Shared Power

Shared Power

2 Corinthians 13: This is now the third time that I am coming to visit you. “Any accusation must be upheld by the evidence of two or more witnesses”—as the scripture says. ² I want to tell those of you who have sinned in the past, and all the others; I said it before during my second visit to you, but I will say it again now that I am away: the next time I come nobody will escape punishment. ³ You will have all the proof you want that Christ speaks through me. When he deals with you, he is not weak; instead, he shows his power among you. ⁴ For even though it was in weakness that he was put to death on the cross, it is by God's power that he lives. In union with him we also are weak; but in our relations with you we shall share God's power in his life.

 

============

 

“Oooo, I’m telling!” were the words of dread from another kid’s mouth. My teasing had turned into vicious put downs, causing him to go and tell on me. Now I was in trouble!

 

• I dreaded having to face consequence.
• I only wanted to be forgiven without needing to endure any penalties.
• I was mad at being told on.

 

Paul clarifies that he doesn’t want twisted stories. Specific sin needed to have two or more witnesses. The sin needed to be clear and not manufactured by one and planted into others. Paul was given the power to cast out demons and do other miraculous things. He shared in the power of JESUS and wanted to be careful when dealing with blatant sin.

 

My Observations

• GOD gave HIS SON to us so we can share in the power that raised HIM from the dead.
• GOD allowed me to be saved and forgiven of all my sins.
• GOD allows other people to bring consequence on me when I blatantly sin against him or her.

 

Forgiveness is wonderful. I mean, all my sins are forgiven?! Wow! BUT GOD doesn’t like sin, not even the smallest. One bite of a piece of fruit took humanity down. That sin doesn’t compare to all the ones I ever committed.

 

GOD does forgive, and HE protects people. HE sees when I do wrong to others and allows consequence to fall on me. I do not like consequence but I understand when GOD wants me corrected. HE also give me the power to restore those who repent. I am glad HE corrects and restores me.

 

Challenge

• Do you feel the writer’s passion?
• What would you do in his situation?
• Do you feel good when someone gets punished?
• Will you seek restoration instead of punishment and allow GOD to own any vengeance today?

Ready for the Return

 

Ready for the Return

2 Corinthians 12: ¹⁹ Perhaps you think that all along we have been trying to defend ourselves before you. No! We speak as Christ would have us speak in the presence of God, and everything we do, dear friends, is done to help you. ²⁰ I am afraid that when I get there I will find you different from what I would like you to be and you will find me different from what you would like me to be. I am afraid that I will find quarreling and jealousy, hot tempers and selfishness, insults and gossip, pride and disorder. ²¹ I am afraid that the next time I come my God will humiliate me in your presence, and I shall weep over many who sinned in the past and have not repented of the immoral things they have done—their lust and their sexual sins.

 

============

 

When the teacher stepped out, it was our chance to get up and act silly. It looked like fun. And for so long, I had never participated in the foolery. This time I decided to join in. Unaware of time, I was caught when the teacher returned; meanwhile the others dashed to their desks.

 

• I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to be doing.
• I got caught in the act.
• I could not say anything because I was guilty.

 

Paul spoke about his impending third trip. He mentions that he is afraid of what he will find when he gets there. While He had taught what was right, he was afraid the people had chosen not to follow GOD.

 

My Observations:

• One day JESUS will return and wants to catch me doing HIS will.
• One day JESUS will return and desires to see me following HIS ways.
• One day JESUS will return and will judge my actions according to HIS standards.

 

Believing in JESUS as the Savior also means believing that HE will return one day with all power. Not even JESUS knows when HE will return, only the HEAVENLY FATHGER. While JESUS has forgiven me of all my sins, past present and future, it does not give me the license to wildly indulge.

 

Sin distracts me. It makes me doubt GOD loves me and I question HIS love. No wonder Satan tries to tempt me. BUT GOD knows where I am. HE provides the strength to follow HIS ways and to seek the imminent return of JESUS. I am grateful so I choose to follow JESUS this day.

 

Challenge

• Have you ever been tempted to sin a little?
• What part of the writer’s list do you see that may be a bit convicting?
• Will you increase your fear of the LORD by desiring to please HIM and follow HIS ways little by little, knowing you will never be perfect?

Mislabeled

Mislabeled

2 Corinthians 12: ¹⁶ You will agree, then, that I was not a burden to you. But someone will say that I was tricky, and trapped you with lies. ¹⁷ How? Did I take advantage of you through any of the messengers I sent? ¹⁸ I begged Titus to go, and I sent the other believer with him. Would you say that Titus took advantage of you? Do not he and I act from the very same motives and behave in the same way?

 

============

 

After working extremely hard I overheard someone say that I was not a “hard worker” as that guy over there. This statement was very confusing. I had done similar quantities of work with the same quality. This angered me so I spent my time trying to prove them wrong!

