter to the Corinthians, he makes light of this issue. He refuses to accept any riches for his teaching and he is distinctly different from those that have come before and those that surround him. He strives to preserve that which makes him different. As a servant of Christ, you need to commit to preserving your essence that makes you distinctly different. It is easy to think you can live the “Christian” life while also balancing a “college party” life. People living what looks to be a perfect life are similar to the false apostles that Paul mentions in his letter. These individuals can be parasitic to our faith; we must guard ourselves and help those who are in need of change.

2 Corinthians 11.1-6

¹ I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! ² I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. ³ But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. ⁴ For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. ⁵ I do not think I am in the least inferior to those "super-apostles." ⁶ I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.


"Do you take this man, forsaking all others, to be your husband." We've all heard words like this at nearly every wedding that we have ever attended. Vows taken by the bride to remain true to the one that they are uniting with. Words that are meant to last for a lifetime.

As we; the bride of Christ, look at our relationship with Jesus; the bridegroom, are we willing to take him, forsaking all others, no matter what? There are some who will use their cunning to lead us astray from those vows. Others will try to steer our devotion to others. Still others will try to cause us to betray our commitment to Christ by belittling the ones who introduced us to Him.

Remember that day you took your vow? Remember when you said yes to Jesus? Hang on to that promise, hang on to that devotion. Replacing him with anything or anyone else would be foolishness.

2 Corinthians 10.12-18

¹² We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. ¹³ We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. ¹⁴ We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. ¹⁵ Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, ¹⁶ so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else's territory. ¹⁷ But, "Let those who boast boast in the Lord." ¹⁸ For it is not those who commend themselves who are approved, but those whom the Lord commends.


Where does your pride stem from? What causes you to boast about certain things? You might boast about a sports team, a test score or even your faith. In Corinth false teachers were behaving as though there is no standard ofcomparison higher than themselves. Paul, however, “boasts only in the Lord.” Through proper boasting in the Lord the gospel was being able to be spread into greater regions of the world. What things do you boast about? How is your boasting influencing others? But, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” What things has Christ done in your life that you can boast about? Align your yourself with God’s will and He will share in your boasting.

“For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom
the Lord commends.”

2 Corinthians 10.7-11

⁷ You are judging by appearances. If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do. ⁸ So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it. ⁹ I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. ¹⁰¹¹ Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present. For some say, "His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing."


Authority is a valuable commodity. Many seek to gain it and become leaders, and those who do achieve it feel its heavy burden, for better or worse. Within the church at Corinth were those who questioned Paul’s authority as an apostle. They questioned his right to collect funds from them to help those in Jerusalem suffering from a famine. They mocked his short stature and unimpressive appearance. They took offense at his forceful letters. They did not accept his authority over them. Paul seeks to expose and refute their foolishness. He says that it is the way of the world to be concerned with such things, not the way of God. He points out that he has used his authority to build his charges up and encourage them rather than to criticize them and tear them down (as these would-be leaders are trying to do to him). He also explains that we he is with the people, he leads by example, using deeds more than words. However, when he is too far away for the people to see his deeds, he uses his words to encourage them and spur them on and to reprimand them when they need it. He implies that this is the proper way for a leader to use his authority.

CCF encourages college students to become leaders in the faith community. When given authority, how do we use it? Do we build others up or tear them down? Do we lead by example? Are our words forceful and profitable to the community? Also, do we respect our leaders? Consider your thoughts and actions concerning your thoughts and actions toward authority. Ask God to lead you to the correct attitudes and practices.

2 Corinthians 10.1-6

¹ By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" toward you when away! ² I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. ³ For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. ⁴ The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. ⁶ And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.


“This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs. Any questions?”
“The mind is a terrible thing to waste.”
When I was a child, these were two of the more popular slogans appearing in media, one for the Partnership of a Drug-free America and the other for the United Negro College Fund. Each ad emphasized the importance of the mind. Think about it. Okay, now think about what I just ask you to do. I asked you to use your mind to think about your mind. How fascinating, right? And, of course, you’re using your mind to think about how fascinating your mind is when contemplating its ability to think about itself. Mind blowing?
Paul here touches on the mind’s power by likening it to a prison. He undoubtedly knows that most thoughts are in the mind to stay and that if they’re not taken captive they may be taking captive. So, take inventory. Are you Alcatraz or does your prison need to be renovated?

2 Corinthians 9.6–11

⁶ Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ⁹ As it is written:

"They have scattered abroad their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever."

¹⁰ Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

I once saw a preacher on TV. He was trying to raise $300,000, and claimed that God wanted him to rise up 300 millionaires. To become one of those millionaires, all you had to do was give the preacher man $1000, and God would make you into a millionaire. If you didn’t have it cash, that was okay, you could show your “faith” in God by putting it on your credit card.

