January 29, 2025
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Deuteronomy and Corinthians? Here’s today’s reading:
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.
Paul’s Hardships
3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.……Continue Reading
Corinthians 6
2Cor 6:2 a memory verse, and like an old friend, I am reminded, that I heard Christ in the accepted time, and He now abides with me forever!
2Cor.6:11-13 “Open wide your hearts” to the Lord. “now is the day of salvation”!
Paul’s comments in verses 8-10. He remains faithful no matter his circumstances were. People’s opinion didn’t matter to him. He stood firm. Yoked together with an unbeliever. Seen my daughter’s struggle. But it is slowly changing.
2 Corinthians 6
2 Corinthians 6
2corinthians 6
“Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.””
2 Corinthians 6:17-18 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/2co.6.17-18.NIV
17 Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.
We are always at risk of thinking we can be quiet and just add God’s love to a sinful situation and it will get better. While God’s love is transforming we need also share His truth. The world thinks to be a “good” we should just be loving Christians that turn a blind eye to sin and let people live the way they want, however, God wants us to be the poeple who speak truth in love. That does not mean we go around judging people but when we are around unbelievers we should look different, sound different, and show people how God’s love and truth can transform a person and help us to resist sin, find joy in the struggles, and put others needs before our own.
How important it is to not take God’s grace in vain. What is commonly and wrongly thought as something that makes sin ok with God, it’s actual intent is to help us to say no to ungodliness and the evil patterns of the world (Titus 2:11-12). It is also about the power of God working through us to become what He wants us to be. And this is an impressive list that Paul gives here which he says are the marks of his ministry and the reason why people can trust him and recognize his ministry is from God. I would hope my ministry is marked by at least half of these and am open to the good, the bad and the ugly that is found here, as God wills and directs. In addition, we as believers do need to be careful with how we relate to unbelievers. We should always look to be influencers in those relationships and not be influenced in wrong ways. This is especially so when we are yoked to them, where our lives and decisions are entwined with theirs. And that’s were Paul says, don’t do it. If we are set on a pattern of following God’s standards and looking for His purposes to be fulfilled, how can we set ourselves up to need an unbeliever to do the same in order for us to do so? In that sense, what does light have to do with darkness and we should come away from them. But that does not include not sharing the gospel and our lives with them, but the influence we allow them to have on us. This is most significant in dating/marriage and business where being yoked with an unbeliever will hinder your ability to follow God.
2 Corinthians 6
2 Corinthians 6
We are the temple of God once we are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. God wants what is best for us for He knows us better than we know ourselves. He sees our future, but He will still allow us to make our own decisions. He is a loving caring God and would desire for us to make the right decisions to follow Him. He desires that we have a personal relationship with Him with our own choosing. Many times, He will allow us to go through the same trials for we just don`t seem to get it. We keep making the wrong choices. Granted there are many things that happen to us that we have no control in. For example, actions of other people, our society, etc. We can`t control all the evil that is in this world; but we can by God`s grace control our own thoughts and actions. We just need to ask for Him to help us in everything. But we also need to read His word every day and meditate on it day and night. None of us will ever be perfect while we are in our earthy bodies, but our desire should be to grow closer to Him. Yes, we will continue to fail because we are sinners saved by grace, but we also will become more like Him until He comes back. We do have the old nature but now as believers have a new nature. We need to surrender and submit to Him and not give into sin. He knows we will sin even after becoming a believer, but He, provides a way to be right with Him. We never lose our salvation, but our fellowship will be broken because of sin. 1 John 1:9 {If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.} Thank God!
We are to live as people who love, care and give freely to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Our church has many outlets that allow us to participate in the activities of the Lord. Service, worship, fellowship activities, Bible study, outreach to the community and so on. We are so blessed to have these opportunities at our disposal so we can engage in what the Lord calls us to do. So let us make every effort to get involved so that we don’t become people who withhold our affection from our brothers and sisters, rather, we open wide our hearts to them as we engage in the purposeful activities that God has set before us.
Amen, Shelly!
Paul commends himself to the Corinthians, revealing all that he has remained faithful through and why he should be listened to.
He tells them to not be yoked with unbelievers and to separate themselves from the world. This sometimes feels contrary to the plan of the gospel, but I believe that a mark of unbelief in our culture and even some churches, is the acceptance of other “gods” and standards and tolerance of values or non-values of our society in the name of love and compassion.