 

• I felt I was mislabeled.
• I wanted to get rid of the label because I was now insecure.
• I thought I had something to prove or needed to act different even though I was doing what I was supposed to do.

 

Paul addressed divisiveness. Some people saw the obvious servanthood he brought, while others labeled him a liar. This angered Paul and he had to address the murmurs of those who wanted to say he took advantage of the people.

 

My Observations

• GOD says to me “You will be hated by all for MY name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
• GOD says to me “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for MY sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
• GOD says to me “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.”

 

Following what GOD says is not easy. I mean, HIS message of true love is met with opposition at every turn. JESUS died for all humans. All we have to do is believe that we need a Savior. Sounds simple. But this simple message is twisted by people who want financial gain or power.

 

They steal the message in hopes to gain power or influence. Mentioning JESUS name is sacred and is to be used to invoke a display of a relationship of surrender. Those who choose to not believe in HIS power may mention HIS name in vain and maybe even use persecuting labels to get their way. I am grateful JESUS makes me secure and allows me to abide in HIM.

 

Challenge

• Do you sense the hurt and disappointment from the writer?
• Have you ever been mislabeled, devalued or brushed off?
• If you are living for CHRIST, do you expect to be persecuted by those who are not living for HIM?
• Will you persevere through the mislabels and allow GOD to draw who HE pleases to HIM in HIS way and HIS timing? 

Pseudo Parent

Pseudo Parent

2 Corinthians 12: ¹⁴ This is now the third time that I am ready to come to visit you—and I will not make any demands on you. It is you I want, not your money. After all, children should not have to provide for their parents, but parents should provide for their children. ¹⁵ I will be glad to spend all I have, and myself as well, in order to help you. Will you love me less because I love you so much?

 

============

 

“Come in and have some dinner” were the words I delighted ti hear. Many households invited me in to eat with them in the community I grew up. What was it about these people who took time out of their busy lives to help us kids? They did it from their heart.

 

• I was blessed to have many pseudo parents who cared for me.
• I was blessed to be watched over by those who had hearts large enough to care for others.
• I was blessed to have so many people who would take me places, feed me, and mostly teach me how to grow up.

 

Pau was about to visit. He explained that he was not coming there for their money. This may have been a selfish concern on their part that he wanted to ease. Instead, he was being a pseudo parent and wanted to show his love.

 

My Observations

• GOD doesn’t mind if I remain a child.
• GOD wants me to grow up to love others the way I can.
• GOD wants me to understand the purpose of having the HOLY SPIRIT live inside me is to stretch my heart to fit others.

 

When life is all about me, my words sound different. I mean, I have more complaints than solutions when I am a child. BUT GOD wants me to grow up and point others to HIM as the only solution to life’s problems.

 

HE allows fiery trials in my life to burn away the things that do not belong. HE then opens my eyes to other people HE wants me to reach. HE provides enough for me and her or him as I encounter each person. I am glad I have had great parents and pseudo parents to grow me in many ways.

 

Challenge

• Do you feel the care of the writer?
• Have you ever been tempted to speak about GOD only for money?
• Will you allow the HOLY SPIRIT to stretch your heart to fit other people and serve them so they can believe in JESUS in a saving way today?

Patience

Patience

2 Corinthians 12: ¹¹ I am acting like a fool—but you have made me do it. You are the ones who ought to show your approval of me. For even if I am nothing, I am in no way inferior to those very special “apostles” of yours. ¹² The many miracles and wonders that prove that I am an apostle were performed among you with much patience. ¹³ How were you treated any worse than the other churches, except that I did not bother you for financial help? Please forgive me for being so unfair!

 

============

 

Listening to his plea did not feel comfortable. He listed all the things he had done for the company but I was told to get rid of several people. “You have to make the hard calls if you want to be in this position” were the sentiments of my peers and other leaders.

 

• I sometimes took lessons from the impatient and applied them to other parts of my life.
• I sometimes looked at everything from the bottom line.
• I sometimes valued money over what was truly valuable.

 

Paul expressed his concern that the people had turned away from the following of JESUS to listen to others who may have been smooth talkers. Paul had performed many miracles that people were witnessed to. Only GOD could have allowed the miracles he performed, yet the people turned away. Paul started to get impatient.

 

My Observations

• When I get impatient, I have to turn back to GOD to ask “How come YOU are patient with me?”
• GOD wants me to serve others so I need to continue to ask HIM for patience.
• Looking at the progress of others can take my eyes off of the patience GOD wants me to have for them and myself.

 

“Have patience” is easy to say but hard to follow. I mean, when times are fast paced or anxious or stressful, using patience is the best thing to do, yet I found myself caught up in quick solutions that may not work. GOD’s solutions sometimes don’t come quick enough for me so I jump in with “my” plan, then I “tell” HIM to help “me” with “my” plan.

