2 Corinthians 6:11-7:4

11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
"I will live with them
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be my people."
17 Therefore, 
 "Come out from them 
 and be separate, 
 says the Lord. 
 Touch no unclean thing, 
 and I will receive you."
18 And, 
 "I will be a Father to you, 
 and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
1 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

2 Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. 4 I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.

Questions to consider:

• What is Paul’s desire for the Corinthian Christians? What does he expect of them?
• Explain why Paul warns against permanent relationships with unbelievers.
• What does this principle reveal about the character of God?
• Why is it difficult to please God while united improperly to an unbeliever?

Possibilities for prayer:

I like how Paul writes that we should be “perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” This idea seems a bit counter-cultural--in a society that encourages us to test the boundaries, to see just how far we can go without being “bad” or “wrong,” we, as Jesus followers are encouraged to change our orientation all together. It should no longer be about “how far is too far” but rather, “how can revere God and bring Him glory--make Him proud?” Today, let’s ask God to reorient our lives around Him, and to give us desires that show reverence.

2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10

20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
1 As God's co-workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. 2 For he says,
"In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you."
I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

3 We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Questions to consider:

• Describe Paul’s actions which commend him as (a) an ambassador and (b) a servant of God?
• How does one become the righteousness of God? What is the paradox involved?
• What trials have you experienced recently? To what extent have you endured?

Possibilities for prayer:

Ambassadors play a pretty important role in international relations. The person who serves as a nation’s ambassador is the person who represents that country and all it stands for--the nation itself might be judged based upon the words and deeds of the ambassador. In much the same way, we have an important role in conveying who Christ is and what He is all about as we serve as ambassadors for Christ. We should take note of our words and deeds, because we are representing Jesus to people around us, many of whom likely do not know Him. Today, let’s thank God for trusting us enough to be His ambassadors, and ask for the wisdom to do and say things well--that we might reflect just a little bit of the greatness, glory, and love that God is all about.

2 Corinthians 5:11-19

11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade people. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are "out of our mind," as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

Questions to consider:

• How does the fact of being known by God substantiate Paul’s boldness?
• What has changed the way Paul regards (a) people and (b) Christ?
• How does Paul regard people now that he is associated with Jesus?
• What is the new creation?

Possibilities for prayer:

What does it mean for you to be a new creation? When we accept Christ, our physical selves don’t change--we don’t get new hair color, eye color--but what’s important, our inner selves, does change. We are made new through Christ’s sacrifice. We are called to live new lives, lives that diligently seek after the heart of God. Today, let’s ask God to be able to see the “newness” in our lives with clear and open eyes, and to be better able to appreciate the change the has been wrought in our hearts through Christ. Let’s pray that God would give us the boldness to act out this new direction and transformation in our lives.

2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive what is due them for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Questions to consider:

• Describe how what is rooted in time is affects what is eternal.
• What objective or truth about life has completely grasped Paul and affected his attitudes and actions?
• What will you do to be of good courage today?

Possibilities for prayer:

Paul challenges us to look at things with an eternal perspective--while life here on earth may become incredibly challenging, we should cling to the knowledge that we are not ruled by the here and now because we have eternity ahead of us; an eternity that is good because it comes from God. Of course, practically, always having an “eternal mindset,” particularly in the midst of the often frequent storms of this life, can be quite difficult. So let’s pray into that. Ask God for a reorientation in the way you view everyday occurrences, to see them with “eternal” eyes rather than ones focused only on what is in front of you. And let’s ask God to give us an understanding of how insignificant our earthly troubles are when considered in the grand scheme of eternity.

2 Corinthians 4:1-15

1 Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
13 It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

Questions to consider:

• Describe the ministry Paul has been given. How has he received it?
• Contrast the message of the gospel with the messengers who present it.
• Why do you think God chooses this way to present himself?
• How does Paul view thanksgiving in verse 15?

Possibilities for prayer:

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
Sometimes, Paul has these beautiful poetic metaphors. He seems to be suggesting that God uses frail, limited, inconsequential us to reveal himself to the world so that the world can know that it’s not actually us but God’s power at work in us that does these great things. Today, let’s thank God for the privilege of being able to spread His goodness to the world, and for the strength and courage to do it well.

2 Corinthians 3:7-18

7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Questions to consider:

• What should characterize your attitude if you are personally involved in the dispensation of the spirit?
• To what extent are you being changed daily? How? Why?

Possibilities for prayer:

“Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
What a beautiful statement! There is something beautiful about the realization that being a Jesus follower is not about a bunch of rules within which we are constrained, forced to lead boring and staid lives. Instead, we are given FREEDOM to experience the love, power, and glory of Jesus. Today, let’s thank God for and celebrate the freedom that exists with His spirit, and ask for it to be even more present in our lives.

2 Corinthians 2:12-3:6

12 Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me, 13 I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to them and went on to Macedonia.
14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ's triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? 17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.
1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4 Such confidence we have through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Questions to consider:

• How is Paul’s ministry influenced by fellow Christians?
• What has God done through you recently?
• What facts sufficiently qualify Paul to be a minister of God’s word?
• In what way are these facts the basis for confidence?

Possibilities for prayer:

Paul reminds the Corinthian church that their competence is found in Christ rather than in themselves...a reminder that we can all use every now and again. Let’s ask God to be growing humility within us, that we would, as Paul writes, “not claim anything for ourselves,” but instead give credit where credit is due: at the feet of Christ.