2 Corinthians__4

Scripture - What stood out?2 Corinthians 4

18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. Observation - What does it say?The apostle Paul in his second letter to the church of Corinth continues to encourage and instruct this young church that had been battling various issues that sought to confuse and divide the church at the time.Understanding - What does it mean?I had the opportunity to visit with a retired pastor in his golden years, I won’t give away his age but he is over 80 and still sharp as a tack. I cherish these moments with him because I suspect that I am his only visitor for that particular day. I say this because I am always prepared to receive whatever sermon he has prepared or the Holy Spirit has deposited into him at that moment in time! His question to me during my latest visit was Have you tried to imagine heaven lately?I was dying to answer ABSOLUTELY!But that would not have been the truth. With a look of fierce determination, the beginning of a smile and a slight twinkle in his eyes he looked towards me. “Try it some time! Thinking about heaven will boggle your mind. I don’t even know where to begin. I think about spending eternity with the King of the Universe and I get lost in my imagination!”Life Application - How can I apply this to my life today? Am I looking to things that are eternal?Have I tried to imagine heaven lately? Father God I have seen a lot of movies, I have read bible verses, I have even seen pictures that describe heaven. I pray that Holy Spirit You would help me to imagine it. The space where God the Creator lives. The place where Jesus my Lord and Savior lives. Give me joy as I spend some time boggling my mind with thoughts of the eternal things on this beautiful day. In the name of Jesus do I pray, amen.

-kenneth lee

2 Corinthians__3

Scripture

2 Corinthians 3: 17-18

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being ever transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

 

Observation

Paul continues writing his letter to the people of Corinth. Here, he promises a “new covenant,” one that is exciting and has no shackles, chains, or veils holding it back from experiencing the glory and goodness of God.

 

Understanding

So we all know (because I talk about it all the time) that I, Allison Khan, love learning about United States history. There I said it! I’m a nerd, and I don’t really care who knows it anymore. The period I love to study is the Revolutionary War, and the aftermath of said war. When looking at the events leading up to it, though two major themes come to the forefront of any historian looking at this era: liberty and freedom. Upon close examination we realize that these are NOT the same thing, which people commonly use them to mean the same thing. America gained liberty and independence, and freedom from the British Empire, NOT just freedom. Liberty is the idea of expressing rights and ideas within the confines of a fair and non-oppressive government and society. In other words, it is freedom that is contained. So in America we aren’t free to do whatever we like, we are free to do what is appropriate by law and society. Here is why I say all that: Paul says “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

He does not say “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty…” There are no restrictions in Christ Jesus! We are free to be who we were created to be, for the sake of the mission of Heaven. Paul also extends this idea that in God’s Presence we don’t hide any part of us. And why would we want to?! Rather we should bask in the glory of the Father, and the Spirit that He has given us. Because it is only in HIs Presence that we can know Him, be transformed in His image, and experience a freedom without any hindrances. The amazing thing about the Spirit of the Lord is that it is accessible to all. It’s not some rare thing reserved for a select few.

 

Life Application

We live a country that was founded on the idea of justice and liberty, but we were created by a Father who loves to grant us freedom. I feel there are some of you reading today that need to be reminded of that. Step out of the shadows and break into the new! Freedom seems daunting but it’s so liberating, and it’s yours for the taking if you want it.

-U.S. history buff, I mean Allison Khan

2 Corinthians_2

Scripture 

2 Corinthians 2: 5-11

Forgiveness for the Offender

5 If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. 6 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9 Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10 Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

Observation-What does it say? 

In this section of the letter from Paul to the Corinthian church, he is talking about “restoring a repentant offender.” (Reference: Matthew Henry’s Bible commentary (concise) on christianity.com)

Also, disclaimer, when I speak about the Church in this post, I’m speaking about the people, not the meeting place.

Understanding-What does it mean? 

Repent and Forgive!

Every sin has a consequence. God gives us consequences so that we would learn and grow from our mistakes, not repeat them. He loves us that much! The Church has consequences too to preserve the purity and integrity of what we believe in and stand for in Christ. As a parent, I love my children, so they get consequences and disciplined for behavior that Moses and I do not approve of too, because they are holding the Gaddi name.  

What I love about Paul’s letter, is that he highlights repentance as well, someone who is filled with Godly sorrow over worldly sorrow. Godly sorrow makes us take a 180 degree turn, like what Jesus told the woman caught in adultery to do after He forgave her. With repentant believers, we are called to forgive them of their actions and not continue punishing (or disciplining) them for their mistakes. A true repentant believer will already be beating themselves up over their bad decision, so we don’t need to add to that pain and drive them to “excessive sorrow” as Paul says. Instead, we must love, forgive, and comfort them.

Life Application 

What repentant sin offender do we need to forgive? Or if we are the offender, have we repented?

As a person who grew up in the church and started attending since the womb, I will be the first to tell you that NO church is perfect. None. And if you feel that you can find a perfect church, you will just be bouncing around in that pursuit because the church is filled with fallen/imperfect people like ourselves.

This is why forgiveness is so important. We will be offended, we will be hurt and grieved by people’s sins, especially if they are against us, and we may even be blindsided by unexpected decisions; however, if our brother or sister is repentant, we must love them and forgive them as Christ loves and forgives us of our sins. 

Enforcing extra punishment to repentant sinners is a scheme of Satan and is not the heart of Christ. Let us not fall for his schemes, but rather forgive others as many times as Christ has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32).

-Michelle Gaddi