Daily Devotion in II Corinthians 7

Daily Nugget:
Paul corrected the carnal Corinthian church in his writings to them. He got no joy out of rebuking them for their sin and weaknesses (II Corinthians 7:8). However, he rejoiced over the results of his correcting them.

The weak ministry weighed his remarks about their sin. They found the accusations were correct, saw that it was wrong in God’s eyes, were sorrowful over their iniquities, and corrected their behavior (II Corinthians 7:8-10). Paul’s verbal stand against their wrong-doing helped them repent of what they were doing.

As the Corinthian church had shown, repentance is usually the intent of every preacher who ministers to their congregation. They labor over the portion of the Scriptures God has lain on their heart to preach and deliver that message. Many times, the preacher would rather not say what he has to say.

God’s man in the pulpit knows very well how some will react. The preacher has a duty, however (II Corinthians 7:12). His responsibility is to deliver the truth, no matter how hard some may receive it. God’s vessel to relay His message, often a preacher, is to put the spotlight on spiritual problems in our lives. Once we see the error, it is up to us to correct the wrong-doing.

Some hear the message pounded from the pulpit and do as the Corinthians did. They heard it and most likely did not like what they heard. Then they realized that it was not the preacher who was rebuking them, but God Himself, from His Word. When the seriousness of the matter was learned, they became “sorrowful” over their sin. They become so regretful over what they had done that they committed themselves not to do it again. The Holy Spirit’s convicting work through the preacher’s sermons had done what was intended!

However, many react differently to a sermon. Instead of getting their sin or spiritual weakness corrected, they get mad at the deliverer of the Good News. It is not unusual for some to storm out of the church, never to return, and blame the preacher for, “He was personally attacking me and embarrassing me before the whole church!” The preacher often has no idea that his words hit the mark the Holy Spirit was aiming at or to whom it applied.

Others react badly by discrediting the Spirit’s tugging at their heart by, “The preacher doesn’t know what he is talking about,” “That Scripture was for another time, and doesn’t apply today,” “I don’t agree with what he said,” and on and on the excuses flow. The truth of the matter is that the Holy Spirit spoke to their heart, and they refused to obey what He was convicting them of doing.

Preaching is the media God often chooses to speak to our heart. However God speaks to our heart, it is up to us to heed the warning and turn from our ways.

Have you heard His commands? Did you get glad and repent, or did you get mad and not correct what He desired you to change?

Today’s Thought: 
“When God’s Word convicts you of sin, don’t shoot the messenger; heed the message!” — Author Unknown

Words to Understand:
Consolation: comforting advice or help
Defrauded: deceived
Indignation: justified anger
Vehement: urgent; forceful

Today’s Reading:
II Corinthians 7
1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
3 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.
4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
5 ¶ For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
12 ¶ Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.
13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
14 For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.
15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Daily Devotion in Psalm 150

Daily View Devotion in Psalm 148

Daily Devotion in Psalm 149