2 Corinthians 13:1-4

2 Corinthians 13:1-4

I come to you all a third time.  Upon the mouths of two and three witnesses will every word be established.  I have said and I warn in advance – while being at hand and second while now being absent, the ones who have previously sinned and the remaining ones – that if I should come again I will not spare anyone.  Because you seek evidence of Christ who speaks in me – who is not weak into you all but powerful in you all.  For He was even being crucified out of weakness but He lives out of the power of God.  For even we are weak in Him, but we will live with Him out of the power of God into you all.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul warns the Corinthians to prepare for his coming.  Those who are living in unrepentant sin need to repent and change – or Paul will call them on it when he arrives.  Sin should not be tolerated.  Repentant sinners should absolutely be tolerated.  After all, who could be present if sinners are not tolerated?  But the sin itself – especially if it is not repentant sin – should not be tolerated.  It should be dealt with as Christ Himself teaches in Matthew 18.

Do you think dealing with sin is easy or difficult?  How receptive are you when others approach you about sin?  How easy is it for you to approach others?

Second Thought:

As Paul prepares to close this letter, Paul gives us a really cool reminder.  Paul reminds us that Jesus was strong in weakness.  The greatest thing Jesus ever did – being crucified – is a weak act from the perspective of the world.  If we want to follow Christ, we should lead out of our humbleness and weakness, not a strong and heavy-handed approach.

What does it mean to you to lead out of your weakness?  Do you think the world appreciates this approach?  Do you think the church appreciates it?

Third Thought:

Paul sets a great tone for his visit in the last sentence of this section.  “We will live with Him out of the power of God into you all.”  In other words, Paul is telling the Corinthians what Christian community looks like.  However they desire to treat him and his associates, when they come to Corinth they will put God on display.  When they come to Corinth, they will live as God expects them to live.  They are not going to lower their standards.  They are not going to stoop to a lower level.  They are going to live out of the power of God regardless of how the Corinthians treat them when they arrive.

Do you think this is a high bar?  When is it difficult to live up to a standard such as this?

Passage for Tomorrow: 2 Corinthians 13:5-10