December 4, 2017

Insights on Today's Reading

2 Corinthians 1 - Paul starts out this letter with a wonderful word about comfort.  He reminds us that God comforts us in our sorrows.  God wants us to remember how He did that and then He wants us to be willing to share that comfort with others who face their own sorrow.  Note also verse 10 where Paul speaks about God's deliverance, past, present, and future!  Paul ends this chapter with reminding the believers that he works for their joy, verse 24.

2 Corinthians 2 - Paul deals with the subject of repentance that comes from godly sorrow over sin.  He wants the believers to extend forgiveness to anyone who truly turns away from their sins.  His warning is that Satan will try to use our coldness against us, verses 9-11.  God always causes us to "triumph in Christ" verse 14 and have a pleasing testimony to the world.

2 Corinthians 3 - Paul speaks of these believers as living testimonies of his ministry with them.  He puts special emphasis on the Holy Spirit and the Spirit's influence on us to become transformed into the "image" of our Lord, verses 17,18.

2 Corinthians 4 - Paul speaks of the blindfold Satan has put on the people of this world so that they would not see the "glory of Christ" verse 4.  He shows the Christian that they have had that glory shine in their hearts and that all believers are like clay pots, "earthen vessels" that bear a precious treasure inside, verses 6,7.  We may suffer for a while, but our "light affliction" leads to a greater glory as we wait for the unseen things of heaven to bless our souls, verses 17,18!