“2 Corinthians 13:7-10”

Sunday, July 01, 2018

“Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear unapproved. For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth. For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong; this we also pray for, that you be made complete. For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.”

---End of Scripture Verses---

Three statements really stand out in today’s reading:

1) “We pray to God that you do no wrong” (verse 7). Paul wanted his brothers and sisters to “do what is right”, no matter what others may have thought about him personally. He repeatedly defended himself in this letter because people were attacking his credibility and authority. But his main concern was that his fellow Christians choose to walk the paths of righteousness and do what was right in the sight of the Lord.

I have personally tried to help people straighten out their lives, and have lost their friendship in the process. Sometimes when you interfere in people’s personal affairs, even with godly motives, it makes them offended and resentful towards you. But, if in the end they actually do turn their lives around, that is all that really matters. It is a blessing if you help people to do the right things, even if they do so without your companionship.

2) “This we also pray for, that you be made complete” (verse 9). The word “complete” means “to render fit” and was used in Matthew 4:21 for mending damaged fishing nets. It can carry the idea of mending, perfecting (or maturing), or restoring. The brethren in Corinth obviously needed all three of these things. “Doing the right thing” is only a part of God’s will for His people. He wants Christians to have mended lives, reach for spiritual maturity and strive for spiritual perfection.

3) “We can do nothing against the truth” (verse 8). The truth is always the truth, no matter what we may choose to think or how we may decide to live our lives. If the Bible says that something is sinful, it is sinful. It doesn’t matter what our friends may say, or what agenda the media may be pushing. It doesn’t even matter how our conscience directs us. We will all be judged by God’s word of truth. Please don’t tussle against the truth. That’s a fight that just cannot be won.

Please read 2 Corinthians 13:11-14 for tomorrow and prepare to delve into Paul’s letter to the Galatians after that.

Have a blessed Lord’s Day!

-Louie Taylor

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