Week #33 Insights: August 12-18

This week's blurb are authored by Mandy Treder (Monday - Friday) and Jeff Quint (Saturday - Sunday).

August 12 – 2 Corinthians 1:1-2:4: Paul begins his letter to the Corinthians by calling them saints—believers—and reminding them of God’s grace and peace to them. He praises God for the compassion and comfort he gives in all troubles and gives the Corinthians a glimpse into the hardships he had experienced. Though our problems are different than the things Paul faced, we can certainly feel so pressed down and overwhelmed, we wonder if we will be able to handle the stresses of this life. Our God is merciful and through him comfort overflows. He sent his Son to save us from sin, death, and the power of the devil. He unites us with a body of believers in whom we can also find comfort and encouragement. He promises strength to us as we live in this sin-filled world, and he gives us the joy to share his comforting Gospel message with others. “God is the one who makes both us and you to be strong in Christ. He anointed us. He sealed us as his own and gave us the Spirit as the down payment in our hearts” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22). Study question: What are some ways to share our comfort and hope in Christ with fellow believers who are undergoing hardships?
 
August 13 – 2 Corinthians 2:5-17: The Corinthians lived in a very sinful society and had instances amongst their own where they needed to preach the law with the goal that the erring would repent (see 1 Corinthians). In these verses, Paul reminds the Corinthians that when a sinner is truly repentant, they need to be absolved by fellow believers. For the accuser is very quick to get his foot in the door and cause much guilt and despair. The same is true for us today. When a fellow believer is truly grieved over a particular sin (whether a public sin or not), let us be quick to assure them that all their sins are washed away through Jesus’ perfect life, death, and resurrection. We have a Savior who loves us and has set us free from the bondage of sin. “Yet, though conscience’ voice appall me, Father, I will seek your face. Though your child I dare not call me, yet receive me to your grace. Do not for my sins forsake me; do not let your wrath o’er take me. For your Son has suffered for me, giv’n himself to rescue me, died to save me and restore me, reconciled and set me free. Jesus’ cross alone can vanquish these dark fears and sooth this anguish” (CW 302:2,3). Study Question: Create a list of Bible passages and hymn verses to read when you feel the guilt of sin weighing you down.
 
August 14 – 2 Corinthians 3: Through Christ, God made Paul competent to share the wonderful message of grace and forgiveness (the gospel). The law has a purpose and comes from God, but it cannot bring people to faith. For the law condemns. But here, Paul declared himself a minister of the gospel. It is through the gospel that the Holy Spirit brings people to faith and works in them to live sanctified lives. As we are also privileged and made competent through Christ to share God’s Word with others, may God make us competent ministers of the gospel! Study question: How might you use the gospel in your daily conversations with others? Pray boldly that the Holy Spirit makes all of us “ministers of the gospel” for the sake of Christ’s kingdom!
 
August 15 – 2 Corinthians 4: Because God made Paul competent to share his saving gospel (1 Corinthians 3), Paul goes on to say that the message is not about the messenger. Paul does not preach himself, but Jesus Christ. Paul is just the privileged servant. In those days, it was a custom to put valuable items in jars of clay because the jars were of little value and significance and did not attract attention. In the same way, Paul calls himself a “jar of clay.” Though he holds the precious treasure of the gospel message, he himself is just the vessel that carries it. The power of the gospel comes from God, not from him. Paul is but a mortal man who faces the persecutions and hardships of a sinful world. He fixes his eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. The troubles of this life, the persecution of being a Christian in an unbelieving and ungodly world, though very present to us now- are only temporary. The unseen—the hope of life in heaven with our Savior that far outweighs everything earthly—is eternal. Study question: Our society sends the message that to do great things people must “put themselves out there” or “make a name for themselves” or “get all we can.” How does this section of Scripture contradict this idea? How can this be a comfort to believers as we carry out the work of our Lord’s ministry?
 
August 16 – 2 Corinthians 5: What pure gospel is spoken in this chapter! Because Jesus has reconciled us through his perfect life and death, we are now new creations. When God looks at us, he does not see our sinful old man. He sees our new man and does not count our sins against us. Because of this great love, the gospel motivates us to live our lives in sanctified love for our Savior and for others. As we go about our daily lives on this earth, we live in our bodies, but our true home is in heaven with our Savior. We live by faith and not be sight. We are here on earth for just a time, and then the Lord will take us to our heavenly home to be with him forever! “We are the Lord’s; his all sufficient merit, sealed on the cross, to us this grace accords. We are the Lord’s and all things shall inherit; whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s” (CW 427:1). Study question: “Christ’s love compels us.” This is gospel motivation. How does Christ’s love compel you to work hard and make sure the job is done well? To show love for others when they do not have love for us? To make godly choices and decisions? To live by faith and not by sight?
 
August 17 – 2 Corinthians 6: There is a sense of urgency as our Lord speaks to us through Paul’s letter. We have been given the greatest gift and God wants us to respond accordingly, holding tight to his promises of forgiveness and salvation. Did you do this yesterday? Well, it doesn’t matter because that’s in the past. Will you do it tomorrow? Well, talk is cheap and I think we all know the saying about “good intentions.” So, we are only left with “now.” The present. God loves us so much that he wants to fill our lives now, but we resist. We are afraid. Knowing this, we earnestly repent our unworthiness and ask once again for the comfort of assurance that God will work all things to bring about his gracious will. With this assurance we are free from the worrisome “now.” Study question: How can we better defend against Satan terrorizing us with our past or future?
 
August 18 – 2 Corinthians 7: Verse 9 says godly sorrow produces repentance. Verse 10 says worldly sorrow produces death. Although it sounds like we have a choice here, that is only half right. I can always choose worldly sorrow – and I do – grieving over being caught, etc., but sorrow that leads to true repentance is only and always a gift from God. When we are truly repentant, we are very close to what God intends fallen man and woman to be. By grace we rest safe in his protecting arms, sure that we are his beloved children with whom he wishes to spend eternity. We see a little more clearly all those things Paul mentions in verse 11, and we are comforted with the blessed assurance that all our debt has been paid in full by Jesus’ perfect sacrifice. Study question: Why does your busy life prevent you from spending more time with God?