Category: 2 Corinthians

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

There is much of our Trinitarian understanding of God in this sentence: The Lord is the Spirit. (3:17) The designation the Lord is used for both Jesus and the Father!

SJA Notes

* Loving God, please reveal to us today a little more of You, our need for You, and how we can better listen and obey!

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

What a strong and encouraging passage, a war-cry of the believer!

“For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, …”

The best way to tell people about Jesus is to refuse any cunning practice or tampering with God’s word and give the open statement of the truth.

This will be costly.

But God’s word stands on its own.

And indeed, the message is NOTHING OF US.

The message we have is ALL OF JESUS.

He is the one who takes away the veil that lies over our hearts.

He is the one who saves us to the uttermost.

He is the one who is our light and life, the word become flesh, the glory of God.

Hallelujah for this!

* God Above,

Thank You that You transform us, our faces unveiled through the light of the knowledge of Your glory through the face of Jesus our Lord.

Thank You that You transform us into the same image from one degree of glory to another.

Please help us understand more of You today, to grow closer to You in our walk along this narrow road.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Remember the young man who lived with his stepmother? Well, he repented. Paul deals here with his re-admission into the congregation. Before the elders were too lax, now they have been too harsh. Isn’t this just like us!

SJA Notes

* Father God, Your word is a lamp unto our feet, a light unto our path – Please show us how to walk today.

“But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.”

The knowledge of God is a fragrance!

And how we receive it, how we smell it, depends on our hearts.

To those in Jesus, it is the fragrance of life!

To those outside the camp, those in spiritual darkness (dead hearts, dry bones), it is the fragrance of death.

Sometimes we might not feel adequate in our walk along this narrow path, but our adequacy is not a matter – It is the fragrance of Christ in us (and not our own).

We do not walk this path alone, but instead are led in triumphal procession by the King of Kings, the Son of God, our risen Lord Jesus!

Let us be encouraged in this. Jesus has won the day, we walk this road together, and we bring Jesus to those around us by living as He wants.

*  Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Jesus, who leads us along this path.

Please help us to spread Your word, the knowledge of You, throughout every place You lead us.

May souls be saved into Your kingdom!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Achaia is Greece. Verses 3-5 call us out of ourselves and remind us of that higher purpose in our lives. God grant us to be useful in His kingdom today.

SJA Notes

* Holy God, Your word to us is life and health, Your word become flesh is God the Son, our salvation, eternal life and health found in Him!

“For all the promises of God find their Yes in him.”

Jesus is the crux, the pivot, the capstone and cornerstone.

He is the life-giving spirit and through Him creation was made and continues to be sustained.

Our King Jesus is the focal point of all history, from the first day of creation (even before the foundations of the world) – It is all about Jesus.

He is the promised Messiah, the King of glory, great David’s greater son.

He is the lamb slain from the before the foundation of the world, the death-crusher and life-giver and the one through whom dead hearts come alive.

This is why we can wholeheartedly and unreservedly point always and often to Jesus.

He is God’s rescue plan, there is no other!

He is our pattern, there is no other!

He is our King, Lord and Saviour – THERE IS NO OTHER!

Hallelujah, O what a Saviour He is.

* Gracious God,

Thank You for Jesus, in whom all Your promises find their YES.

Please grow our understanding of You this day.

Please help us to be more like Jesus this day.

Amen.