2:4 - It is okay to show emotion to show the depth and extent of your love. It may freak some people out, but it blesses others. I recently expressed my frustration with the group of Christians I work with. It freaked some of them out and they left, some of them decided to withhold their offering (never understood that) and others thanked me for being honest. The effect was it hurt the overall attendance and giving, but it helped me and others see what we could do to change things. There is a balance here. Our culture freaks out any time someone truly expresses emotion, but as long as we have to pretend everything is okay we miss out on truly knowing each other and truly growing together. Wise (I might have messed this part up) sharing of how you feel can grow you and others in a mighty way.
2:7 - Now instead you ought to forgive and comfort him, SO THAT he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. - In the 1st letter to the Corinthians church there was a man who had been sleeping with his step-mom. Paul rebuked him and the church for putting up with it. He had told them that since the man refused to repent he should be kicked out of the church so that he understood how serious the situation was. Apparently the eventually listened to Paul and kicked the man out. But then they kind of left him there. In this 2nd letter to them Paul says that now it is time to try to restore the man. We have to be willing to quickly and completely obey God, but we have to be careful not to become so overzealous that we forget to understand the intent. In this case it was to lead the man to repentance not to punish him.
2:11 - Satan actively tries to outwit us and we need to be aware of his schemes. I am so amazed at how many times this concept comes up in the Bible. There is an active enemy trying to disrupt, discourage and dissuade us from moving forward and it is not enough to just endure it. We need to be fully aware of how he works so that we can take our stand and help others take their stand against him. We need to study the Scriptures to see the devices and schemes he uses and then plan against them. On a battlefield lives are at risk, but here it is so much more - it is souls!
2:12-13 - peace of mind - I am absolutely blown away here. Paul says God had opened a door for him, but since he didn't have peace of mind he went somewhere else. I think we have this wrong thought that if there is an open door in front of us we should take it even if we aren't settled in our hearts and minds about it. I am not saying we shouldn't overcome fear, but if we are in a situation, even a good one, and we do not have the peace of Christ about it, we need to ask Jesus where that peace is and go find it. Peace is way too important to live without. Jesus came so that we can have peace so if your faith isn't bringing peace you need to run to God and ask Him why.
2:15 - For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. - I used this verse when I preached at my parents' funeral. They truly epitomized people who brought Jesus with them wherever they went. They weren't super-spiritual people, but real people who love Jesus and loved people. The grace people experienced near and through them was Jesus. We are the aroma of Christ to those who need to be encouraged and those who need to find Christ. How do you smell today?
3:5 - Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.
3:12 - Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. - Your HOPE should cause your boldness and not just your personality or your opinions or your status. When we truly understand what/who our hope is in it causes a passion to rise within us. We can conqueror kings, take back cities and confront friends with the truth.
3:14/16 - The veil that keeps people blinded can only be removed through Jesus.
3:17 - ...where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. - If you don't feel free you are probably not living like Jesus intends. If you feel trapped by money, fear, depression, anxiety, anger, hopelessness, whatever you are most likely trying to receive God's peace and freedom your own way. God has promised that where He is there IS FREEDOM.
Love, Michael
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