2 Corinthians 1 - 10.13.26
SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
OBSERVATION:
The apostle Paul wrote this letter to the church at Corinth, and to all the believers who were throughout Achaia. With God’s help, Paul was able to view his afflictions as opportunities to encourage and comfort others who were suffering.
APPLICATION:
We will all face trials of many kinds, but thank God, when we go through them, He has given us all the benefits that go along with knowing that He is with us. When we are comforted through our trials by God, we receive His strength, peace, endurance, encouragement, and hope that we in turn are able to pass on to others who are going through similar trials.
Life Application Study Bible footnotes:
“The more we suffer, the more comfort God gives us.”
“For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort”. (v 5-7).
PRAYER:
Thank You for being the God of all comfort. No matter what I’ve faced, You have been with me, and You have come to my aid EVERY SINGLE TIME I have called out to You! I pray as You have comforted and encouraged me through my trials and afflictions, that I will be used by You to bring comfort and encouragement to my brothers and sisters in Christ as they go through their difficult times of trials and afflictions.
- Robin Orefice
1 Corinthians 16 - 10.12.26
Scripture
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
”Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.”
Observation
Paul is giving his final instructions to the Corinthian Church. He tells them of his plans to visit them real soon. Paul wishes to stay with them for awhile when he does visit them. Until then, Paul encourages the church to be on guard, be strong in their faith, to be courageous, and to do everything with love.
Application
Paul’s instructions to the church in Corinth still ring true for the Church today.
With the current state of the world and the Church, it would be wise for we as Christ Followers to take heed to Paul’s counsel. You see, the Church is under attack from this world’s culture, false teachers and from the old sinful nature of its members. So, now more than ever we as a Church need to stand strong in our faith. We need to fight and be courageous in what we believe in. We need to remain in a close, intimate relationship with Jesus by knowing His Word and understanding His Word so we are not fooled by counterfeits out there. We need to stand united with our brothers and sisters in Christ, loving each other, and loving others around us. And finally, we need to make sure that we are the thermostats and not thermometers in this world. Or to put it another way: Are we changing the culture around us or is the culture changing us? 🤔
”Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.“-Romans 12:2
Prayer
Father God, I come to You today to ask and pray for strength and courage to stand firm in my faith for You. May I live my life trying to please You, rather than trying to please the world. May I love others the way You love me…and that’s unconditionally. Help me to be a thermostat and not a thermometer. I pray these things in Jesus’ name, Amen. 🙏🏽
-Moses Gaddi
1 Corinthians 13 - 10.9.26
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Observation
This is the famous Love chapter that is used at thousand of weddings, but the funny thing is that the Apostle Paul is writing to the Church of Corinth who are all into the spiritual gifts but without love they are nothing. There are four different translations of love used in the Bible, but he is talking about Agape love.
1. Eros was one word for love. It described, as we might guess from the word itself, erotic love. It refers to sexual love.
2. Storge was the second word for love. It refers to family love, the kind of love there is between a parent and child, or between family members in general.
3. Philia is the third word for love. It speaks of a brotherly friendship and affection. It is the love of deep friendship and partnership. It might be described as the highest love of which man, without God’s help, is capable of.
4. Agape is the fourth word for love. It is a love that loves without changing. It is a self-giving love that gives without demanding or expecting repayment. It is love so great that it can be given to the unlovable or unappealing. It is love that loves even when it is rejected. Agape love gives and loves because it wants to; it does not demand or expect repayment from the love given. It gives because it loves; it does not love in order to receive.
Application
Agape love is self-denial for the sake of another. The Christian life is about sacrifice, but without love it is nothing. Love is an action word. Love is serving others without expecting anything in return. Love is simple acts of kindness, being tender hearted and gentle towards others. Love is long suffering and kind. Love is okay when others are preferred before them. Love does not need the limelight or prideful looking for glory. Love isn’t arrogant, self-focused, rude, easily irritated or annoyed. Love puts away the hurts of the past and looks to the future.
Could you imagine married couples who made this a priority in their marriage? You would have Christian marriages that were strong and vibrant. Power Couples making a difference in their families and this world.
Could you imagine Christians actually making Agape love a priority in their lives? Excited about serving others and making a difference in other people’s lives? Looking for ways to be kind even when someone does not deserve it?
Love is an ACTION word. What are you doing to show Agape love to your family, friends, co-workers and people you meet on the street?
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things…
Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:7, NKJV)
Prayer
Dear Lord,
Thank you for how much you love us and how you shower us with good gifts. Help us to be a people that put others before ourselves. Open our eyes to see the lost and hurting and show them Agape love. Help us to be Christians that walk in your ways and shine forth your love.
- Michelle Craig