2 Corinthians 2:1-4 Anguish and Joy
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: April 14, 2020 2 Corinthians 2:1-4
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.
(Understanding the Text) Paul made a visit to the Corinthians before this where he had to reproach them for their sinful ways. In fact, on page 822, the SDA commentary says. “Paul made at least three visits, and wrote three, perhaps four, epistles to the church at Corinth. The first visit, about A.D. 51, during the course of his second Missionary Journey, continued for a year and a half (Acts 18:11). At this time Paul founded and organized the church. He continued to keep in touch with it from time to time through representatives (2 Cor. 12:17). His first written contact with it is mentioned in 1 Cor 5:9. This document is now presumed lost. Toward the close of more than two years spent at Ephesus, on the third journey, he wrote what is now known as First Corinthians (ch. 16:8; see p. 103).” “Some think that Paul had returned to Corinth for a second visit. He speaks of a previous visit that had been distressing and disappointing (see on chs. 2:1, 12:14; 13:1,2). Probably following such a visit and the receipt of further disconcerting news from Corinth (1 Cor. 1:11), he dispatched a letter of reprimand and counsel (1 Corinthians) , and sent Titus to prepare the way for a further visit he planned to make (2 Cor. 8:6; 13:1, 2; cf. AA 301).” Paul has chosen to send a letter this time rather than visit the Corinthians so that when he next came to them, their repentance would have already happened, and he would have a visit of fellowship rather than condemnation. The SDA commentary in the introduction to 2 Corinthians says that Paul evidently succeeded in this objective because Acts shows a peaceful visit and a passage in Romans indicates that Paul was received well in Corinth. In 2 Corinthians, Paul says that he loves the believers at Corinth and feels pain when he has to cause them pain. He would rather feel happiness in their happiness. Paul says that his former letter of reproach was written with his own heartache and out of love for the Corinthians. Paul loves his former students dearly, and it pains him when he sees their choices that will lead them away from a relationship with God.
(Revelation of God) Paul’s pain at the antipathy of the Corinthians towards him is just a small sample of the pain that God experiences at the rejection of His children. God is love, so He can’t help but feel pain when those He loves reject Him, yet He does not reject us because of the hurt that we cause Him all the time. There will come a time of judgment when God lets go of those who refuse to be saved, but it will not be without pain. I wonder how much of what we think of as the wrath of God is pain?
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that Paul cares for people. He isn’t simply doing a job. Each convert is a son or daughter to Paul. He is not counting successes. He is creating family, and the loss or hurt of even one is loss and hurt to Paul. I need to love others also, even when it hurts. Help me.