2 Corinthians 1:8-11

2 Corinthians 1:8-11

For we do not desire you all to be ignorant, brothers and sisters, regarding our affliction that became in Asia.  Because just as we were being burdened greatly beyond our power that we despaired even to live.  Rather, we ourselves have had the sentence of death in order that we should not be having put our belief upon ourselves but upon the God who raises up the dead.  He delivered us out of an incredible death and He will deliver.  Into Him we have hoped because he will even still deliver us.  And while you all join in prayer on our behalf, in order that out of the many faces the gracious gift into us should be expressed through many on our behalf.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul revisits the idea of persecution once more.  In case his listeners didn’t get it, Paul continues.  They were pushed near death.  They thought they had received the death sentence.  But God was able to rescue them.  How great is our God!  We need not fear persecution because God’s will shall be done.

Why do we fear persecution at the same time that we profess belief in a God who is bigger than the rest of the world?

Second Thought:

Paul makes an awesome point in the middle of this passage about persecution.  Persecution is a great time to remember that we should put our faith in the God who can raise us up out of the dead.  After all, what is the worst thing that could happen to us here on this world?  The worst thing is that we could die.  But cannot God undo that in eternal life?  Yes, when we are persecuted it is a great time to remember that we have cause to hope because our God is a God who conquers death.

How do you respond to persecution?  Is your faith strengthened or shaken?

Third Thought:

The end of this section contains an idiom in Greek that is difficult to translate into English well.  Here is what Paul is essentially saying.  Paul says “Pray for us, in order that through the gracious gift that God has given many faces will also be led to give thanks.”  In other words, Paul is again focused on the other person. Paul continues to focus on the people around him.  He doesn’t want the glory for his own sake.  He wants God to be given the glory through many people.  If God works through him, Paul wants it to be that through him many people give glory to God.  For Paul, his life is about bringing other people to God and giving God the glory.

What is your focus in life?  Do you live with the same singular purpose with which Paul seems to live?

Passage for Tomorrow: 2 Corinthians 1:12-14