Guys like this are the reason that most ministers are reluctant to talk about money and giving. Too many dishonest men have distorted the reality of giving. Paul says 3 things here: Give what your heart tells you to give (no “set” amount, just do it cheerfully); God will provide for you; you will be a part of God’s work (and in that way, you are rich in every way).

What is your heart telling you to give?

2 Corinthians 9.1-5

¹ There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord's people. ² For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. ³ But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. ⁴ For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. ⁵ So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.


Last semester here at ISU, CCF students took part in collecting and sending Christmas gifts to children overseas through the ministry Operation Christmas Child. It was a wonderful project and several students were already familiar with the ministry either through their churches at home, or from participating in it through CCF in previous years. Naturally, I think those students were the ones that were the most enthusiastic about the cause at first. Eventually, however, I began to see that enthusiasm spread as though it were contagious throughout the entire group of students. The pile of donated toys grew steadily throughout the month of November and into December. In the end, the group filled 23 boxes with dolls, toy cars, crayons, mittens, hats, socks, toothbrushes and toothpaste!

No one was forced to give toys so that poor children could have gifts for Christmas, but I do believe that as we all witnessed the giving and thoughtful spirit, we were quietly encouraging one another to give more.

2 Corinthians 8.22-24

²² In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. ²³ As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. ²⁴ Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.


Representatives

Who comes to mind when you read each of the following?
A bad actor
A bad actress
A great cook
A great author
In your opinion, the names you thought of are examples of their respective categories.
Paul gives us the names and characteristics of afew people he believes to be “splendid examples of those who bring glory to Christ.” He refers to them as “representatives of the church.”
What are the names of several people you know that you consider splendid examples of those who bring glory to Christ? Or. Think about this: if your friends were asked who they thought was an example of someone they could recognize Christ working within, would you make the cut?

2 Corinthians 8.16-21

¹⁶ Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. ¹⁷ For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. ¹⁸ And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. ¹⁹ What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. ²⁰ We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. ²¹ For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of others.

The pastor asked us to reach down under our chair. Certain chairs – five of them – contained an envelope with a one hundred dollar bill inside. I was one of the fortunate ones. Now that c-note came with one stipulation. We were to pass it on to someone who had a need. The only thing that the recipient was to know was that the money was a gift from God. For two weeks I prayed about and fretted about how to best use that $100. I could give it to a homeless shelter. The need was there, and it would be pretty easy. It would make a really good tip at a local restaurant (and what waitress doesn’t need a bonus from God). I really wanted to make sure that the gift was used in a way that the congregation intended and in a way that God was glorified.

In today’s passage, Titus is one of the carriers of a cash gift. Paul and the others were concerned that they handle this endeavor with integrity. They took pains to do what was right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.

Today, look for a chance to give a blessing (financial or otherwise) in a way that will honor the Lord. (vs. 19).

2 Corinthians 8.13-15

13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, 15 as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little."


Verse 15 quotes from exodus 16 when the Israelites were wandering in the desert and God was sustaining them with mana from heaven. God instructed each family to pick up an omer for each person. Thus each person ended up with an equal share of God’s sustenance. God wants us to share the responsibilities of the church as equally as they divided the food. Taking another person’s share of mana would mean they went hungry, but all too often a small percentage of the church is in charge of everything. Not only is it the pastor’s job to preach on Sunday, but to arrange to have the drippy sink fixed. While not all contributions to the church look the same, everyone is called to contribute equally. It isn’t God’s plan for anyone to take too much or too little of the burden. What is your role in the church? Are you taking your share of the load?

2 Corinthians 8.8-12

8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

10 And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

How many times do we say I’m going to start doing this or that, give more time or money? We always have good intentions but rarely act on them or finish what we have started. As Christians we need to do what is within our means. Make sure that if we say we’ll do something that we try our best to stick with it and finish it. It is possible to do; we just need to be as passionate as we were when we started it.

2 Corinthians 8.1–7

1 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord's people. 5 And they went beyond our expectations; having given themselves first of all to the Lord, they gave themselves by the will of God also to us. 6 So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you —see that you also excel in this grace of giving.


I live in a land of abundance where the overwhelming majority has never felt what it is like to face severe oppression or deep hunger. Consequently, this bounty has caused the masses to disregard the still viable parts of existence in need of charity. Oh! How hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom! And yet, the Macedonian churches were quite the opposite. Paul says their generosity was caused by poverty and overflowing joy. If these two factors cause “rich generosity,” perhaps we, though surrounded by abundance, should acknowledge the parts of our existence that lie in poverty as well as ask ourselves if our joy in Christ is manifested in our daily lives.

2 Corinthians 7.13–16

13 By all this we are encouraged.

In 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. 14 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. 15 And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling. 16 I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.

