2 Corinthians 2

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Devotional

For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.

– 2 Corinthians 2:4

More than any of Paul’s letters, this second epistle to the Corinthians is the most personal and revealing of Paul’s character. His first letter was challenging and forceful, this is tender and heartfelt. One gets the sense that Paul questioned the tone of his first letter. Though I, like many others, am grateful for the strong exhortations of the first. But I am equally grateful for the tender compassion of the second.

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

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Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

2 Corinthians 1

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Devotional

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.

– 2 Corinthians 1:8

Yesterday in 1 Corinthians 16 we read “a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” Here in 2 Corinthians 1 we see again this truth revealed. Where God is working, there is the opposition of the enemy.

Expect it! Don’t be surprised by it.

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

 

1 Corinthians 16

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Devotional

For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

– 1 Corinthians 16:9

We often (wrongly) assume that an open door from the Lord is evidenced by ease and smooth sailing. But actually, open doors are often attended by many adversaries. Remember, the enemy opposes all that God seeks to accomplish. Therefore, when open doors are before you, expect opposition.

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

 

1 Corinthians 15

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Devotional

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen…

– 1 Corinthians 15:3-5

This is the Gospel simply stated. Christ died for our sins, as foretold by the prophets. He was buried (because he was dead), and He rose again the third day, in accordance with the Scriptures. And the risen and alive (from the dead) Jesus was seen by witnesses.

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

 

1 Corinthians 14

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Devotional

Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?

– 1 Corinthians 14:23

I remember it well, though it was almost 30 years ago. I was 9 or 10 years old and my family was on the hunt for a new home church. As we church hopped for a few weeks we happened one Sunday to attend a local pentecostal church, which in many ways was strong, vibrant and alive. But I’ll never forget as an uninformed 9 year old thinking “These people are nuts” when at a certain point in the service multiple individuals began babbling strange and indistinguishable utterances.

Let me be clear, I am, in every way a continuationist. That is, I believe that God still works by His Spirit through spiritual gifts today. So just as the Apostle exhorts at the end of 1 Corinthians 14, I do not want to forbid the speaking in tongues. But I definitely want “all things be done decently and in order.” And I don’t want the uninformed or unbelieving in our midst to thing we’re out of our minds.

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

 

1 Corinthians 13

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Devotional

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

– 1 Corinthians 13:13

Faith, hope and love are the marks of a maturing follower of Jesus. As we grow in our walk with Christ we should increase in faith, hope and love. That being the case, these three are an important gauge for self examination as a disciple.

Is your trust in God growing? Do you trust Him for your eternal salvation? Do you trust Him for your earthly provision? Is your hope in God or your 401k? Is it a confident hope or a wishful thinking hope filled with doubt? Are you loving God and loving others? And is that love being expressed in an overflow of good works? This are hard questions to wrestle with, but it’s important that we do. Because growing disciples of Jesus are growing in faith, hope and love.

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

1 Corinthians 12

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Devotional

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

– 1 Corinthians 12:7

A spiritual gift is a God given empowering for service, which is given to every believer as God, by His Holy Spirit wills, for the glorification of Himself, and as 1 Corinthians 12:7 says, for the profit of all. These are granted for the edification of the body of Christ.

So, have you discovered your God given Spiritual gift(s)? Are you using it (them) for the building up of the body of Christ? If not, why not? The Christian life is not a spectator sport. Get in the game!

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

1 Corinthians 11

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Devotional

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

– 1 Corinthians 11:1

In another Passage Paul wrote, “Be imitators of God as dear children” (Ephesians 5:1). Here he boldly exhorts, “imitate me as I imitate Christ.” I pray that my life would be worthy of imitation as I seek to imitate God as a dear child.

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

1 Corinthians 10

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Devotional

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

– 1 Corinthians 10:12

There is no place, in the life of the Christian, for high-minded arrogance, especially where our strength over the world, the flesh and the devil are concerned. You are no further from a fall on the 10,000th day as a Christian than you were on day 1. We need humility and grace for every step as a follower of Christ.

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon

1 Corinthians 9

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Devotional

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

– 1 Corinthians 9:19-22

What lengths are you willing to go to for the salvation of the lost? What preferences or cultural comforts are you willing to lay down to win the hearts, minds and souls of those in need of Christ? Paul’s aim was to win, and in one sense it was to win at all costs. May God grace us to be winsome too.

Helpful Resources

Enduring Word Commentary with Pastor David Guzik

Read the Scriptures at Bible.com

Download the YouVersion Bible App

Additional Daily Devotionals

My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers

Morning & Evening | Charles Spurgeon