Paul’s Second Letter
to the Corinthians: DAY 24
RE-READ 2 Corinthians
4:1 – 6:13
In your journal, write
down the things that stick out to you from today’s Bible reading. Respond to
what God shows you as you feel led.
Jesus said that we would have trouble in this world but
to take heart because He had overcome the world (John 16:33). This is what Paul
is reminding the Corinthians and us in chapters 4-6. When Jesus spoke these
words the disciples did not fully understand them, but Paul now sheds wonderful
light for us. Following the two truths discussed yesterday, Paul presents three
more: 1) Knowing that we will all stand before God’s judgement one day should
evoke in us a fear of the Lord and an aim to please Him (5:9-10); 2) A fear of
the Lord should produce in us hearts for evangelism and a willingness to die to
ourselves and live entirely for Christ (5:10-15); and 3) All people are eternal
and believers must represent God’s offer of reconciliation to a broken world.
Now is the time for salvation (5:16-6:13).
PRAYER AND MEDITATION
1.
Do you think that you have a fear of
the Lord? How can you tell? This is an important question because without the
fear of the Lord it is easy to live in rebellion and ignore His discipline. Ask
God whether or not you fear Him. If you do not understand the fear of the Lord,
make it a point to study this in your devotions.
2.
Paul saw people through the eyes of
eternity, understanding that everyone has an eternal destination, be it
eternally reconciled or eternally condemned. Ask God to place a burden of
eternity on your heart, that you also would see people through the lens of
eternity.
3.
Paul calls all believers – all who have
been made new by the Spirit of God! – to be ambassadors for reconciliation.
Through Jesus, we who were far from God because of sin have been reconciled to
God. Now we are able to come with confidence before His throne. We are to work
together with Christ to appeal others to receive His grace and be transformed
by Him. Ask God how He wants to use you as an ambassador. Ask Him for boldness
to speak out about your faith.