Have you ever recommended to your friend something you enjoyed and then later found out that he didn’t like it at all? It’s a pretty disappointing feeling. In many ways, when that happens it can make one feel like their opinions are not dependable; that they are untrustworthy. However, that is not what happened with Paul and Titus concerning the Corinthians. Paul says he boasted about the Corinthians to Titus and his boasting was validated. He says he felt encouraged and delighted when this took place. It is no small truth that when our convictions are attested to by others whom we trust, our hearts are strengthened and we grow more confident. Nevertheless, let us not begin to believe that our opinions, though confirmed, are worth much on their own. Only when combined with faith in the Son of God can our opinions hope to safely reside in the truth.

2 Corinthians 7.8–13

⁸ Even 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— ⁹ yet 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. ¹⁰ Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. ¹¹ See 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. ¹² So even though I wrote to you, it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. ¹³ By all this we are encouraged.

In 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.

A prayer:

I ask You, O Lord, to keep me from willfully sinning. For I know these sins scar Your son and defile my preparation for the kingdom. But if I do sin, chasten me as You would one of Your dear children. Teach me and instruct me so that I am not led down that path again. Bring me to repentance by striking my heart with guilt over disobeying Your righteous command. May tears flood my bed at night in hope that Your everlasting love would forgive me. Let me not sorrow as the world, for the world sorrows at the mere consequences of sin rather than sin itself. The ugliness of sin is revealed when it is understood that it is a direct violation of Your very Personhood. I’m sorry for hurting You, Father, by adding to my Lord’s pain, but forgive me and renew my heart in purity so that I mat once again seek Your everlasting ways.

2 Corinthians 7.5–7

5 For 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. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and 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.

I’m sure there have been many times when you’ve felt like Paul did in this passage. Like finals week when the stress of studying for all your finals can seem overwhelming. Or maybe you’ve had a close relative or friend pass away. These times in life can be very tough to get through on your own. It’s always nice to have someone like Titus in this passage to encourage you and lift your spirits. Someone you can talk to and let out all your frustration or sadness. If you have a person like this in your life, then you know how valuable they are, so I encourage you to be a Titus to someone you know that might be hurting. Show them God’s love by taking them out to lunch and listening to what they have to say. This can make a huge difference in someone’s life and it’s a perfect way to show God’s love to unbelievers.

2 Corinthians 7.2–4

Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. I 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. I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.

One of the most intriguing things about Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church is precisely that a first preceded it. Take a quick glance through 1 Corinthians and the multitude of problems facing the Corinthians pile up quickly: leadership, incest, lawsuits, idols, what not to eat...the list could go on. Paul’s response was to, point by point, meet each challenge head on with what the rapper Chuck D would call “truth bombs.” Taken as a whole, 1 Corinthians represents Paul’s most vigorous effort to set a church on the right track.

It goes without saying that such efforts would be met with some resistance, as 2 Corinthians proves. Has anyone ever confronted you when you were wandering from the straight and narrow in your life? Then you know what the Corinthians must have felt when reading Paul’s letter.

This time around, though, he is on the defense, explaining his ministry and motivations. Despite the sternness of his first letter, Paul wants the Corinthians to know that whatever he writes is motivated by a deep concern for their continued growth in Christ. “Make room for me in your hearts!” Paul writes. Even though I’ve had to take a tough line with you in the past, your faith encourages me and makes me proud. I don’t do the things I do to tear you down, I do them to build you up!

This makes me wonder: do I have another Christian like Paul who will candidly and lovingly speak truth into my life even when it is difficult to hear?

2 Corinthians 6.14–7.1

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.

¹Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

Camps are great at using the old game of three-legged races. You know the ones where two or more people get tied together and then are asked to run a race, compete in a relay, or run an obstacle course in tandem. If everyone tied together works diligently, working in unison, the task gets accomplished and the goal is won. If those tied together don’t work together, at best our efforts are compromised, at worst they are completely futile.

As we run the most important race, to whom have we tied (yoked) ourselves? As we forge ahead are we tied most closely to those who are pulling in the same direction or have we linked up with those who are trying to drag us off course?

Today, take a look at your closest relationships. Take a look at who is impacting you most. Make sure these are the ones who are heading in the right direction.

2 Corinthians 6.2–13

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.

What motivates your actions? Is your life focused on money, comfort, entertainment, acceptance, and pleasure? It is easy to slip into a self-centered lifestyle without even noticing it. After all, the world will not usually question a person living life for selfish reasons. It is not at all strange to live selfishly. However, our God is worthy of more. Paul reminds us that we should live our lives with others’ spiritual journeys in mind. We must examine our actions and make sure that our lives bring people toward the Kingdom of God instead of pushing them away. This will mean that we must make sacrifices. However, God will fill us with joy when we live according to his Spirit. Open your hearts wide to those around you! There is much more to Jesus’ death than individual salvation. There are millions of people who are living in eternity’s lobby. Let us live in a way that encourages them to move toward God!