 

GOD patiently says “No” and guides me to a better plan. HE then shows me how impatient I have been with others and wants me to take a deep breath and slow down. HE then says, “Be patient with yourself so you can be patient with others.” This gives me the permission to mess up big and know HE patiently loves me anyway. I am glad GOD has patience with me and loves me dearly.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think the writer is so upset?
• Have you ever worked very hard on something and were met with criticism or been overlooked for a promotion or devalued in some way?
• Will you turn your thoughts to GOD who has shown you infinite patience and ask for a small dose of HIS patience so you can continue with your purpose today?

Elusive Perfection

Elusive Perfection

2 Corinthians 12: ⁷ But to keep me from being puffed up with pride because of the many wonderful things I saw, I was given a painful physical ailment, which acts as Satan's messenger to beat me and keep me from being proud. ⁸ Three times I prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away. ⁹ But his answer was: “My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak.” I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ's power over me. ¹⁰ I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 

============

 

My prayers felt unheard. “LORD please heal me of…” or “LORD please heal this person or that person” or “LORD please give me a certain amount of money by this date” or something else I would ask for. When the answer was “No” I questioned if I was doing something wrong.

 

• I sometimes got tired of praying and hearing “No” for the answer.
• I kept looking at current circumstances as being hopeless.
• I wondered “why are these things happening to me?” when I was trying hard.

 

Paul was called by GOD in a magnificent way. But he also suffered a lot. He had a problem that he prayed to be released from on three occasions. He was probably thinking “If this problem would just be gone, then I would be able to serve GOD better.” GOD’s answer, “MY grace is all you need.”

 

My Observations

• I keep trying to make my relationship with GOD one sided.
• I have many problems and not a lot of answers.
• I have looked at problems the wrong way and GOD wants me to see HIS power is greatest when I am not in HIS way.

 

Fixing the world’s problems seemed simple to me at one time. I mean, after GOD forgave my rebellious lifestyle, HE had me learn about HIM. I found many promises of protections, wealth and great relationships with everyone. But that did not pan out the way I thought.

 

I ran into problem after problem after problem. “Why aren’t my prayers being answered?” I would ask. Little did I know, my prayers were being answered with “No, because MY grace is all you need.” HE guides me to realize that when I am weakest, I can feel CHRIST’s power over me. I am content with my weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties for CHRIST’s sake.

 

Challenge

• Can you feel the anguish of the writer?
• Have you ever prayed for something to change over and over and over, yet it has not?
• Can you follow the writer’s example and look at the situation different by understanding that GOD’s power is greatest when your power is reduced and only HE can solve the situation in HIS time, in HIS way?

Equally Needed

Equally Needed

2 Corinthians 12: I have to boast, even though it doesn't do any good. But I will now talk about visions and revelations given me by the Lord. ² I know a certain Christian man who fourteen years ago was snatched up to the highest heaven (I do not know whether this actually happened or whether he had a vision—only God knows). ^3-4 I repeat, I know that this man was snatched to Paradise (again, I do not know whether this actually happened or whether it was a vision—only God knows), and there he heard things which cannot be put into words, things that human lips may not speak. ⁵ So I will boast about this man—but I will not boast about myself, except the things that show how weak I am. ⁶ If I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I will not boast, because I do not want any of you to have a higher opinion of me than you have as a result of what you have seen me do and heard me say.

 

============

 

Eloquent speakers, smart thinkers, strong athletes and talented people seemed to “always” be ahead of me when it came to being chosen. I would raise my hand but receive the words “That’s alright, we have already chosen someone else.” “Am I unwanted?” I would ask GOD.

 

• I felt untalented.
• I felt rejected.
• I felt unneeded, undesired, and unpleasant.

 

Paul speaks about his incredible encounter with the LORD. He was sought after by GOD to be a special messenger and was revealed an indescribable vision that catapulted his purpose to the highest level. Even though this uncommon event happened, he did not want anyone to have a higher opinion of him or be jealous of the calling.

 

My Observations

• I need to recognize GOD’s calling on my life.
• I need to look at only my relationship with the LORD and not be jealous of someone else’s.
• I need to live my life with the purpose GOD gave me and know it is just as important as the next person.

 

Titles cause me to think of people on different levels. I mean, when someone has a special title in the world’s eyes, I follow the protocol associated with that title. This may require extra attention I would not give to a “common” person. BUT GOD wants me to treat everyone the same.

 

HE wants me to see that all of us have sinned and fall short of HIS glory. HE then wants me to praise HIM when someone accepts HIS SON as their Savior so he or she can live a life for JESUS. HE wants me to live my life with that same purpose, knowing we are all equally loved by HIM. I am glad GOD loves me just as much as those who are called to do what they do.

 

Challenge

• While reading this passage, do you feel lower than the writer?
• Have you ever compared yourself to the names written in the Bible and felt better or worse?
• Will you consider not comparing yourself to others and know you are loved, needed and wanted to the highest by GOD today?